Installing Windows with a Key from a Dead Laptop

I have a dead laptop with a Window 7 key.

I'm currently building a new system.

Is there a way to legitimately get a Windows 7 install disc and use the key from the laptop? Can it be downloaded? The laptop did not come with a Windows 7 disk.

If it's the OS that came with the laptop, it can only be used on that laptop unfortunately.

I did this for my mother-in-law's computer, but unfortunately there's no legitimate download for the W7 install disc (well there is, but it doesn't accept OEM keys). Once I installed W7 from another disc Windows accepted the product key, however.

Alright. So I need to find a Win7 install CD.

Many thanks.

CrawlingChaos wrote:

Alright. So I need to find a Win7 install CD.

Many thanks.

Try entering the product key here: Welcome to Microsoft Software Recovery

No idea if it will work with the laptop's OEM key.

Similar thing with my wife's computer. She's got a 4-year-old HP desktop (bought before we met, or I would've built it myself). It's getting bogged down with the usual cruft of her using it and being an old install. I have no idea if she's got a recovery disc anywhere, and I don't think I'd want to use it anyway, since it'll come with all the preinstalled crap (yay Norton!) that I don't want.

I've got a Win 7 upgrade disc. Is there a way to pull the key off her system, then use the disc to do a clean install?

Of course, this my all be moot because she also says she doesn't want to lose her current install of AutoCAD, because something about the new version having a crappy licensing agreement or something. If I can't lose that install, than a fresh OS install is probably out the window.

I'm not sure if you can do a clean install off an upgrade disc, but you can extract the key from your registry with Magical Jelly Bean key finder.

A buddy at work has Win7 SP1 as a bootable install USB key. That should work with the key she's got?

That should work. You might need to call in to activate though.

Try this link:

http://www.howtogeek.com/186775/how-...

Then this one to install without a CD key, then use the info to add your Upgrade License after:

http://winsupersite.com/windows-7/cl...

FWIW, I was able to add the product key from the bottom of the laptop when asked by Win7 during install, no further mucking about needed.