Hp Pavilion dv7- Recover Windows 7 without the disk

[crabbattle]

I reinstalled windows 7 home premium on my machine, using the same serial number as the one that came with the laptop (I found the serial number by downloading some software that scanned my computer and told me what it was).

After installing windows, it told me that it was not genuine. I imagine that it is because it wasn't a version of Windows that has all that HP software pre-loaded on it. My hard drive still has a "recovery" partition, but I have no idea what to do with that, or even if I can do anything with it anymore. 

So how can I make my Windows 7 home premium genuine? Do I have to reinstall another version of windows 7 home premium with the HP software included? Where do I find such download? Since I don't have a recovery disk, can I use that "recovery" partition of my hard drive for something?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[danny29186]

you should be able to use your recovery partition by restarting your laptop, at startup it should say somewhere boot options, press f8 etc, it should give you a boot from recovery option

[Sanchertx]

Hello,

If your Recovery Partition is still in tact,

then you can run HP Recovery and get back the original factory image including an activated OS.

Here are the instructions.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01867418

[wes_notebooks · Accepted solution]

Hi crabbattle,

The key for the original version installed on your PC only works with OEM versions of Windows.  You'll need to use the key that came with the retail version of Windows you purchased, or use the recovery software on the PC.

You can access recovery using the F11 key during boot or order discs from HP.  There's more recovery info here.

-wes

[crabbattle]

Thanks everyone. That makes complete sense!