Question regarding Alienware Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 Disc that came with the laptop

Hey guys, i have some question, Alienware included a Disc in color black labeling Alienware Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 and it says "For Distribution only with a new Alienware PC".

Does it mean i can use this disc to an ssd for a fresh clean windows 7 installation instead of burning an ISO to a blank dvd or usb flash drive?

Is the disc like a bootable windows 7 iso already made for us or is it a factory restore disc?

I'm confuse.


Thanks

 

It's not a restore disk. It is a bootable OEM Windows 7 disk that will only allow activation on a Dell/Alienware PC.

If you haven't done so yet, you should create Alien Respawn media and set that aside in case you need it.

 

Thanks for reply, does that mean i can use that alienware black labeled windows 7 disc on a new SSD to clean install windows 7 then a forget downloading an iso to burn to blank dvd or usb flash stick?

 

Yes, that is correct.

 

Do I still need to activate it after installing it on a fresh SSD clean install using the Alienware Windows 7 Disc?

Reason i asked is when i did this in the past with a burn iso in a blank dvd, i had to use ABR to reactivate windows.

 

You should have no issues with activation when using the OEM disk to install on a system it is licensed for. I've never had any.

 

Thanks. BTW last question, you mentioned that i need to backup my my factory condition via alienrespawn, can i ask why i need to do that when i can use the 2 disc that came with my Aienware with the 1st disc for fresh bootable windows 7 and the 2nd disc being the alienware drivers/utilities.

I mean i can just reinstall clean windows with the 1st that came with the box then use the 2nd disc that also came with the box to install necessary drivers right?

 

Only a suggestion, not a requirement... You don't need to unless you want to do a factory restore. You might not care now, and may never care. If you make the Respawn media, you'll have it available. If you don't, you won't.

Don't use the drivers and utilities on the resource disk unless you confirm the latest drivers and utilities available for download at support.dell.com are the same version. Generally, those available for download from Dell are newer than what is on the disk.

 

Thanks Fox

 

I'll add that using that disc will also restore back the Alienware specific backgrounds and themes that came with your system. It is relatively painless as long as you downloaded all the drivers in advance.

 

I have a question: OEM liscences are allowed to be transferred so long as its a part upgrade and such, like a motherboard for instance..right?

In the past I had to always call MS up and give them some code when I did them, and effectively unsubscribing the previous board..

what about people who have say an m18x previous gen getting upgraded to the latest AW 18 for instance, but it comes with windows8.

would the win 7 install media technically work ? Would that be within the limitations of the OEM media too ? It is for desktops.. but what about laptops ?

Or are these disks branded for a specific model only.... or work on any ALIENWARE... that's what I want to know. because, my upgrade, is windows 8 and I'm not thrilled about it. Would much prefer my windows 7.

However, my windows 7 is home premium, which only supports 16gb RAM (though you can of course still access the other 16GB if you know how to, or simply use it for a ram drive, if you use the right software too..)

Could I therefore, use the windows 7 media, install it, do an anytime upgrade (or transfer my existing one, that I did for the m18x-r2..and paid for) to the new AW 18.. since I won't have the old m18x-r2 once the 10 days are up and I'm forced to return it as part of the deal in the exchange.

Anouther reason why I ask, is because , well, my system won't even have cd-rom device with it even... which means I have to use an external or install an internal anyways, and then theres the whole secureboot stuff to deal with...

I'm sure this is something worth knowing. I wouldn't bother asking anyone from tech support. they try and tell you that if you open up your laptop your voiding warranty - which I derp at. Not even concerned as my warranty died out looong ago, 2 months ago, while Ive been waiting for the replacement.. which they assure me is this week before the very end of August...

 

Per licensing rules only the system builder can transfer the license to another system and only in the event that certain components failed (I don't remember exactly which ones). Therefore ourselves, as customers of Dell/Alienware, can't transfer the license ourselves.

While the media would technically work it isn't licensed for that platform. Windows 8 doesn't have the OS downgrade option anymore (afaik anyways) and you can't use the Windows 7 OEM license from another computer to provide it with an installation.

The media will not activate on another brand since the key provided on the dvd isn't for that brand.

You would need a valid license key and media. You can use a USB drive version of the install media if you want. If you want to use a higher edition than Home Premium you can buy OEM and Retail licenses for the higher editions. I believe they can be purchased via the anytime upgrade path in the OS as well. As mentioned above you can't use an OEM license from another computer.

Microsoft provides a tool to help. Microsoft Store

Secure Boot will have to be off for Windows 7 since it isn't supported by the OS.

 

when you say we can not transfer the licenses, do you mean lawfully, or physically can not do anything about it ourselves, without Alienware/Dells involvement directly?

what about calling MS up and explaining its a mother board replacement ? What if I go into the new AW and edit my service tag directly ? This make any difference?

Sorry for the tad annoying questions. Just always wondered. Never bothered.

 

Mostly just lawfully as per their licensing agreement. If you are installing on another machine that came with Windows 7 (or newer I think) there isn't really anything that stops you otherwise.

Microsoft will likely see it was a Dell issued key and ask you to call Dell.

No worries.

 

ah so, they will treat it different then OEm store bought editions per se... like the system builder OEM packages you can buy.. I guess they simply buy a liscence and do some slipstreaming and register keys/users themselves..

Im going to find out, im curious about this. Might take me a week to get definite , all possibilities down, from experience. but when I do, ill post here.. sure it could help some people who are just as curious.

Thanks for clarification in your replies Shinji

 

You'll probably want Secure Boot disabled even if you are running Windows 8. It really offers nothing of value as far as I am concerned, and it's an unwarranted hassle for most users to have to deal with.

If you have a Windows 7 DVD from an Alienware M18xR1/R2 it should work fine on your 18 that came preinstalled with Windows 8. I had no trouble installing Windows 7 on the 18 using the DVD from the older model. It installed for me without any product key entry and was activated by the SLIC certificate in the BIOS.

You can also use a Windows 7 ISO from Digital River to create new DVD or USB installation media and use your Dell/Alienware Windows 7 product key. I have done this numerous times for a clean Windows 7 install without using the Alienware OS DVD.

 

Ahh just gogoled the DR thingy... its just to get an iso of win 7 right ?

I will have no rom device, but I was just gonna jimmy some wires to the old dvd player in another laptop and plug it to usb ( 4-5 wires, can't go wrong aye, LOVE USB! that's why I loved original playstation too! controller was USB, did you know that ?hmmm?)

So,Im guessing its some sort of rip... and can be used to install the image from any type of media...

but would the SLIC on the AW 18 coming, also recognize it if it was off USB ?

And Im VERY happy to here the dvd media will work on the newer systems without fail (providing you have a ROM device haha)