Cannot Download Windows 7 ISO to reinstall Windows 7

[cooldork2487]

I tried to download the Windows 7 ISO so I can make a bootable USB from it to completely reinstall Windows 7 "barebones". It said that my windows key I used to download the Windows 7 ISO was an OEM key. How can I download Windows 7 ISO?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can download the ISO file as follows...

Click on the Windows ISO Downloader.exe link to download the tool to create the W7 ISO file download.

Select the W7 COEM ISO file download version for the product key the OS is good for, which is the OEM operating system ISO file.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-and-office-iso-downl...

I have zipped up and attached the Microsoft utility below, that will allow you to either put the file on a USB flash drive or burn it to a DVD.

Then you can install the drivers and available software you need from your PC's support page.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/HP-Pavilion-dv6-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-series/40...

If the Microsoft tool doesn't work to burn a DVD, use this free DVD burning software to burn the ISO file to a DVD.

 Select the "Burn ISO file option."

https://cdburnerxp.se/en/download

Burn it at the slowest speed you can.

[cooldork2487]

Thanks for the quick response Paul_Tikkanen. I have been struggling through downloading some things with Windows Update to even get to use the program you suggested (I needed Microsoft .NET Framework installed). Am currently downloading ISO from the program, and am going to use Rufus to create a bootable USB with the ISO. I'll report back on how the install goes. 

...Right now with a "new" Windows 7 install from a random Google search for a Windows 7 ISO the windows will not authenticate. Hence why I posted here

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If you live in an EU country, the ISO files you download from public sites won't work with the product key, because EU countries use the 'N' version of Windows.

If you live in the USA, Canada, Australia, and a few other countries, the ISO file from the site I posted should work.

If you live in an EU country, you will have no other option that I know of, except to order W7 recovery media from HP.

[cooldork2487]

So, I download and installed the ISO just fine. I waited to activate Windows 7 until Windows Updater was completely done (bunch of restarts and update checks).

I use the OEM product key and get the error code 0xC004E003

Which means it's an OEM product key, I have to use the one that's on the sticker underneath my laptop. My sticker is warn so I can't read the letters and numbers. I used a program before my computer was wiped to find my product key (the OEM one apparently). Called HP and they want to charge me $59.99 USD for support to find my Windows key.

I may have had Windows Vista originally on my computer. Would this be creating the issue with activation? Or what other ideas do you guys and gals out there have?! Much appreciated

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can only use the W7 product key on the label and if it is unreadable, then your only other option would be to purchase recovery media.

The key you got from inside windows is an OEM Volume License Key (VLK), and you can't use that to activate windows with, because it is already pre-activated.

HP no longer sells recovery media for your notebook, which according to the specs, originally came with W7.

You can still order recovery media from this non-HP vendor at the link below.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/p-19970-windows-7-premium-professional-64b-recovery-kit-601556-001-f...