Recovery Media Interchangable??

[TyZed]

HP Slimline 410 Desktop with Windows 10 64-bit (not in use)

HP Pavilion dv7 Laptop with Windows 7 Home 64-bit (in use)

Q:   Created recovery discs for both systems right at startup prior to use. I question whether or not I can install the un-used Windows 10 from the HP desktop recovery cds onto the HP laptop (currently with W7)??

I attempted to boot recovery cd and install, but got an error about a minute in saying something along the lines of unable to install, with a couple codes, I CAN provide later if necessary.

Is it possible to re-use W10 recovery cds on different HP systems??

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Unfortunately, that isn't possible.  Recovery media is model-specific.

You may still be able to upgrade to W10 for free from W7.

See the info at the link below.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-how-you-can-still-get-a-free-windows-10-upgrade/

If you want to give it a try, click on the blue Update Now button at the link below.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

If you are asked to enter a product key during the installation process, select the 'I don't have a product key' option and W10 will install and hopefully activate once you are connected to the internet.

You should also be aware that most dv7's will not work with W10, unless they only have Intel processors and Intel graphics, or are dv7-7xxx models.

You may also find that the audio, wifi and bluetooth (if applicable) won't work on W10 on all dv7 notebooks.

[TyZed]

Perfect. I will give this a try and update the post. I had Read about the tool but didn't fully understand the 'later-activated' options. I think the laptop is actually a later Dv6 model with custom Dv7 hardware and it seems to fit in nicely to the requirements.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

If you need any help with drivers after the update to W10, please let me know, and I will see what I can do to help.

[TyZed]

All seems well after the Windows 10 installation. The hardware is recognized, and the Windows 10 itself seemed to self-activate through my Microsoft account ID??

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Glad everything worked for you.

If you check under Settings>Update & Security>Activation, it should show that Windows is activated with a digital license.