L702x Windows7 DVD for clean install

I would like to do clean Windows install however my L702x did not come with Windows disc. Can any one advise how can I obtain one?

I'm in UK so I'm not sure if Dell will be happy to send one FOC

 

There is a form on Dell's website where you can request one FOC (once). The link below is a US-only one, but there might be one for the UK as well:

Dell - Support

You could also try calling Dell support and tell them the recovery partition isn't working. They've sent a disk to me for a previous system when that happened (the recovery partition actually was broke, but they never checked). I refused to send it in

Also, if you (or a buddy perhaps) have a Windows 7 disk for the version of Windows you have on your system, you can use that disk to reinstall, just use the key that is on the sticker on your system instead of the one that came with that disk. It doesn't have to be a Dell disk to work.

 

I believe (correct me if im wrong) you can download win 7 from microsoft direct as a trial version and then use your key to activate. Make sure its the right version mind, ie home premium.

 

Just call the sales rep whom you talked to, and tell him/her that you received your laptop without a windows disc, and they ship it to you (took about 15 days for me)

 

Uhmm.... I dont think so, if these are the OEMAct's, then they have to be literally OEMAct distrobutions. Meaning they're activated via Bios. With this, you HAVE to find a download of the exact version you have, but instead of retail (like on the microsoft website) it has say "OEMAct". Hope this clarifies things.

But, shouldn't they know that we never get the windows disc in the first place? (that we have to make it?).

 

Well im pretty sure an oem disc of win 7 uses the same files as a full windows disc but the licence determines wether its tied to the mobo? So surely your licence for win 7 hp should work on any win 7 media install files.

 

I don't know about the download, but retail Windows disks work just fine. The reverse doesn't work, i.e. you can't use the Dell disk to install windows on a non-Dell machine due to how they check the mobo (probably for some special signature). I know of people that used retail or downloaded Windows 7 disks to re-install on their Dell systems, they used the key on the sticker on the machine and all was fine.


Per my link above, Dell can and will give you the disk once free-of-charge, which if I'd known, I wouldn't have paid the extra $15 for it when I purchased...though it was less hassle that way I guess.

Call Dell. They used to include the Windows disk and drivers disk with all systems, it really peeves me that they don't anymore. Drivers, sure, you can download from Dell.com. Windows is a little harder...

 

Clean 'Windows Home Premium SP1 OEM x64' .iso downloaded from the internet works as it should. No problems at all.

 

Providing the windows disc with laptop free of cost - this seems to differ for dell from country to country - In my country the Windows 7 disc is provided to you free and it should come with the system. In some other countries you can play a little extra to get the Windows recovery disc.

But giving out the laptop without pre-installed windows is brainless, since the cost of windows in included in your system (i.e. you are already given a key)

Its very simple, call the sales rep with whom you discussed the purchase of your laptop and tell him that you did not receive the Windows 7 disc along with your laptop and they should send one right away

Alternatively, as someone suggested above you could download the Dell Windows 7 disc online and use the Key provided to you to activate it

 

yeah, an OEM disk I still think the Retail version downloads won't work. But if that's the link to the full set of OEM disks, I might take a look so that I don't have to do a reinstall for all my customers with a retail license

Are you sure? I could be wrong, but most definitely this does not work via Vista & XP. Here are provided links:

OEM Key with a Retail Install Disk? - Microsoft Answers

OEM Product Key not working with retail disc

Surely there's not a different process in this with Win 7, is there?

EDIT: It is said that it WILL work, but you won't pass activation/WGA (must activate by phone i believe?)

Can I use OEM Windows 7 HP product key to install 64-bit OS off of retail disc?

Yep, so long as it's OEM version, that's the exact distrobution (i.e. Win 7 Home premium)

Gotcha! Thanks for the clarification! here in the US, you don't get a recovery DVD

 

This is getting confusing. So a oem key wont activate a retail disc install?
And a retail disc key will activate a oem disc install? Because from what i understand the files on an oem disc are the same as retail. When i installed my ssd i bought win 7 home premium oem 64bit disc with license so now have the original licence on the pc doing nothing. So i could use that licence on another install?

 

Only way I can explain it s the activation processes are different.

To activate a OEMAct distrobution, u have to use a OEMAct key.

To activate retail distrobution, u have to use a retail key.

 

Ive seen people on the net say that retail keys activate fine on oem install discs. So this needs to be confirmed really.

 

You are right Sam *sigh* I wonder who will be our guinea pig hahaha.

I know for a fact that Vista and XP it will not work, because i've tried, they won't even input into the system lol.

Just not sure why they decided to let it work on Win 7.

 

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River My Digital Life

Download the version that matches your Windows sticker on the bottom of your laptop, burn it to a DVD, install it and use the serial number from the bottom of your laptop...

I don't see what the issue is

 

Ohh, no problems Looie, thanks for the link though!

We were just curious and wondering if retail disks will work on OEM keys. It just tickled our fancy a little, especially with all this information back and forth.