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    Recovery Partition erased. Which Windows to install?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by alavena, May 5, 2015.

  1. alavena

    alavena Notebook Guru

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    Hello all. My friend gave me his HP Envy i7 (Model 17-1150 es) after scavenging the drives. He is a Linux freak and had wiped the drives completely (along with the recovery partition).

    Now I want to install W7 again on it. A recovery CD from HP would set me back a lot of money. Would a normal W7 install work with the laptop's serial number or do I need some special OEM Windows?

    Thank you all.
     
    alavena, May 5, 2015
    #1
  2. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    As long as it came with Windows 7, you can reinstall the version of 7 that came with it, Home Premium I guess, and then activate using the CoE sticker. If it came with Windows 8, you'll want to reinstall Windows 8.
     
    tijo, May 5, 2015
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  3. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    For 20-30 is a setback...that a rather small price to pay to make sure your system is factory set so you know it all works. And if you don't install your HP drivers right you will not get all hardware to work correctly as well. I know I done it for dv4, dv5, dv6 and by trial and errors finally got the setup right so I got my custom audio control buttons to work with aftermarket Windows 7 install. So doing it yourself isn't the easiest way to go if you want to start using it right away.
     
    StormJumper, May 6, 2015
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  4. SL2

    SL2 Notebook Deity

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    Just to clarify: Yes, the OP can use a regular retail ISO or DVD.
     
    SL2, May 7, 2015
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  5. tinker_xp

    tinker_xp Notebook Consultant

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    A quick search on ebay shows that you can pick up the recovery disc relatively cheap. Maybe try that course of action? Failing that do you have the COA sticker?

    You should be able to then download windows direct from Microsoft.

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery
     
    tinker_xp, May 10, 2015
    #5