AFTER HARD RESET--Reinstalling Windows 7 and Microsoft Office using code on PC

[amandab33]

Thank you for your help.  I guess what I'm saying is there is no option of "Recovery Discs" anywhere on the download page, which I learned means that there is no longer a Recovery Kit available for my PC from HP. HP suggests googling recovery options for my PC, which means I'll need to pay $27 from a third party site. 

Does that sound right? 

[mdklassen]

> When I tried to reinstall windows 7, the Windows sticker on my PC gives a code that is not working in order to re-install it. 

What is the specific model-name of your computer?

What media are you using to try to do the install? 

Is it the disk that originally came with your computer?

If so, then Windows should install WITHOUT asking you to enter the 25-character product-key?

Is it a "retail" copy of Windows Home Edition 64-bit, purchased from any "big-box" electronics store?

If so, then the product-key that came with the software, or the product-key on the decal should work.

During the installation, disconnect your Ethernet cable from your computer.

During the installation, are you asked for a product-key?

Can you enter that correctly, or do you get an error-message that the product-key is incorrect?

Take a very close look at that product-key, e.g., 'OH' versus 'QUEUE', and 'EYE' versus 'ONE', to make sure that you are entering it correctly.

[mdklassen]

> I would like to use my code that was given to me on the sticker on my PC.

If you have a product-key, click "Change product key".

[amandab33]

When my rebooting process was broken,, I used a Windows 7 Professional CD to start it. When my key that is on my tower didn't work with it, I used an activation code for the "Pro" version that I found online. Now it's telling me it's a counterfeit copy, and it still works but it gives me the counterfeit warning every hour. I'd love to use my "Home" version key that comes with my computer. But if the best way to achieve this is to just Restore it completely using the Recovery Disc Kit, then I would love to do that. The only way I have found to do it is by purchasing it from this site: 

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-17904-windows-7-64-bit-recovery-kit-b7c92av-for-hp-model-number-p6...

My PC Model is: 

HP Pavilion p6313w Desktop PC

Is there a better/easier way to restore my PC without buying a kit from computersurgeons.com? 

To answer part of your question: 

Is it the disk that originally came with your computer?

If so, then Windows should install WITHOUT asking you to enter the 25-character product-key?

Answer: No, I no longer have my disk that came with my computer. That's why I was trying to get a disk that would prompt me to enter a validation code at startup. Currently, it boots on the counterfeit copy and I don't want that. 

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

> Now it's telling me it's a counterfeit copy, and it still works but it gives me the counterfeit warning every hour.

You're a victim of "bad timing".  Had you accepted Microsoft's year-long offer to upgrade to Windows 10 for free, it would have upgraded even a "counterfeit" version of Windows 7.

I've heard a story that users of Windows 7 requiring "assistive technologies" (like that "Narrator" that I mentioned) are still (January 2017) eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 10, because Microsoft wants those people to benefit from Windows 10.  Currently, I have no need for such technologies, and have not actually tried to do that upgrade on a "test" computer.  You might want to do a little research about that story.

> I'd love to use my "Home" version key that comes with my computer. 

Find somebody with the retail "Windows 7 Home Edition 64-bit" version, and get them to burn a copy of it.

The product-key on the decal on your computer should successfully activate.

Then, access the HP Support site, to get the HP-specific device-drivers.