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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 |
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Windows 7 Pro SP1 Installation Disks
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. |
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Windows 7 Pro SP1 Installation Disks
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 |
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Windows 7 Pro SP1 Installation Disks
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? |
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Windows 7 Pro SP1 Installation Disks
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 |
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Windows 7 Pro SP1 Installation Disks
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 |
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Windows 7 Pro SP1 Installation Disks
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 |
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