My Hard Drive Died Do I Have to Buy Windows Again
If you have Dell branded install media, information technology will discover that information technology's a Dell and will automatically activate. Usually you can use well-nigh Dell branded Windows 7 media, even if for some other model.
If you utilize a generic OEM install disc, it volition ask yous for a product key which should be on a sticker attached to the case.
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What if I don't have any of it? Buy the software is my but option?
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Just like Da_Schmoo said, if you take the original media, i.e., created the restore disks when y'all got the laptop, you should exist good and normally, you won't even have to provide a key since the install disk recognizes the type of organisation existence installed on.
At present, if you DON'T take the backup media, you tin can contact the manufacturer and get a restore disk or USB stick, I only did that for someone a few months agone for an HP laptop, only the stick toll around $forty USD if I call up right. Worked like a amuse. And so if it is a Dell, log into the Dell support page and provide the system tag and you should be able to navigate from in that location - worst example, they have a live chat you tin talk to a tech.
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What if I don't have whatever of information technology? Purchase the software is my simply option?
I oasis't had to purchase a new license for whatsoever of the reinstalls I take done if I'm using the OEM restore media - whether I had it onhand or bought through the OEM.
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Thanks for the feedback! I had this happen before just I just bought a $35 downloadable windows 7 file. It worked but I'm trying to get the free road.
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You should be able to apply about OEM disks and only type in the product primal when asked))
note that you have to match versions (Windows seven Pro disk is NOT the aforementioned as a Home Premium or Ultimate (or Starter))
Annotation besides that yous'll make more than headway in technical challenges if you refer to things correctly. There is no company called "Windows".
"Windows" will not provide a primal or way to actuate.
You are likely referring to "Microsoft". "Microsoft" and "Windows" are non interchangeable terms. Nor is either of them interchangeable with "Function".
"Windows" and "Microsoft Windows" are somewhat interchangeable just "Microsoft" is the company/organization. "Windows" and "Office" are products made by "Microsoft"
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What if I don't have whatsoever of it? Buy the software is my only option?
Really, if y'all enter the service tag, dell lets y'all download the install media.
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If the above proves besides hard, and since extended support for Windows 7 ends in 2020, why not experiment with Linux which is free and likely to run across your needs. http://lxle.net/. You could try information technology on the HD before re-installing Windows seven.
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If the above proves as well hard, and since extended support for Windows 7 ends in 2020, why not experiment with Linux which is gratuitous and likely to meet your needs. http://lxle.net/. You could endeavour it on the Hd before re-installing Windows 7.
Please, allow's not go there for one time - or at least post a trigger warning first... The long arguments nearly how painful Linux is to catechumen to if you're used to the relatively helpful environs of a Microsoft desktop OS proceed me awake at night, shouting at the darkness. As do my own personal memories of configuring various Linux boxes and the endless ambiguous fault messages I received whenever I tried to get it to practice anything other than boot...
....Oh god... and and so there's the forums full of suggestions to fix your errors - embedded in errors, embedded in errors - all of which are wrong, right to the bottom of the pan.... The pain, the wasted hours on what should be simple config tasks, the profanity, the visits from the law and social services.. never again.
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Sometimes, your HDD may work enough to excerpt the keys from it. I use an external HDD cradle that supports both 3.5 and ii.five HDD's. Connect it to a working computer and employ a plan like Belarc Counselor or Produkey to find a list of keys on the bulldoze.
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Any windows 7 (your version, due east.g. pro/home/x32/x64) Dell install disc will actuate equally the series number is always the same OEM key, but you'll take to manually install the drivers of form which y'all can download from them. If you lot take whatever problems with the install disk Dell tech support will commonly help fifty-fifty outside of warranty.
Note: You tin't just install from a regular Win 7 ISO and activate with OEM key, information technology won't work.
Yous can also purchase a reinstall disk from Dell for a massively inflated toll. I call back is was €17 last time I checked, but this is really a final resort.
As well why wasn't information technology supplied with a Win vii license sticker? If it was a Win eight/10 downgrade then just install Win 8/10 every bit the license is already on the board and doesn't demand to be entered to activate, provided you lot go all the updates.
The install ISO's for regular Windows eight.1/10 are available from MS website for gratis, don't pay for a disk, you just demand an empty 4-eight GB USB key and a USB ISO tool like Rufus.
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Don't want to distract people to much from the topic which is getting Windows vii dorsum onto a laptop on a new HD. Notwithstanding, it would be remiss of me not to run through some points about Linux and my recommendation to have a endeavor with LXLE on the Laptop. My reasoning was that since the HD had nix on it and then information technology was an opportunity to have a go without any gamble. I am sorry that Sam Gates has had unfortunate experience with Linux that has coloured his views.
Firstly, if you look at the Distrowatch website https://www.distrowatch.com/ you volition find at least 300 Linux Distributions that you could try. They all take their own objectives and in terms of difficulty there are some that are designed for people who know about MS Windows but know nothing near Linux and some that are difficult to get going fifty-fifty if you are knowledgeable about Linux. The easiest ones to get going have intuitive GUIs for all the everyday task and at that place is no need to use the control line. For the knowing people the command line is very quick and easy to use and is the preferred ways of working with Linux for them. I recommended LXLE http://www.lxle.net/ because it is piece of cake to master for a willing experimenter and it has all the programmes you are probable to demand on the iso, and has the GUIs that will help a MS Windows familiar person.
If y'all want to try Linux so y'all can either burn the iso to a DVD or if you need to apply a USB stick so you tin can put the Linux Distro on that and kick your computer from information technology. To prepare your USB stick you tin use Unetbootin or Rufus. And there is one that I have never tried Etcher. Information technology is explained on the Linux Lite website https://www.linuxliteos.com/transmission/install.html#llusbwin and the procedure is the same for many Distros. These are what are called alive Distros and so that you can try them without installing them on the HD.
The installers are GUIs and are piece of cake to utilise. Having installed it and then play with it to see how information technology goes. The first task is to connect to the internet and by clicking on the wireless icon you see your Access Point and clicking on that yous are required to enter its password. As well as all the usual programmes such as Libre Office (Similar to MS Word) LXLE has a plan chosen "Wine" which will allow y'all to run some MS Windows game programmes, etc. However, it is non suitable for all MS Windows programmes.
At that place are some mutual errors that I take seen people brand. ane. For instance, in that location should exist no demand to install drivers since Linux will most likely recognise all the hardware that you connect and piece of work with it. For example, connect a printer and it will just work. 2. Don't install random programmes found on the web. The Linux Distro take stores of free programmes called repositories and if you lot need more programmes and so get them from that. If you are familiar with MS Windows programmes and need that function so google the Linux equivalent and install it from the Repositories. 3. It is very hard for a virus to get into a Linux OS (Retrieve Android which is a version of Linux with Googles unique take - information technology does not use anti virus). So do not install i. 4. Every bit a starter apply the GUIs and non the command line which experts like.
I am sure at that place are other points but the to a higher place will do for now.
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Not anybody has those types of "bad" experiences converting to Linux. I can not even prototype going dorsum to a Windows operating arrangement on my person equipment. I discover Windows to be more than painful than nigh modern Linux builds I have tried.
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Source: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2143638-hard-drive-died-will-windows-give-new-product-key
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