Windows 7 Pro SP1 Installation Disks

I just took delivery on a custom built Win 7 Pro 64 bit machine. I
required the vendor to provide me all the DvDs and/or disk files
necessary to rebuild the O/S on the hard disk if necessary.

I'm assuming I have a legal version of Win7 because I get regular
updates from Windows Update and daily updates from Security
Essentials. I also have the OS license # sticker on the side of the
pc.

The problem is I received two Windows 7 Pro 64 bit DvDs. Everything
printed on the 2 DvDs is absolutely identical including the printing
on the DvD "Intended for distribution with a new PC".

I am assuming each DvD requires its own individual license#. I could
install Win7 from each DvD on a newly formated hard disk on a spare PC
using the 1 license# I have to find out which DvD goes with the
license#, I am hopeful there is an easier way.

What is the easiest way to find out which of the 2 Win7 Pro x64 DvDs
goes with the single license# I have?

David

On 20/07/2015 18:19, David wrote:
I just took delivery on a custom built Win 7 Pro 64 bit machine. I
required the vendor to provide me all the DvDs and/or disk files
necessary to rebuild the O/S on the hard disk if necessary.

I'm assuming I have a legal version of Win7 because I get regular
updates from Windows Update and daily updates from Security
Essentials. I also have the OS license # sticker on the side of the
pc.

The problem is I received two Windows 7 Pro 64 bit DvDs. Everything
printed on the 2 DvDs is absolutely identical including the printing
on the DvD "Intended for distribution with a new PC".

I am assuming each DvD requires its own individual license#. I could
install Win7 from each DvD on a newly formated hard disk on a spare PC
using the 1 license# I have to find out which DvD goes with the
license#, I am hopeful there is an easier way.

What is the easiest way to find out which of the 2 Win7 Pro x64 DvDs
goes with the single license# I have?

David


The easiest way to get your "installed" product key is by using a
software like this one:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

Scroll down the page and download either 64 bit or 32 bit and see if it
gives you the product key that you can indentify from the labels on the
DVDs.

Good luck.

David wrote:
I am assuming each DvD requires its own individual license#.

That is not correct. IMO the correct assumption would be that the two
DVDs are identical and that the builder made a 'mistake', in a sense.

An install DVD can accept 'a lot of different' product IDs; MS gets the
registration all sorted out with the authentication process.

Maybe the builder has some spare DVDs for some reason. The critical
element is the unique certificate.


--
Mike Easter

On 7/20/2015 1:19 PM, David wrote:
I just took delivery on a custom built Win 7 Pro 64 bit machine. I
required the vendor to provide me all the DvDs and/or disk files
necessary to rebuild the O/S on the hard disk if necessary.

I'm assuming I have a legal version of Win7 because I get regular
updates from Windows Update and daily updates from Security
Essentials. I also have the OS license # sticker on the side of the
pc.

The problem is I received two Windows 7 Pro 64 bit DvDs. Everything
printed on the 2 DvDs is absolutely identical including the printing
on the DvD "Intended for distribution with a new PC".

I am assuming each DvD requires its own individual license#. I could
install Win7 from each DvD on a newly formated hard disk on a spare PC
using the 1 license# I have to find out which DvD goes with the
license#, I am hopeful there is an easier way.

What is the easiest way to find out which of the 2 Win7 Pro x64 DvDs
goes with the single license# I have?

David

There is no difference between the two disks. Look at the sticker and
see if it is OEM or Retail version. Get familiar with the user
agreement. Your seller should have told you more than he did.You might
want to contact him for a run down of what you need to know. Is this
your first computer?

David wrote:
I just took delivery on a custom built Win 7 Pro 64 bit machine. I
required the vendor to provide me all the DvDs and/or disk files
necessary to rebuild the O/S on the hard disk if necessary.

I'm assuming I have a legal version of Win7 because I get regular
updates from Windows Update and daily updates from Security
Essentials. I also have the OS license # sticker on the side of the
pc.

The problem is I received two Windows 7 Pro 64 bit DvDs. Everything
printed on the 2 DvDs is absolutely identical including the printing
on the DvD "Intended for distribution with a new PC".

I am assuming each DvD requires its own individual license#. I could
install Win7 from each DvD on a newly formated hard disk on a spare PC
using the 1 license# I have to find out which DvD goes with the
license#, I am hopeful there is an easier way.

What is the easiest way to find out which of the 2 Win7 Pro x64 DvDs
goes with the single license# I have?

David

Two DVD's of the same 64 bit 0/s + One license = use on one device

Effectively you received one DVD and backup copy of the same, but one
license for use on one device.
- If the license is OEM then it is for use only on that received device.
If the license is Retail, you can, after removing Windows from the
received device, use that single license on another device.



--
...winston
msft mvp windows experience

David wrote:
I just took delivery on a custom built Win 7 Pro 64 bit machine. I
required the vendor to provide me all the DvDs and/or disk files
necessary to rebuild the O/S on the hard disk if necessary.

I'm assuming I have a legal version of Win7 because I get regular
updates from Windows Update and daily updates from Security
Essentials. I also have the OS license # sticker on the side of the
pc.

