Windows 7 installation

Hi all,

I am intending to purchase a laptop in Japan. It will have a Japanese version of Windows 7 Home Premium. My question is if I have a Windows 7 CD (English Version) can I use the cd-key provided with the laptop and install the English version of Window 7? Any help would be greatly appreciated

-strider

 

Since it uses OEM Activation yes.

 

Thanks for the reply!

 

What I would do is use a Disk Activation backup utility - before you wipe off the original O/S - and then install the english version. Make sure you save to a USB key!

See:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5742015#post5742015

 

thanks for the tip!

 

Not exactly. To do proper OEM (Offline) Activation, certain files must be inserted either manually or with a program that tilleroftheearth points to.

Using a unbranded OEM disc will also work with the bottom license code but it will require Online Activation instead.

 

KLF,

Thanks for the additional info. I did know that (about the Online Activation), but want to forget it because you can only use it so many times before you'll need to call MS to get access to your Windows (that you paid for).

Much easier to backup the activation with the links above and not have to worry about how many times you want a 'clean' install on your machines.

Cheers!

 

But it will still always activate (and the number is toll-free, at least here). It does not deny the activation and force you to buy a new license.

It really is an annoyance but not the end of the world

If the computer is formatted or it's hdd destroyed before taking the Activation backup, the files needed do roam around the internet

 

Wait so can I just make an dvd from the Windows Download Link (Legal) thread from these forums, and then go about booting the cd and installing it without having to do the activation / disk activation backup utility? Abit confused sorry.

 

If you do just that, you have to enter manually the key from the sticker in the bottom of your laptop. It will then validate and activate via internet and in the future maybe via phone, depends how often you do it.

Activation backup will do the automatic activation, without need to contact Microsoft in any way.

 

Is this a new Windows 7 thing? I have copies of XP and Vista that have been activated every ~6 months since Vista's launch in 2007 at least, and I'm still able to activate online with them.

 

Peon, what can I say...

Consider yourself lucky?

If you're just re-installing to the exact same notebook (no upgrades at all), then it may not give you any headaches. I will change RAM (at least once) and the HD (at least as often as a new/better model comes out), so this may be the differences between our experiences with online activations.

Cheers!

 

That's probably it - I always just format and reinstall on the exact same hardware with those copies of Windows.

On my desktop which gets all the hardware upgrades, I've changed OSes 3 times in as many years so it looks like I have yet to hit "the limit" there either.

 

Obviously I know that and that you don't need any program to do so.
The exact commands
slmgr -ilc whateverstupiddirectorycontainthecert\certificate.xrm-ms
slmgr -ipk ENTER-THES-TUPID-KEYS

 

While it is obvious to you and me, it probably wasnt for the original poster or he wouldn't have asked in the first place.

"what cert? I already formatted the hdd" wouldn't be the first time