problem with windows 7 activation

[dionisis1]

Good day: straight to the point:

- I bought laptop with windows 7 pre-installed

-I upgraded to windows 10

-I wanted to install linux mint 19.1. Installation warned me about my windows not being uefi enabled or something.

- I continued installation in uefi mode, linux worked normally, windows installation did not boot again.

- I formatted everything, and want to install everything from start.

- I don't have a windows installation disc, I do have the product key beneath the laptop.

- Went to microsoft.com, tried to download windows 7 iso image. Site asked for my product key.

- Entered product key, it answered that this product key belongs to a manufacturer-installed installation, and I should contact the manufacturer about, I don't know.

So I am contacting the manufacturer. How do I get my windows 7 back?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

This is a peer to peer forum, not HP technical support.

HP no longer sells W7 recovery media for the g6 model series, so you would have to see if you could buy it from this 3rd party vendor for your specific model g6.

http://www.computersurgeons.com/

You can also make your own plain W7 installation media since you can read the product key...

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

Select the Windows COEM ISO file download for the version of W7 the product key is good for.

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.

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."   Burn the DVD at the slowest possible speed you can to get a strong burn.

https://cdburnerxp.se/en/download

[WAWood]

@dionisis1

First off, your version of Win7 is an HP OEM version that came preinstalled; the MS download is for a Retail version, so it wants a Retail product key -- which you do not have.

Second, you can't do a Rollback to Win7 because the Win10 Upgrade has a sorry history of corrupting the HP Recovery files in the process of doing the Upgrade.  So, even if you tried it and it appeared to work, in fact, it would fail.

Third, HP has stopped carrying Win7 recovery media, so it is unlikely you can purchase it from HP.  You could try this other source but they don't carry much anymore either:  http://www.computersurgeons.com/
Fourth, since HP OEM Recovery Media for Win7 is no longer available, An alternative site is here: https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool
Download the Windows ISO Downloader.exe file and run it.
When the window opens, select the Windows tab in the upper-right and then click the Windows 7 radio button.
Under Select edition, choose the Windows 7 SP1 OEM Home or Pro -- to match what you have.
That will download an ISO file of the same OEM edition that HP uses.
You can then use the free RUFUS tool to create a DVD or USB stick from that ISO file and then use that to install Win7 OEM.

[dionisis1]

Thanks for your quick answers guys. I didn't know it was a peer to peer community. And this certainly did not help me realise it:

So both your answers point towards downloading an .exe file from a third party source, when I have no windows pc (on which to run the .exe), and when I have paid for both the laptop and the windows copy. I guess I have no other choice. (Note to self: keep that in mind for future purchases of HP and Microsoft products).

In any case, thank you for you answers. I apreciate them. I will return with the results

[WAWood]

@dionisis1

We both recommended a third-party source because HP carries Recovery Media for only so many years -- and they don't carry much of Win7 media anymore. 

We were trying to be helpful in providing you a source so you could restore your PC to a working state since you can't get the media from Microsoft.

No OEM supports their PCs forever -- and I think you will find the similar recovery media time limits with other OEMs, as well.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.