Fresh Install of Windows on Pre-installed Computer

[t0ttz305]

Dear All,

I have taken ownership of a HP Pavilion HPE h8-1050 Desktop PC. It came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Edition.  The previous owner didn't take care of it. I want to do a fresh install of Windows 7 without the bloatware, etc. I want to format the drives as I wish, etc. 

I am also curious to know if there's a way to save the network configuration of the PC and reload it after I do a fresh install? 

I don't have a Windows 7 install CD. This is where I get lost. How do I do this?

Thanks in advance!

Sincerely,

Thor

[itsmyname]

Is this your computer: HP Pavilion HPE h8-1050 Desktop PC Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

It was manufactured in 2011.  That is a long time ago.

However, see: Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

Your pre-2014 computer may be compatible with Windows 10. 

Most computers of that vintage were not tested to be compatible with Windows 10.

If asked for a product-key, use the Windows 7 product-key (on the label on the outside of the case), or click "I do not have one" -- you can "test-drive" Windows 10, without a product-key.

Note that Microsoft support for Windows 7 ended in Spring 2020.  So, any Windows 7 installation has become susceptible to computer-viruses written since then. So, it's a bad idea to use Windows 7.

Finally, how old is the disk-drive? Ten years? Such an "antique" should be retired, especially if you install Windows 10, and want to use Windows 10 until Spring 2025, when Microsoft's support for Windows 10 will terminate.

[t0ttz305]

Hello,

Thanks for your reply.  I have software that operates only on 7 and I am not upgrading it. 

I want to stick with the same operating system -- Windows 7. 

I don't know about the hard drives. I'm not concerned.

Can I use any Windows 7 Home Edition CD to install it? 

Is there a way to save the network configuration? and use it on my fresh install? 

Thank you.

Thor

[WAWood]

@t0ttz305 

I remember that when MS used to provide downloads of Win7, using a retail product key, you could download Win7, create as ISO file and a DVD from that, and then use that DVD to refresh your HP PC even though the HP had an OEM version of Windows on it.

But, MS sold two different DVDs of Win7 -- Retail and System Builder.  My guess is that the first will require a retail product key (which you do not have) but the second will accept your OEM key.  But, this is only a guess.

As to the network configuration, there is a freeware app known as CloneApp which actually saves Settings not Apps, but I have not used it, so I can not confirm that it works.