In a discussion in the shoutbox about re-installing Windows onto a new drive after replacing the hard drive, someone mentioned something about buying a new OEM license for that purpose. I just wanted to let people here know that there is an official way to download re-installation media for free from Microsoft. All you need is your product key. For Windows 7:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recoveryAnd for 8.1, maybe also 8.0:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-mediaI'm not sure whether it will ask for your product key if you have a computer that came with 8.0/8.1, but if it does, there are ways of retrieving the product key from the system firmware where it is stored (since 8.0/8.1 computers from big computer makers don't have product key stickers). If it is needed, I'll post a link to one of those, too.
There's also this one to try for 8.0 and 8.1:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only
Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Feb 27 2015, 4:18 am by ShadowFlare.
None.
How does Windows know you're installing it to the same machine as before? I've always been curious about that.
We can't explain the universe, just describe it; and we don't know whether our theories are true, we just know they're not wrong. >Harald Lesch
They don't. It's like asking how they know you will not copy the store bought windows dvd and give it to your friend.
Ah okay, you said that to me originally and my dumb phone wasn't letting me respond to sbox posts (for some dumb reason).
The reason I would be okay with buying a new version for re-installation is because I wouldn't want the bloatware that comes on many laptops now, and that would be for certain just a vanilla version of windows. I guess my concern was that if I re-installed with my old key, or with the back up on my machine, it would also reload the bloatware. I don't know why the bloatware, which is third party, would be connected to the OS but it is something I was led to believe is true when you reinstall an old key. I can be completely wrong on this, of course.
An artist's depiction of an Extended Unit Death
How does Windows know you're installing it to the same machine as before? I've always been curious about that.
I could be mistaken on this, but I believe they use store some hardware information when validating the key.
I don't know why the bloatware, which is third party, would be connected to the OS but it is something I was led to believe is true when you reinstall an old key. I can be completely wrong on this, of course.
Where would it get the bloatware? It's not contained in the installation files for Windows, and it's not like Microsoft keeps a database of what bloatware belongs to which key so it can download and install it all for you. In actuality, Windows won't even know most of the drivers your computer needs, so after reinstalling you have to go to the manufacturer's site and manually install those.
The key is simply used for validation. It has no effect on the system beyond showing that you have a genuine copy of Windows installed.
Installing or recovering with the
manufacturer's disk image, on the other hand, would give you all that wonderful bloatware.
Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Feb 27 2015, 11:19 am by Roy.
Installing or recovering with the manufacturer's disk image, on the other hand, would give you all that wonderful bloatware.
In my experience the manufacturer rarely provides disks. They provide you with a method to create a recovery DVD set, which usually spans about 4 DVDs for a 2.5 GB OS.
Dell is one of the better ones, since they provide an actual dell ISO with only dell branded logos in the logo locations and the SLP key pre-entered.
"Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Chairman - do we have to call the Gentleman a gentleman if he's not one?"