The problem is I received two Windows 7 Pro 64 bit DvDs. Everything
printed on the 2 DvDs is absolutely identical including the printing
on the DvD "Intended for distribution with a new PC".

I am assuming each DvD requires its own individual license#. I could
install Win7 from each DvD on a newly formated hard disk on a spare PC
using the 1 license# I have to find out which DvD goes with the
license#, I am hopeful there is an easier way.

What is the easiest way to find out which of the 2 Win7 Pro x64 DvDs
goes with the single license# I have?

David

At least one "Retail" boxed software, has a 32 bit and a 64 bit disc.
So there would be one disc per OS flavor. You use the 64 bit OS if
you have more than 4GB of RAM, and you expect to get some good usage
from the RAM. If the computer has 2GB or 3GB or RAM, you could use
either the 32 bit or the 64 bit DVD profitably. The difference
between them, is a 32 bit OS, runs 32 bit and 16 bit applications.
A 64 bit OS, only runs 64 bit and 32 bit applications. The latter
OS, sometimes has trouble with older software installers, where
the installer code just happens to be some crusty 16 bit stuff.

So that's the difference between the two flavors you might find in
a Retail box.

If the custom computer builder is a "System Builder", they use
a System Builder OEM product for your OS installation. Such a product
comes with a COA sticker. And as part of building the computer,
the builder may either place the sticker on the outside
of the computer, or the sticker may be given to you "by hand",
so you can take care of it and not allow it to get scratched up.

A System Builder software comes in a small packet, and not
necessarily a box (I got one recently). Only a single version
of the OS is in the box. Mine had a single x64 DVD in it.
Even though the license key would work with either an x32 DVD
or an x64 DVD. The packet only contains one disc.

The sleeve containing the DVD, has the COA sticker on it.
For Windows 7, this is roughly 2.5" wide by 1" high. The
license key is written in a microscopic font. The COA is
easily damaged, which is why placing the sticker in a safe
place is a good idea. When place on the bottom of some
laptops, that sticker is scratched up and unreadable
in no time.

Fortunately for you, the license key installed in your
OS, should match the COA sticker. The rules are more
straightforward, than the rules for a Dell/HP/Acer. So
if you were to use some sort of MagicJellyBean or
Belarc Advisor software, to read out the key, it should
match the value on your COA sticker.

You need the license key (either extracted, or as read
off the sticker), to do a reinstall.

Once the OS is installed, you need to install drivers.
A good system builder, puts the NVidia driver CD, the
LAN driver CD, all sorts of CDs he was using, in the
motherboard box and gives it to you. My first build
was done that way. All neatly provided in the box.
A clever builder, would use DVD-R media, and burn you
a set of drivers (one CD does all the drivers). In such
a case, the second disk would be labeled "Driver Disc"
and would be a home-made disc, not a pressed disc.

On OEM computers, when you ask the computer to make
recovery media, one of the discs is a complete set of
drivers. For a System Builder constructed computer, it
is up to the builder to provide a complete set of drivers
as part of their job.

Drivers are only absolutely critical in one case. If you
buy an OEM laptop (Acer/HP/Dell), then the video card
driver it comes with is unique. You cannot necessarily
download it from just anywhere. For most other hardware,
you can gather up the bits and pieces from their
originating sources, with several hours work.

I would expect a System Builder, building a desktop, to
provide the motherboard box, and in the motherboard
box are thrown the driver CDs for *everything*. That's
what I expect for my $100 to $200 "build fee". Having the
discs sitting around his lab, is not a substitute for
a properly done job. Also included in the box, can be
the excess hardware screws for the computer case you
paid for, as you may need some screws later when installing
an extra hard drive or other hardware. The tray screws
are important, as each computer case uses a
different scheme to elevate the motherboard, and
you want that bag of screws so you have extras if
needed.

HTH,
Paul

On Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:19:12 -0400, David wrote:

I just took delivery on a custom built Win 7 Pro 64 bit machine. I
required the vendor to provide me all the DvDs and/or disk files
necessary to rebuild the O/S on the hard disk if necessary.

I'm assuming I have a legal version of Win7 because I get regular
updates from Windows Update and daily updates from Security
Essentials. I also have the OS license # sticker on the side of the
pc.

The problem is I received two Windows 7 Pro 64 bit DvDs. Everything
printed on the 2 DvDs is absolutely identical including the printing
on the DvD "Intended for distribution with a new PC".

I am assuming each DvD requires its own individual license#. I could
install Win7 from each DvD on a newly formated hard disk on a spare PC
using the 1 license# I have to find out which DvD goes with the
license#, I am hopeful there is an easier way.

What is the easiest way to find out which of the 2 Win7 Pro x64 DvDs
goes with the single license# I have?

David

Here's another way to deal with this.

http://joshcellsoftwares.com/product...tokensmanager/

Check it out. It's free and it works. I've used it on 2 machines with
Win 7 SP1 PRO x64.

You install and run it and it shows you the Product Key AND it saves
everything needed to Activate a fresh install.

When/if you do a fresh install, it restores the info it saved so
there's no hassle.

DC