Replacing hard drive and Windows product key

[Newcomer2018]

Hi Paul_Tikkanen, 

Very nice explaination. Thanks for it.

I have a question, I installed windows 7 home to my laptop that has windows 10 home on it before. I am trying to make windows 7 iso file on that laptop. I tried to make windows 10 iso file from my other desktop pc which has win 10 pro installed on it and it allow me to download win 10 iso and also allow me to make a bootable usb but the same thing didn't work while i was trying to make win-7 iso from my laptop.

Please suggest me how can i download windows 7 iso from my laptop ( assuming i have win 10 pro on my desktop it won't allow me to download iso for win-7 because at step-1 it asks to enter product key).

Thanks in advance.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If there is no option to skip entering the W7 product key, then you will have to enter it.

But I thought that  you can just click on the Next button, and W7 will continue to install, and you can enter the product key afterward when W7 asks to be activated.

[olhof]

Hi' Paul_Tikkanen

Thank you for a precise answer and a very quick response to my original question concerning  replacing hard drive/windows product key. It is always a pleasure to communicate with you…:o)! 

I understand that your first answer to me (no need for a product key) is still valid even though it has disappeared from the forum.

Please allow me one additional question. Before I try to replace my hard drive I would like to make a full system backup on my USB connected mass storage which I normally use to backup (copy) my personal files to.

Is this possible? In other words does it have to be a dedicated mass storage containing only the system backup?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The post was moved because on this forum it is preferred that a new topic is started.

Also the post was moved because a new forum member named Newcomer2018 posted on the original thread you posted.

You can do a full system image including the OS, programs and files using the built in tool in W10/W7, or you can use a free imaging tool such as Macrium Reflect.

https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

With either utility, you will need to create a rescue (startup) bootable DVD or USB flash drive which you boot from to reinstall your system image which you saved to a portable hard drive.

[Newcomer2018]

Hi Paul,

On my laptop I already have windows 7 home o.s. installed and activated, I do have windows 7 product key. I entered windows 7 product key, WHILE MAKING WIN-7 ISO from my laptop but it didnt work eventhoug the same product key i used to activate windows 7 while downgrading from win-10 home to win 7 home on my LAPTOP.

I dont have any installation issue regarding win-7 on my laptop but just want to make a library of iso files, that is the reason why i am trying to download iso of win-7 on my laptop.

My guess is that it will allow only if i have windows 7 pre-installed on my system, NOT if i downgrade my o.s. from win-10 to win 7.

I hope i make it clear. 

Without entering product key it wont allow me to goto next step i.e. download iso for win7.

While, dowloading win 10 iso, they download center took the product key itself, and DID NOT ask any question to enter product key while making iso for  win-10 on my DESKTOP.

Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

If you are using a W7 OEM product key, you can't download an ISO file from Microsoft.

You can only use a W7 full retail product key to download an ISO file from Microsoft.

You can download a W7 Home Premium ISO file from this 3rd party website, but I cannot vouch for its integrity.

I did see that the 64 bit ISO download file was 3.09 GB in size, which matches the file size you get from Microsoft.

Also it is probably only in English.

http://getintopc.com/softwares/operating-systems/windows-7-home-premium-free-download-iso-32-bit-64-...

[jorkki]

There is also a German site that has archived several version when they were still freely available via Digital River.

Have not downloaded any myself to test but here's the link:

https://mirror.corenoc.de/digitalrivercontent.net/

[Newcomer2018]

Thanks Paul. 

I think i have to have a full version of Win 7 product key thats a retail one to download win 7 iso file.

I will do that.

Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

[Newcomer2018]

I prefer to get the licence version of win-7.

Thanks for the info.