Made A Bit Of A Mistake...

[BeadyRoller]

So, I had Windows 7 installed on my HDD but wanted to do a clean install of WIndows 10 on my SSD as things were getting a little slow.

Anyway, today I did the clean install of Windows 10 but didn't realize I needed to upgrade to Windows 10 first before I did that so now I am stuck as it wont activate or accept my windows 7 key and I can't seem to find anyway to find a Windows 7 download so I can repeat the process again but upgrade first this time. My key is from an OEM so it wont let me download it from the Microsoft website.

I really don't know what to do next, can anyone help?

Thanks.

 

[USAFRet]

On your original drive, does Win 7 still work and boot properly?

 

[N3rdR4ge]

you can download windows 7 here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home

you are correct. you will need to reinstall 7, do the upgrade process and reset windows 10 to default if you have removed the os from your hdd.

alternatively you can use a program to clone your windows 7 from the hdd to the ssd if you have not removed it.

How to Migrate to a Solid-State Drive Without Reinstalling Windows:
http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows

 

[BeadyRoller]

On your original drive, does Win 7 still work and boot properly?

I wiped my HDD drive as I wanted a complete fresh install so I don't have access to it anymore unfortunately.

 

[BeadyRoller]

you can download windows 7 here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/home

you are correct. you will need to reinstall 7, do the upgrade process and reset windows 10 to default if you have removed the os from your hdd.

alternatively you can use a program to clone your windows 7 from the hdd to the ssd if you have not removed it.

How to Migrate to a Solid-State Drive Without Reinstalling Windows:
http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows

I have tried that but when I put my Windows 7 activation code in it says ''The product key you entered appears to be for software pre-installed by the device manufacturer. Please contact the device manufacturer for software recovery options.'' so it wont let me download it.

Also I wiped my HDD as I thought I was set and wanted a clean fresh start on everything, that's backfired now..

 

[USAFRet]

On your original drive, does Win 7 still work and boot properly?

I wiped my HDD drive as I wanted a complete fresh install so I don't have access to it anymore unfortunately.

You may be a little bit screwed.
Was this a preinstalled OS, or something you bought and installed?

 

[BeadyRoller]

On your original drive, does Win 7 still work and boot properly?

I wiped my HDD drive as I wanted a complete fresh install so I don't have access to it anymore unfortunately.

You may be a little bit screwed.
Was this a preinstalled OS, or something you bought and installed?

It was pre installed. There must be some way I can find a Windows 7 download?

 

[N3rdR4ge]

in that case you'll need re-installation disks from the manufacturer. where or how did you purchase the machine? is this a custom build or a pre-built machine?

 

[USAFRet]

On your original drive, does Win 7 still work and boot properly?

I wiped my HDD drive as I wanted a complete fresh install so I don't have access to it anymore unfortunately.

You may be a little bit screwed.
Was this a preinstalled OS, or something you bought and installed?

It was pre installed. There must be some way I can find a Windows 7 download?

2 options:
Does the original factory restore partition still exist? If so, you can use that to either create your own restore DVD set, or run that to bring it back to factory spec.
or
You contact the manufacturer and pay them a bit of money to obtain the same thing

Bottom line, you have to go through the manufacturer to obtain the install stuff.

 

[BeadyRoller]

My current PC is custom built, the key I used to activate Windows 7 was a key from an old pre built machine that came installed with Windows 7, but as it's an OEM it wont let me re download it from the Microsoft website.

 

[N3rdR4ge]

nothing you can "legally" do in that case other than buy a new copy.

 

[BeadyRoller]

On your original drive, does Win 7 still work and boot properly?

I wiped my HDD drive as I wanted a complete fresh install so I don't have access to it anymore unfortunately.

You may be a little bit screwed.
Was this a preinstalled OS, or something you bought and installed?

It was pre installed. There must be some way I can find a Windows 7 download?

2 options:
Does the original factory restore partition still exist? If so, you can use that to either create your own restore DVD set, or run that to bring it back to factory spec.
or
You contact the manufacturer and pay them a bit of money to obtain the same thing

Bottom line, you have to go through the manufacturer to obtain the install stuff.

I have a recovery partition on my SSD but nothing on my HDD that Windows 7 was previously installed on?

 

[N3rdR4ge]

yes, but you have a non-activated version on windows 10 on the ssd. recovering that will only result in the same issue.

 

[USAFRet]

My current PC is custom built, the key I used to activate Windows 7 was a key from an old pre built machine that came installed with Windows 7, but as it's an OEM it wont let me re download it from the Microsoft website.

Then "You may be a little bit screwed." goes to "You are screwed".

You need to buy a proper OS for this PC.

 

[BeadyRoller]

How long is it before Windows 10 actually requires an activation key?

 

[N3rdR4ge]

it does "actually" require one now. you can only get it for free when you upgrade an earlier version of windows with a legitimate key, which you have unfortunately lost. sorry for the bad news.

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Windows-10-Home/productID.319937100

 

[USAFRet]

How long is it before Windows 10 actually requires an activation key?

The 10 seconds it takes you to read the box where is says "Enter the license key"

There is no 'trail period'.

 

[BeadyRoller]

Everything seems to be working perfectly though?

 

[BeadyRoller]

I have a laptop with Windows 7 on! Would that be helpful?

 

[USAFRet]

I have a laptop with Windows 7 on! Would that be helpful?

No.