How to get windows on new laptop hard drive?

EdGasketTheSecond

I have a Medion Akoya laptop where the hard disk seems kaput. It won't boot from it and I can't restore the factory image from it. The laptop has the windows 7 Home Premium Product Key sticker on it and I can read the number.

If I replace the hard drive, is there any way to get Windows 7 on there without having to buy it again as the laptop already has a Windows Product Key licence; I just don't have any CD's with it and can't use the recovery partition as I can't make the laptop do anything except boot from a CD. I have a Windows image for a DELL laptop; would that work if I re-enter the product key? Are there any copies of Windows 7 Home premium available on th eweb for this purpose?

unforeseen

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

I have a Medion Akoya laptop where the hard disk seems kaput. It won't boot from it and I can't restore the factory image from it. The laptop has the windows 7 Home Premium Product Key sticker on it and I can read the number.

If I replace the hard drive, is there any way to get Windows 7 on there without having to buy it again as the laptop already has a Windows Product Key licence; I just don't have any CD's with it and can't use the recovery partition as I can't make the laptop do anything except boot from a CD. I have a Windows image for a DELL laptop; would that work if I re-enter the product key? Are there any copies of Windows 7 Home premium available on th eweb for this purpose?

It might work but you will get all the crap that Dell put on their disc

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows7 for a clean version direct from MS

Peter999_2

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows7

EdGasketTheSecond

Thanks but that didn't work; when I enter the product key I get a message saying that Windows was installed by the manufacturer and to contact them. (When I checked with Medion, I think they want something like £118 for a set of CDs!)

Any other ideas?

Frozen_up_north

There are product keys on sale on Amazon, etc. They are from scrapped computers and sometimes supplied with a scrap part from the donor computer, making the semi legitimate.

Prices around £12 for Win 7 pro.

Heedtheadvice

Maybe you have already gone down this route......but.....

Why not see if you can fix the drive, at least get it working so as to getting access to what is on there, ressurect windows (and any data!) Then if it is still a bit flaky download an imaging program such as macrium reflect and place image onto new drive (if you have to buy one!).

Generally easy to do and certainly at no initial monetary cost.
If interested post symptoms and laptop full details (as much as you can) and somebody will help.
Could be quicker easier and more effective than a complete new start from scratch, data loss, and apps reinstalls.

Apologies if you have already decided that would be a waste of time.

unforeseen

I assume that you didn't make recovery discs when you first got it?

Can you get into recovery mode. I think it's F11 but check your manual

dipsomaniac

install a nice new shiny ssd. download & install a nice new shiny copy of win10 (still free). enjoy

Jivesinger

dipsomaniac wrote: »

download & install a nice new shiny copy of win10 (still free). enjoy

It being free because the Windows 7 product key should still work to activate Windows 10.

EdGasketTheSecond

unforeseen wrote: »

I assume that you didn't make recovery discs when you first got it?

Can you get into recovery mode. I think it's F11 but check your manual

No recovery disks (not my laptop).

No can't get into recovery mode or anything needing the hard disk; only the bios and can boot from a CD. Tried re-writing boot sectors; no go.

EdGasketTheSecond

dipsomaniac wrote: »

install a nice new shiny ssd. download & install a nice new shiny copy of win10 (still free). enjoy

Is that going to work with OEM manufacturer installed Windows 7 ? Might I not get the same problem as when I tried to get Windows 7 i.e. contact the manufacturer?