Windows 7 general question

[vinyard]

Good day everybody ...

First of all I have low knowledge of computers...

My enquiry question is :

Where can I find my product code for Windows 7 ?

The reason is that I bought this laptop 1 year ago, and I've did a scan and it seems I have a lot of problems with the registries... so I am considering to do a Windows Repair.

I did a back to all my files and everything but...
My problem with this is that I don't have a disk with Windows 7, as when I bought the laptop it didn't come up with a disk, it was just saved on my computer... it is the genuine Windows for sure as it says when I activated...

So, can anyone offer any advice on how I could tackle this ?

Another problem is that I'm not sure what sort of drivers I should install after repairing the windows and where could I find them ? i.e. sound drivers / graphic drivers etc .

Will I have to find these before I do the Windows install repair? Or will the Windows automatically find them for me?

Thank you so much for your time -- look forward for your replies.

 

[logicearth]

The product key is usually on a colorful stick on the computer case...

 

[johnnya]

Hi Vinyard and welcome to the forum. Question - is this a desktop or laptop computer. If it is a laptop, please supply the make and model number of your unit.
Cheers
JohnnyA

 

[Dave Atkin]

Hello,
If you run a 'repair install' on Windows then you shouldnt need the product key. A repair install just replaces ket windows files but leaves the actual installation intact.

There are different types of Microsoft Licences. Your licence is probably OEM, meaning that it is meant to live and die on your machine. Normally these type of pre-installed Windows come with either a recovery disk or a recovery partition.

Can you give us the Make and model of you laptop?

An easy way of extracting the product key is to use a program like Belarc Adviser: Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit



Dave

 

[seavixen32]

If you can't find the product key on the underside of your laptop case, it may be in the battery compartment.

Before you touch your computer, have you created a set of recovery discs yet?

If not, you should do so straightaway - you should find the instructions in your computer manual or your computer manufacturer's support site.

Also, as Dave points out, Belarc will carry out a full audit of your computer and display it in a web page, including product keys for any software you have installed.

 

[johnnya]

Follow the advice of Seavixon32. Most Laptops today offer an option to create a set of Recovery DVD's. They allow you to restore your system to the way it was when you bought it. Of course your data should be backed up before doing this and you will have to reload any programs you have added since you bought the machine. Creating these backup DVD's is the very first thing anyone who purchases a laptop should do.

Also, most laptops offer an option at boot up to restore the entire system from a hidden partion on your hard drive. Read your manual to find out how to exersize this option your particular system.

Cheers
JohnnyA

 

[whs]

Run this program. It will give you the product keys of all licensed programs installed on your system and a lot more useful information.

 

[Corazon]

I've did a scan and it seems I have a lot of problems with the registries...

I'm wondering if it's really necessary for you to reinstall Windows. Are you having any actual problems with it, or is your decision based simply on this scan you performed?

What did you use to scan, and what kind of problems were reported in the Registry? I find this a bit suspicious, as many 3rd-party registry cleaners and "optimizers" tend to find problems where there really aren't any, and can cause damage in their own right.

 

[vinyard]

Hello everybody -- hopefully I'm double posting ... ( as I can't find my previous post )

1) My laptop is a HP G62-a28sa .

2) My computer is running slower... I am wondering how can I fix this -- I did do a system restore but it didn't help much -- I am basically just trying to make my computer run as efficient as possible

I remember with the previous Windows it was recomanded to do a format almost every year-- and I'm wondering if that's the case with Win 7 ...
So I'm really not sure what I need to do -- as I do disk clean-ups and defrags on a weekly basis and the computer is still running slow ...

3) I don't have a recovery dvd -- what do I need to do a recovery of? I do have a Recovery ( D ) partition ... does that need to be burned on a DVD ? Is there any way I can save on an External HDD rather than a DVD ?

Thank you all for your help and replies ( I'm starting to feel less hopeless )

 

[whs]

3) I don't have a recovery dvd -- what do I need to do a recovery of? I do have a Recovery ( D ) partition ... does that need to be burned on a DVD ? Is there any way I can save on an External HDD rather than a DVD ?

Yes, yould burn the recovery DVDs (usually 2). Some say you can also use the external, but I have never tried that. But you can make an image on an external disk if you want extra protection.

 

[vinyard]

3) I don't have a recovery dvd -- what do I need to do a recovery of? I do have a Recovery ( D ) partition ... does that need to be burned on a DVD ? Is there any way I can save on an External HDD rather than a DVD ?

Yes, yould burn the recovery DVDs (usually 2). Some say you can also use the external, but I have never tried that. But you can make an image on an external disk if you want extra protection.

So how exactly do I do this? What kind of software do I use to burn this on a DVD ?

And does anybody know how can I burn this on an external HD ? Do I just copy and paste it? Or is there a specific procedure ...

thank you in advance

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I wouldn't burn recovery to an external. Use DVDs.

The standard recommendation here is to use ImgBurn to burn the DVDs, but I think Windows can do it with a built in program---I've never even attempted it.

ImgBurn is excellent and free.

Get it here:

The Official ImgBurn Website

The discs will allow you to return your PC to its factory state, but you should be able to do that directly using the recovery partition.

But all of that may be unnecessary, as Corazon states. You may have other issues causing slowness that are correctable without restoring via a full recovery.

Windows 7 typically does not have to be periodically restored like earlier versions may have been.

 

[whs]

There is a standard procedure in each OEM PC to burn the DVDs - but you can do that only once. Unfortunately each OEM is different. Type Recovery into the Start/Search field and see whether you can find the wizard.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Every HP laptop I've dealt with has included a utility to make the recovery DVDs for you...even telling you how many blank discs it needed. The first thing I do when unboxing an HP laptop is create these disks. I don't like having my only recovery method stored on the system's hard drive.

If you want to reinstall Windows 7 on your computer, take the steps now to do it right, and you'll be better off in the end. Get a few blank discs and create the recovery discs. Then save your important data to your external drive. You can recover your key using the software mentioned above, or look for it on the bottom of the laptop.

 

[seavixen32]

HP Backup and Recovery Manager

 

[gregrocker]

You will in fact need to reactivate with the Product Key on your COA sticker if you run a Repair Install.

Did you find the sticker on the bottom of your laptop or under it's battery? Is the key readable? Back it up now.

Tell us also the licensed version printed on the COA sticker so we can help you get the installer needed to run a Repair Install.

However first I'd work through these troubleshooting steps leading up to a Repair Install to see if you can solve the problems that way. Running a Clean Boot on many factory preinstalls can end a lot of resource-hogging from all the preinstalled bloatware. Looking for repeat errors in your logs provides clues, while the Win7 System Resources may already have fixes cued for you.

If you choose instead to run Factory Recovery to return the laptop to factory condition, then use these tips to Clean up factory bloatware