-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
-
×InformationNeed Windows 11 help?Check documents on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes.
Windows 11 Support Center. -
- HP Community
- Desktops
- Business PCs, Workstations and Point of Sale Systems
- OS reinstall after HDD crash. Win 7 Ult EMB x32/x64

Create an account on the HP Community to personalize your profile and ask a question
08-17-2023 08:20 AM
At work we have an HP Compaq Elite 8300 Ultra-Slim Desktop. The computer's HDD crashed and was replaced. We now need to reinstall the operating system, but I cannot locate any install media for the previously licensed operating system. According to the license sticker attached to the computer, it had Windows 7 ULT EMB x32/x64 installed. I installed Windows 7 Professional, but it does not accept the product key printed on the software license sticker. I tried searching for an ISO image of this specific version of Windows 7 but have not been successful. Where can I get hold of this installation media, we really do not want to try and buy a new Windows 7 license. This computer is connected to an instrument and its software cannot run on Windows 10. There should be no need to buy a new license after replacing the HDD on the computer. Would someone be able to point me in the right direction to get hold of the correct Windows 7 version's ISO image?
08-17-2023 12:25 PM - edited 08-17-2023 12:34 PM
windows 7 embedded was a niche product compared to the consumer releases, as such your chances of locating it to buy from a trusted source is extremely low
this is a ebay listing of a win 7 embedded sata SSD from a HP T610 that might activate on your box also if the os matches IE 32 or 64 bit
your best bet is to buy a system like a HP z230/z240 SFF (small form factor) that came with windows 7 professional as a factory option if for some reason the retail win 7 fails to work on your existing box
note that since most of them on ebay have been upgraded to win 10/10 you will need to acquire a retail or the HP OEM ver of win 7 prof
retail copies of win 7 prof can be bought on ebay and should also install on your existing box, however you will need to install drivers manually