Old HP 450 G3 laptop was sold with Windows 7 Pro installed, but I only have the Windows 10 disc

[needinfo7]

I have an old HP 450 G3 laptop that is still working. It has Windows 7 Pro 64-bit installed, and was sold with it pre-installed. I never had any disc whatsoever for Windows 7. The computer came with a disc for Windows 10 Pro, supposedly in case of recovery.

Now, a program I run on this computer that constantly uses the Internet has stated that they will stop providing that program for Windows 7 users (the deadline already passed). Mostly I use this computer for that. However, in theory, if I was able to change this computer to Windows 10 using that disc, maybe I could run that program again. So I was thinking to see if it would be possible to install Windows 10 using the Windows 10 disc that came with it, and if I did that I could use what I need to use. 

However, there are some issues.
1. I have no idea what the Windows 7 product key was. I have searched all information I have that came with the computer and I do not have this key. I am certain of this. It is not on the bottom of the computer or anywhere else.
2. There is no Windows 10 product key with the Windows 10 disc either.

I am afraid to attempt to install the Windows 10 disc because if I do, there is nothing to go back to. If this doesn't work, I could end up with a completely non-functional computer with no OS. I would rather just keep using what I can on this computer on Windows 7 instead of completely having to throw it in the trash.

So: here is what I need to know.
- Will I be able to install the Windows 10 disc that came with the computer for free?
- Will I be asked for a product key?
- I have already attempted to contact HP for support but am unable to do so because all their automated systems stop me at the serial number claiming "expired." Anyway it is certainly not expired. It is just an old computer. I spent more than an hour trying to find how to contact support and it's completely useless. There is no way to do that because their automated systems say "expired" and won't let me get past that point. I've already wasted a huge amount of time with zero result.

It seems to be impossible to actually contact anyone at HP. But I am sure that thousands of these computers were sold in this fashion. I just don't want to end up having to throw this computer in the trash because of attempting to install Windows 10 and it not working. If that is what is going to happen, it would be better to just leave this as-is and not do anything else.

**Please don't tell me to buy a new computer--if I could do that I wouldn't need to ask about this. I am sure lots of people have had this issue because they bought a computer like this.

Thank you very much for your help.

[BeemerBiker]

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@needinfo7 wrote:

I have an old HP 450 G3 laptop that is still working. It has Windows 7 Pro 64-bit installed, and was sold with it pre-installed. I never had any disc whatsoever for Windows 7. The computer came with a disc for Windows 10 Pro, supposedly in case of recovery.

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This is not an HP problem.  Microsoft is not longer providing a free upgrade to Windows 10.

------option 1---------

I recommend Ubuntu Desktop, it does not require as much memory as Windows and it is not subject to the virus and trojan problem that Windows has.  There is Ubuntu community where you can get help.

------option 2---------

You can always put windows 11 on it.  There will be a nag message reminding you to activate it .  Some cosmetic functions will not work.   See this post for how to install 23h2 Win11 on your laptop.   The windows 10 drivers should work fine but I recommend you make an image backup in case you want to go back to windows 7.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, @needinfo7 

It is very possible that your notebook has a W10 product key encrypted in the BIOS and was sold from HP with W7 Pro installed with downgrade rights from W10 Pro.

There would be no W7 product key label.

You can run the free utility that I zipped up and attached below and if your notebook has a W10 OEM product key, it will show that key and the version of W10 the key is good for.

If the report shows the W10 product key, you can clean install W10, and you won't even need to enter the product key.

[needinfo7]

Thank you very much for making that. Now to interpret what it said.
Product name: Windows 7 Pro
Version: [Redacted] 64-bit OS
Product ID: [Redacted]
Installed key: [Redacted, 25 digits separated by hyphens after each 5]
OEM key: [Redacted, 25 digits separated by hyphens after each 5]
OEM edition: Windows 10 RTM Professional OEM:DM

So what does this mean?
- Does the "installed key" mean that key is for Windows 7?
- Please explain what "OEM key" is and what the info under "OEM edition" means. Is "OEM key" the Windows 10 disc key?
- Would it work if I tried to install the Windows 10 disc?

Thank you so much!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Exactly as I suspected.

Your notebook came with a W10 pro license/key with downgrade rights to W7 Pro.

You can clean install W10 with a plain W10 USB installation media you create with the media creation tool from the link below, or you can use the HP cloud recovery client to create a bootable USB recovery drive that will reinstall W10.

Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

The cloud recovery client software can be downloaded from the link below:

HP ProBook 450 G3 Notebook PC Software and Driver Details

Info link for how to use the utility:

HP Business PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Client in Windows 11 and Windows 10 | HP® Customer Sup...

The W10 Pro OEM product key will work with either method to install W10.

[needinfo7]

Thank you. some of this I understand, and some if it I don't.

These are the physical discs I have in my possession that pertain to this:
- Windows 10 operating system DVD
- Application and driver recovery DVD (contains software for Windows 10)

But you're telling me to download a bunch of stuff from online and didn't mention these discs at all.
Some questions:
1. Are you saying I should not use the discs I have at all? And if so, why? Is there a reason why I should download it from online? (Of course updates would have to be installed later after the discs, if I used those)
2. I don't understand what the "HP recovery client" software is supposed to do. What does that do, and do I actually need to install that? My impression of this procedure was that I would install Windows 10, and then the app/driver recovery DVD, and then do various Windows updates and update drivers, and then I would re-install all other programs from scratch. And then I'd have to transfer my personal files to the computer.
3. Especially the HP recovery client thing, it shows on there that I'd have to enter my serial number, which so far every single time I have entered that in any HP automated system, it is full stop and I can't proceed beyond that point due to it being "Expired" so anything that requires that in an HP automated system may be a no-go and could stop me from doing that.

Please advise?

Thank you

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Yes, you can use those disks if they are HP disks.

I don't use DVD's anymore.

It's much easier to use the online tools to create USB installation media.

Read the link I posted for how to use the cloud recovery tool.

That tells you everything you need to know about using it.

You should be able to use the cloud recovery client on W7 and it should automatically pick up your notebook's serial number.

[needinfo7]

Thank you! I wanted to update this with the results since other people might also be having this problem. I used the provided Windows 10 Pro disc that came with the computer to re-install the operating system, and it did not ask me for a product key. I also used the "Recovery and drivers" disc that contained the software for Windows 10, and succeeded in the re-installation. It will take some time to do the updates, but thanks so much for your help.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.