Discussion Various WIndows 7 Activation/Licensing Questions

[TheFlash1300]

Why did you, or he, not retain the original install file?


I've heard that before.

I replaced the computer (with the OS in it) with a new computer. I didn't think about my project back then. It was only recently when I realized that although my project is compatible with Windows 10 and 11, too, it my not be compatible with Windows editions of the future. Since I prefer Windows 7 for the project, but can't find compatible physical hardware and I don't have the skills to insert new drivers into Win7 to make it compatible with new hardware, I decided to run it on a Virtual machine.

I have a key, but I don't have a software. I can download Windows 7 from many sources, but I can't know if the OS is legitimate and not hijacked with malicious codes.

If you read the thread, you will see me asking about the HASH IDs and other ways to check the legitimacy of the .ISO file.

Now, I will use the tool Math Geek provided me with, but I will still need to know the HASH ID of the original Windows 7, so I can compare the HASH ID of Win7 I will download to the HASH ID provided by Microsoft.

Does someone know where can I find the original HASH ID of Win7?

 

[DSzymborski]

<sigh>

Again, that's four threads just this weekend of very similar Windows 7 activation/usage questions, all related to the same computer in the same usage. They have been merged.

This is going to stop one way or another.

 

[Math Geek]

if you get it from the tool i linked there is no need to mess with hash id's. it comes from MS and is legit and raw copy. save the time and effort and use it when it is done downloading.

look at the address it is coming from. it is the same place you have always gotten the install files from, at download.microsoft.com

you are seriously overthinking this and making it much harder than it needs to be. get the iso, make the usb drive using something like rufus and do the fresh install. done!!

 

[Aeacus]

Since I prefer Windows 7 for the project

Any specific reason why you prefer Win7 over Win10? If it is GUI, then you can make Win10 look exactly like Win7.

I've done so with both of my builds (Skylake and Haswell), that had Win7Pro OEM on them, which got upgraded to Win10Pro. But i had to do some power user customization, with the help of TH experts, to get it looking like Win7.

Or another option: you could completely ditch Windows and all that validation and licence key mess, and instead go with any GNU/Linux distro of your choice.