Need to reinstall Windows on netbook

LouBLou_2

I've had a quick look through previous posts but can't find an answer - apologies if this has been covered elsewhere.

My netbook's harddrive got so badly scrambled that it wasn't possible to reinstall Windows from the recovery partition. No discs were provided with the netbook so I've been in touch with the manufacturer but they want £50+ to provide original discs :mad:

The machine runs Linux OK so I'm confident there's no permanent damage to the harddrive but I'd really like to go back to Windows.

Does anyone know of anywhere I can get hold of a reasonably priced copy of Windows? I don't really care which version (although in order of preference I suppose it would be 7, then XP, then Vista).

If £50 is what it has to cost then so be it but I thought I'd try the money saving way before coughing up that kind of money!

Thanks,
Lou x

boxst

Do you have the windows key? A sticker somewhere on the bottom of the computer?

If so, you should be able to download a version of windows or borrow a disk from someone and use your key to validate / install.

Steve

buglawton

I have just finished burning to DVD a set of recovery disks for my new Win7 netbook as exactly this problem can happen. Most netbooks provide utilities to create these disks, however I still had to purchase a £30 external DVD burner to do it as the utilities are incapable of working with usb sticks or usb hard drives.

M$ would like you to spend £150 or so, or the same value as the netbook. No wonder people resort to piracy.

Your best bet might be to contact and pursue the netbook manufacturer, they may be able, for an 'admin' fee be able to supply you with a 'OEM' version of Windows that is keyed to your model of netbook. I know because a couple of years ago I was unable to recover a Lenovo Thinkpad ultra-portable. Some persistent phone calls and 3 weeks later a set of recovery disks arrived that allowed a re-install of Windows XP.

boxst - Windows install disks have unique blocks of keys or are locked to OEM designs of machine, so such an install may well not work.

boxst

buglawton wrote: »

boxst - Windows install disks have unique blocks of keys or are locked to OEM designs of machine, so such an install may well not work.

Yes, but it probably will. I have never had a problem doing this with Vista or Windows 7 as they have the same software and effectively feature-unlock based on the key (32/64 bit being the exception). If it doesn't work or you get an invalid key a quick call to Microsoft activation line has re-enabled that key.

Steve

buglawton

OP didn't mention if the machine is in warranty still, even if not a visit to the retailer is a possibility as they have OEM disks to reinstall, again for an 'admin' fee.

LouBLou_2

Thanks for your quick replies - I knew I was coming to the right place!

@buglawton: Sadly it's out of warranty....if only! And I agree with your comment about resorting to piracy - things like this put temptation in your way!

@boxst: There is a sticker with the product key (I didn't think of that!) so I'm going to try the route of begging/borrowing/whatever an install disc and trying that. I have an external CD/DVD drive that I can use for the install.

Wish me luck and thank you for your help!

Lou

SatanicHare

If it's Windows 7 that was installed originally then you should be able to borrow a disc, create an iso image of it edit or remove the ie.cfg file, burn the edited iso to disc and install using your own serial key.

http://www.technibble.com/ei-cfg-removal-utility-repair-tool-of-the-week/

http://www.blogsdna.com/4140/how-to-select-windows-7-professional-ultimate-home-basic-editions-in-windows-7-setup.htm

dave461_2

Which netbook is it?
I had the same problem with my Advent 4211 but managed to download a recovery disk off the net which someone had uploaded.
The disk should work on an msi wind u100 too.
Might be worth trying to find a forum for your netbook.

LouBLou_2

Ahhhh, done :T

Bit of jiggery pokery because the product key is for an OEM version but the disc I managed to rustle up was retail :eek:

After a few happy lifetimes on the phone to MS I resorted to Google and found a way to convince the netbook that I had indeed installed an OEM version. It then happily accepted my key and has spent the last few hours doing Windows updates (including the Windows Genuine Advantage stuff - they were a few tense minutes!)

I'm off to get myself outside of a large glass of wine to celebrate :beer:

Thanks all for your help - I really do appreciate it. Is it just me who thinks this could/should have been so much easier though?!

Lou x

LouBLou_2

@buglawton:

The jiggery pokery I mentioned was in relation to your comment "Windows install disks have unique blocks of keys or are locked to OEM designs of machine, so such an install may well not work".

You were absolutely right but you just need a slight registry tweak to tell Windows it's an OEM install not a retail one. I was thinking I'd need to do another install from fresh with an OEM disc but once I made the change (a grand total of 3 characters in the registry!) and rebooted the key was accepted without any problems. Phew!

Thanks for the heads-up on that one - I'd still be chasing my tail but your reply made sure I knew what to Google!!!

Lou x

buglawton

From what I recall doing previous Win XP installs, the product key is requested near the beginning of the install and you cannot proceed without a valid key. Hence I was wondering now, how you edited the Registry without a running system! Or is the Win7 install different?