Presario CQ56 Notebook - Windows Key Issue

[TimmyP1955]

The hard drive died.  I installed a new drive and attempted to load Windows (a download from Microsoft, but it will not accept the product key because it's a Compaq key, not a MS key.  Is there a download available from Compaq/HP?  I've not been able to find one.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

HP never offered W7 for download.

You had to buy recovery disks for the specific model notebook and HP no longer sells them directly.

If you went to the Microsoft site to download W7 and got the message that the key was OEM and you need to get the OS from the manufacturer, you can do this...

Below is the link to the W7 Home Premium 64 bit English ISO file.   The link will be good for 24 hours from the time of this reply.

https://download.microsoft.com/download/E/A/8/EA804D86-C3DF-4719-9966-6A66C9306598/7601.24214.180801...

Use the Microsoft tool that I zipped up and attached below to transfer the ISO file to a USB flash drive or DVD so that it is bootable, or you can use a different utility such as Rufus or your DVD burning program's Burn ISO file option.

Since the file is a retail file and the product key is OEM, you may have to use the Microsoft automated phone activation system to activate the installation.

[TimmyP1955]

Thank you.  I will give 'em a go.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

[TimmyP1955]

Solved.

This worked smoothly, and it accepted the factory key.

Perhaps I had inadvertently used an iso other than 7, or maybe the file you supplied did the trick.

Thanks again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.