Need a copy of Windows 7 - really struggling!

Splott

Here you go....

Proper Windows 7 Home Premium ISO directly from Microsofts online distributor.

32 bit version: http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-24208.iso
64 bit version: http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-24209.iso

Download and burn to DVD using your favourite ISO burning software.

waddler_8

railbuff wrote: »

well he can install SP1 and then just use the windows update feature to update the SP

if you need to purchase home premium this is the cheapest i have found apart from looking at ebay

http://www.mmoga.co.uk/Gamecards-CD-Keys/Windows-7-Home-Premium-32-64-Bit-Key.html?ref=424&affiliate_subid=6483

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

Buy a key of unknown provenance from a gold trader? :eek:

railbuff wrote: »

that was just 1 , search google and sever are selling at the same price

I would not trust a MyWOT score

Trust what MS says then.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/Shop.aspx

With the exception of Product Key Cards (PKC’s) distributed with COA’s, Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys for sale, it’s a good indication that the keys are likely stolen or counterfeit. If you were to purchase and use a stolen or counterfeit product key to activate Windows installed on your PC, the key may not work for activation, may already be in use on another PC, or it might be blocked from use later by Microsoft when the key is reported stolen.

However it really is a moot point in this case as the OP says:

I have a Win 7 license on my laptop

NiftyDigits

The images from which you should choose are here:

Windows 7 Home Premium SP1_U x86 or Windows 7 Home Premium SP1_U x64

This of course will only be necessary if you have overwritten your Recovery partition.

Make and model number of laptop?

gjchester

NiftyDigits wrote: »

This of course will only be necessary if you have overwritten your Recovery partition.

That does assume there is a recovery partition, Many Dells don't have them, most HP's do, or the OP didn't do the "create recovery disks now" routine and put it off as so many people do.

railbuff

gjchester wrote: »

Many Dells don't have them,

true, I had a Dell Dimension and now i have a Dell Vostro, both dont have a recovery partition, but when you reinstall the OS, it will ask if you want to create a recovery partition. I did this once and did not care much for it, so now just opt for recovery disc

PaulJM

Thanks for all this, I would probably prefer not to purchase a key for it, as I wouldn't trust it.
I do have a prem license, but have installed Pro, so as my choices, reading the above as follows, if I want to keep this -

• use the software to take out the line that recognises which edition it is and use my Prem license.

I installed 8 as an upgrade, but when I moved to this copy of 7 Pro, I took everything off - even had to put the drivers back in.
However, I have an HP Pavillion, so I take it it will have a recovery partition? I haven't done one yet, but I guess I can rip one onto a harddrive - how do I do that?

If I do, can I use a Prem copy, put it on, and re-instate all my details using the recovery?

NiftyDigits

PaulJM wrote: »

Thanks for all this, I would probably prefer not to purchase a key for it, as I wouldn't trust it.
I do have a prem license, but have installed Pro, so as my choices, reading the above as follows, if I want to keep this -

• use the software to take out the line that recognises which edition it is and use my Prem license.

I installed 8 as an upgrade, but when I moved to this copy of 7 Pro, I took everything off - even had to put the drivers back in.
However, I have an HP Pavillion, so I take it it will have a recovery partition? I haven't done one yet, but I guess I can rip one onto a harddrive - how do I do that?

If I do, can I use a Prem copy, put it on, and re-instate all my details using the recovery?

To restore the computer from the recovery partition, follow these steps: 1. Access HP Recovery Manager in either of the following ways: ? Select Start > All Programs > Security and Protection > HP Recovery Manager > HP Recovery Manager. – or – ? Turn on or restart the computer, and then press esc while the “Press the ESC key for Startup Menu” message is displayed at the bottom of the screen. Then, press f11 while the “F11 (System Recovery)” message is displayed on the screen. 2. Click System Recovery in the HP Recovery Manager window. 3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

..........

stevemcol

I agree, Win 8 has its flaws and on balance now, I'd rather go back to Win 7. But I think I've really just got to keep moving with the flow. We'll never get the Win 7 / XP feature back in the future so best to get used to Win 8, warts and all and hope that the next SP or Win 9 sorts out the warts. I've had all the MS operating systems since DOS, good and bad and on balance, they don't stay too bad for too long.

PaulJM

Managed to sort it. A guy at work has access to MS technet and I've used an upgrade key.

stevemcol wrote: »

I agree, Win 8 has its flaws and on balance now, I'd rather go back to Win 7. But I think I've really just got to keep moving with the flow. We'll never get the Win 7 / XP feature back in the future so best to get used to Win 8, warts and all and hope that the next SP or Win 9 sorts out the warts. I've had all the MS operating systems since DOS, good and bad and on balance, they don't stay too bad for too long.

Same here, and generally I like MS, never really had a problem, even thought Vista was ok if your computer was up to it.

Windows 8 is fine, on a tablet or phone (in fact probably pretty nicely) but there are so many things on the laptop, not quirky stuff, but stuff that makes me not use the thing -

Lack of DVD player software (Not hard to remedy, but you're tired after work, stick your DVD in, and something that before an update worked, and now doesn't, really annoys)
Won't work with Citrix (I need this for work, and the pre WIn8 checker said it would be fine. Looking round the internet I find it isn't - prob not MS's fault, but they shouldn't tell you it works)
No log off button (You can get to it after a few clicks, and I know they've made it hard becuase you don't really want tablets to be logged off, but PC's need it)
Really hard to search files, find stuff - you have to use the tiles.

Anyway, I'm just saying, I'm not an MS hater, and I go with the flow, but Win8 almost stopped me using the laptop - thus U made a decision to spend half a day putting 7 back in!
Hopefully they will make it better - making that stupid swipey front screen optional will be a good start, and sticking some short cuts in to shut down, put a DVD client back on, etc will help.
Just tweaking it towards laptop and computer owners will not take long, I can't imagine what is going to happen when it filter around to business users without touch screens, etc

railbuff

Win 8 works OK on my PC and i have windows media player to watch DVDs etc