Buying a laptop without OS installed

InvestInPoker

Hi,

Anyone know a couple of (Decent, reputable) places that sell new laptops without an OS preinstalled? I do not want one from ebay or a 2nd hand one.

The reason I ask is I have killed my old laptop and would like a new one, but I do not want windows 8 or 10 so will install 7 myself on it.

Cheers.

interstellaflyer

Have you looked for one with Windows 7 installed? Ok the mainstream outlets won't want to sell them however, there may be someone out there on the internet that may, about 6 months ago our till computer went down and needed replacing, we got a HP Pro Desk tower brand new with Windows 7 pre installed.

tavernman

Novatech do

Fightsback

Does it matter what OS installed ? Just wipe and install your own W7
as it probably will work out cheaper anyway.

InvestInPoker

Thanks for the replys everyone

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Have you looked for one with Windows 7 installed?

Yes this was what I tried first. Like you not so long ago I got a decent tower with Win 7 preinstalled. However it seems the choice is very limited nowadays, with older hardware only so I decided just to buy a blank one.

tavernman wrote: »

Novatech do

Aha thanks this lot look perfect ty!

Fightsback wrote: »

Does it matter what OS installed ? Just wipe and install your own W7
as it probably will work out cheaper anyway.

Yeah this is a reasonable idea. My Win 7 install disk will refuse to wipe any computer with Windows 8 or 10 on it right and just tell me "there is a newer version installed" or some rubbish like that. So it will be a bit fiddly especially if the hardware is specifically designed for Win 10 without thought to previous versions. I think I would just prefer to buy a clean laptop, it is a lot easier to install that way and I wont be paying for the new OS (or increasing their sales figures). That said I would do what you suggest if there was no other option.

Cycrow

InvestInPoker wrote: »

Thanks for the replys everyone



Yes this was what I tried first. Like you not so long ago I got a decent tower with Win 7 preinstalled. However it seems the choice is very limited nowadays, with older hardware only so I decided just to buy a blank one.



Aha thanks this lot look perfect ty!



Yeah this is a reasonable idea. My Win 7 install disk will refuse to wipe any computer with Windows 8 or 10 on it right and just tell me "there is a newer version installed" or some rubbish like that. So it will be a bit fiddly especially if the hardware is specifically designed for Win 10 without thought to previous versions. I think I would just prefer to buy a clean laptop, it is a lot easier to install that way and I wont be paying for the new OS (or increasing their sales figures). That said I would do what you suggest if there was no other option.

another option would be to use something like the gparted live cd.
which will boot the pc into a cut down linux os with gparted, which you can then use to remove the drive partitions.

althou you should be able to do this with windows 7, it may be one of the advanced options. Even Windows XP had a basic drive partitioner you could use to wipe the drive before installing.

[Deleted User]

Fightsback wrote: »

Does it matter what OS installed ? Just wipe and install your own W7

Or just install Classic Shell, and set it to emulate W7.

You get the functionality of W7, with the fast boot of Win8/8.1

ac427

I think you can specify Windows 7 on Dell Business machines

almillar

My Win 7 install disk will refuse to wipe any computer with Windows 8 or 10 on it right and just tell me "there is a newer version installed"

Unless you've a strange OEM, or upgrade disk, this is wrong. Are you trying to 'upgrade' (downgrade) from within Windows? You need to reboot, and set the BIOS to boot from CD/DVD.
Then the base Windows installer loads, and you can format the drive (removing Windows 7,8,9,10, Linux, Mac OSX, Sky etc etc) and install a clean version of Windows 7.
BEFORE doing this, it's a good idea to have all the up to date drivers for your computer to put on after installing W7. Don't assume you'll have net access.

grumpycrab

InvestInPoker wrote: »

I have killed my old laptop and would like a new one, but I do not want windows 8 or 10 so will install 7 myself on it.

New Win7Pro HP laptop £99 with 3 year warranty (bear with me).

Here's the laptop. http://www.technoworld.com/hp-455-g2-k3x53es-amd-qc-a8-7100-4gb-500gb-dvdrw-15-6in-bt-cam-win-7-8-1-pro
(8 left at time of posting; Win7Pro is installed by default; £150 tradein cashback and £75 cashback).

The catch? You need a working XP computer (any age) to tradein or 9" tablet. As follows "For your Trade-in to qualify for the promotion it must be a working, complete and undamaged, (reasonable wear and tear accepted) Laptop (minimum 10” screen size), Tablet (minimum 9” screen size) or Desktop. Your Trade-in must be no more than 6 years old (age limitations are not applicable to genuine Microsoft XP computers) and complete with all accessories including working battery and power supply where applicable."

Has to be bought (and invoiced) this week (I bought from Technoworld a couple of weeks ago no problem.)

Lots more info www.hotukdeals.com/deals/hp-probook-455-g2-laptop-g6w45ea-amd-a8-7100-4gb-500gb-15-6-windows-7-pro-319-97-2243281 (SAME laptop but the laptop I'm posting about - K3X53ES - has a 3 year HP warranty.)

bsod

how did you kill the laptop