Restore Win 7 to a downgraded XP PC

[ges9167]

I have an old PC which came with Windows 7 Pro downgraded to XP Pro. 

I wish to factory reset it or do a system recovery to restore it to Windows 7. The PC has the original HP_ Recovery partition.

The Windows 7 product key sticker is still legible on the case. I'm not sure if I have any of the original discs. 

Unlike Windows 7, I can find a restore option by using the F keys. 

Any suggestions how to do this would be appreciated. One thought was to just boof from any Windows 7 disc and input the product key from the casing?

Thanks for your help

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If tapping the ESC key at the beginning of the HP welcome screen and then selecting  the F11 recovery option doesn't work to factory reset the PC, then you would have to clean install W7.

Unless you have a W7 Pro installation DVD, you can't use any W7 disk to install W7.

Here is a link to download W7 Pro SP1 x64, english, and you can use the product key on your PC's case to activate the installation.

https://software-download.microsoft.com/pr/Win7_Pro_SP1_English_x64.iso?t=1af37504-ed16-4a1b-9558-5e...

This link will only be good for 24 hours...

I have zipped up and attached the Microsoft utility below, that will transfer the ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive so that it is bootable.

[ges9167]

Thanks very much, downloading at the moment, but will check the esc, F11 option first.

I have found a WIn 7 Pro HP disc, but unsure if it was the one that came with this PC, would that matter?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Usually the recovery partition will be for the operating system currently installed (WXP), if the PC came from HP with WXP installed.

They should have supplied a W7 Pro installation disk to install W7.

[ges9167]

I have found a Win 7 pro HP disc, just not sure if for this specific PC would that matter?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

It shouldn't matter if it is just a plain W7 Pro installation disk.

Some PC's have a set of disks you use to reinstall W7 and the programs that came with the PC and those would only work on the model PC they were made for.

Here's what I recommend you do...finish downloading the ISO file and save it off the PC.

Then try your W7 Pro installation disk.

If it doesn't work, use the Microsoft tool I attached to make the ISO file bootable.

[ges9167]

Great thanks, will give that a go. Will let you know how I get on.

[ges9167]

It seems to have installed fine from the Win 7 disc. Hasn't asked for the Product Key so must have found a file somewhere. But all looks good.

Thanks very much for your help!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.