If i get a machine but it doesn't come with the Windows 7 DVD, how do i do a fresh install?....

i would have a legal version of windows 7, but just not the cd's to re-install...is there another way to do a fresh install without them? or is there a way to copy the o/s onto a hard drive before i do whatever it takes to get rid of the old stuff? or do i ask microsoft to let me download it based on my license? it'll be a Dell refub.

it'll be windows 7.

 

if you have a windows 7 licence key then you can download it from digital river > http://forum.notebookreview.com/win...-7-download-links-just-like-vista-before.html bugger, your too late as its been removed,sorry.

also if you want to totally delete everything off your hard drive then i recommend Dban > How to wipe a hard drive | ExtremeTech


edit: first time ive noticed above 7 thread had been deleted

 

Hmmm. but not from Microsoft? yikes. So what if someone buys windows 7 (via their computer purchase) and then their system crashes, would microsoft make them buy another one? Or just make them buy the cd's for a few dollars, which would be okay if it were like, $15 i suppose.

 

if you buy a new lappy with an operating system then normally you will also get the windows 7 disc for when you have to do a re install. you can also use the same disc if you have to change the hard drive for a new one.

im not sure what happens if you buy a refurb lappy and it doesnt come with a operating system disc. spose you might have to buy another copy from a store.
never been in this position so im not 100% sure on this. sorry.

 

As long as you have a license activation code you can download a Windows .iso, burn it to DVD and install from that. To answer your question above, typically laptops have the license key on the bottom of the laptop / have some sort of recovery CD that the user can restore their machine to factory settings with,

 

Probably 75% of new laptops that were sold in the past year didn't come with a Windows 7 disc. Part of it has to do with the fact that many notebooks no longer have an optical drive, part of it has to do with the fact that OEMs like to cut costs wherever they can, even if a DVD only costs a few cents.

Either way, the recovery DVD is dead. OEMs expect customers to create their own recovery discs now.

 

really,thats interesting.
clevo gaming lappys always have a os dvd and a drivers cd.

 

Yeah, but a Clevo gaming laptop does not in any way, shape, or form represent a normal laptop.

 

thanks for finding for op.
after posting the first link and then seeing it had been removed by admin i guessed there was a legal reason for this so didnt search for the other links as guessed the same would of happened to them.

 

Download an .ISO of the Windows version and bit that you have, then burn that to a DVD using an ISO burner program, then boot from the CD and install.