Legitimate Vista to Windows 7 upgrade?

gmm30

My Windows 7 Toshiba laptop died at the weekend (either the HDD or the SATA bit of the motherboard appears to be dead - disk not recognised in BIOS, HDD not working in a USB caddy but hope to try it in a desktop).

I have been donated a working Acer laptop with Vista. The Acer has a spec. that would allow it to run Windows 7 comfortably.

Is there any legal free/cheap way to get Windows 7 on to the Acer machine, possibly using the licence key that belongs to my Toshiba (since I won't be using it again)?

Have read lots of threads about Windows 7 images/keys etc. but there seems to be more heat than light at times!

Any advice gratefully received, as ever :-)

cono1717

gmm30 wrote: »

Is there any legal free/cheap way to get Windows 7 on to the Acer machine, possibly using the licence key that belongs to my Toshiba (since I won't be using it again)?

Legal and free? Doubtful but that's not to say there aren't any on google - your best bet is looking at vendor sites like Amazon e.t.c - I imagine Microsoft would be somewhat expensive.

Fightsback

Have you tried the HDD out of the Acer in the Tosh as a replacement HDD, which is the better spec machine ?

gmm30

Fightsback wrote: »

Have you tried the HDD out of the Acer in the Tosh as a replacement HDD, which is the better spec machine ?

Yes, tried that and it comes up as no OS, so there's something wrong with the booting on the Toshiba HDD. In a USB caddy, other computers recognise it as having 2 partitions, but can't read it. Hoping it'll work in a desktop as a slave drive. I have most of it backed up anyway.

NiftyDigits

Full model number of the ACER and also the Toshiba?

If the Acer allows you to fit an SSD easily, it might be worth buying one inexpensively and fitting it to the Toshiba(which will allow you to fit an SSD easily). If it works, job done. If not, you can fit the SSD to the ACER.
I'll explain how to upgrade the OS if necessary.

gmm30

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Full model number of the ACER and also the Toshiba?

Acer Aspire 5738Z 423G16Mn
Toshiba Satellite C660-1J6

Might consider an SSD for whichever machine I end up using, I'm sure it would speed things up nicely.

NiftyDigits

I recommend that you get that SSD. Both machines allow an easy upgrade.

ACER Windows 7 Drivers here

To upgrade the Acer Aspire to genuine Windows 7, you need to update the firmware, the latest version of which you can find in your PM inbox.

Fightsback

gmm30 wrote: »

Acer Aspire 5738Z 423G16Mn

Just for info I have one of these in my collection of old laptops and it runs Windows 10 perfectly well with no issues. If you get your skates on you can still get a W10 licence for free after upgrading to W7, you can always go back to W7 afterwards if you don't like it but this does mean it's activated for W10 should you have a change of mind or choose to pass it on.

Definitely put an SSD in it as the default HDD is a particularly slow model.

gmm30

NiftyDigits wrote: »

ACER Windows 7 Drivers here

To upgrade the Acer Aspire to genuine Windows 7, you need to update the firmware, the latest version of which you can find in your PM inbox.

Many thanks Nifty, I'll be giving that a try in the next couple of days. Lots of info in your PM, much appreciated.

gmm30

Fightsback wrote: »

Just for info I have one of these in my collection of old laptops and it runs Windows 10 perfectly well with no issues. If you get your skates on you can still get a W10 licence for free after upgrading to W7, you can always go back to W7 afterwards if you don't like it but this does mean it's activated for W10 should you have a change of mind or choose to pass it on.

Definitely put an SSD in it as the default HDD is a particularly slow model.

Thanks very much FB, it's good to know the laptop will cope with W7 or even W10, which I hadn't considered given its age. It's always been a poor performer for its spec, which I've always put down to Vista.

jshm2

Nope. Do a fresh install of W7 instead. You can buy licence keys pretty cheap these days.