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Win7 SP1 factory reset questions

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maddock34

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Jan 28, 2016
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I have seen a thread that says Win10 is really the only Win OS to offer a built in "reset" and they said the only way to reset Win7 is by downloading the iso from the Windows site but to do this you need the product key.

My problem is I brought this computer of off a less than honest PC man (he didn't steal anything, he just embellished the truth about the age of the components and their reliability), I last spoken to this guy around 5 years ago and have no idea how to find him now so can't ask him for my product key. Is there anyway to find my product key (it is not attached to anywhere on the PC) and if not is there a way to do a factory reset (all files, programs, etc. gone)?

A adjoining question to this; Drivers, how would I go about installing them. I'm not sure how to really ask this. I was asked to take a look at a laptop, that was reset by the owners husband, because things weren't working, I came to the vague conclusion the drivers weren't there (USB, wireless, cabled, Bluetooth, etc. weren't working) so I had no way of access the laptop to install the drivers. I don't want this happening to me (that was an example to illustrate my point). So how would I install drivers on a reset PC and a completely new build?

Thanks
 
Solution
USAFRet
If you have a not-valid OS license, then you need to man up and actually buy one.
Upgrading to Win 10 from a no-valid OS license will still leave you with a not-valid OS license.

It's only partially the fault of the "less than honest PC man".
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The laptop certainly should have the license key attached somewhere - it may be under the battery (take the battery off and see).
Sometimes they do wear down to no longer be legible - some 'questionable' characters even remove it.

Be aware, there are programs that'll mimic the activation status. Depends on the seller, but it's possible. If you have no license key sticker, that's a little concerning.

The problem with the Windows 7 ISO and a license key, is it must be a retail key - if you use an OEM license (which laptops have, unless it was replaced), the 'official' route is you have to go to the laptop manufacturer for recovery media.

That being said, if you have a valid license key, any Windows 7 disk (retail, OEM etc) will work - provided it's exactly the same version of Windows - for example, Windows 7 Home Premium, SPK1, 64bit. Again, this requires you to have the license key. Those are generally accessible (eBay etc and even locally - shouldn't cost much at all because it doesn't include a license).

There are 'key grabber' tools that will attempt to pull the license key, but I'm not 100% sure how 'legit' those are, and the outcomes vary dramatically.

If you have no license key, yet you copy of Windows is activated, I would suggest you upgrade to Windows 10 - once Windows 10 is activated (it'll take your Windows 7 key, you won't see it), you can clean install Windows 10 (you can install from a USB) and it'll re-activate. Same applies for W8.1 (once it's activated, you never have to input the key again), but not for 7, unfortunately.

As for drivers - if you can get online, you can head to the laptop manufacturers website & download the appropriate drivers (generally under 'support' or 'downloads', sometimes even simply 'drivers').

The smartest idea is to download the drivers in advance and put them on removable storage (thumb drive, external HDD, even a DVD if you have them) and once you've installed your OS, attach the USB device (or disk), transfer the files to the laptop and install that way.
 
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There are a number of programs that can recover your key if the computer is still working. A quick Google search should lead you to an acceptable solution.

As far as the drivers are concerned, the USB ports should still work somewhat so you could use a flash drive to transfer the drivers from a computer connected to the Internet to the new computer. If they don't work and the new computer has a working CD drive you will have to burn a CD with the drivers on them.
 
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I should have been a bit more specific I'm looking to reset a PC. Custom built. But I guess the same still applies. I was hoping to keep it Windows 7 but if the only way to do a reset is to get Win10 I guess I'll have to go with that.

Regarding the drivers, what about a custom built PC? Will the parts I've purchased be usable, but need updating or will I have to remove the SSD after installing the OS and get the drivers from the manufacturers site?
 
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I have seen these but don't know of the legitimacy of them. I'd rather 'upgrade' to Win10 than run the risk of further damaging the PC.

Thanks anyway though
 
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Upgrade to Windows 10 and you'll get a Valid key, You don't even need to know it or write it down anywhere.
Windows 10 key is attached to your motherboard.

You can do a fresh install of windows 10 not enter in a key when it asks you.
As long as you can get online it'll activate you.
 
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"My problem is I brought this computer of off a less than honest PC man (he didn't steal anything, he just embellished the truth about the age of the components and their reliability)"

This is the issue.

You can retrieve the current license key.
Belarc Advisor will retrieve that, as well as a bunch of other info.

But...the provenance of that license key is the issue. At the time of purchase, did he give you the license key and COA?
Probably not. So whatever license key was used to activate this OS may be suspect.

Find the license key, go here, and see what MS says when you try to download the ISO fr that OS.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7
 
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I will say that this PC was out of my control as it was brought for me. I'm assuming the product key I have for this PC isn't valid because each time I run it I get an error. I did try a guaranteed valid one to see if there was something wrong elsewhere but that it worked
 
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If you have a not-valid OS license, then you need to man up and actually buy one.
Upgrading to Win 10 from a no-valid OS license will still leave you with a not-valid OS license.

It's only partially the fault of the "less than honest PC man".
 
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Solution
you could had upgraded before the end of may and you would get windows 10 for free, and valid, forever... now you gotta pay for it.
now, to reset windows 10 you truly need a product key if I remember right... if you have none, maybe you can see under your computer, on the MS little paper or whatever... my old computer came with windows 7 and there was a key on that.
otherwise, <Mod Redaction>, you can always install a linux distribution. like 90% of them are free forever...
I am aware of programs that can retrieve the key, but I know nothing specific.
 
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This is wrong on multiple counts.

1. The 'free' Upgrade to Win 10 does not expire until July 29 2016.
2. A non-valid previous OS license Upgraded to Win 10 remains non-valid OS license.
3. A Win 10 "reset" means that the system already had Win 10 on it. No 'product key' needed for the "reset".
 
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When I recommended upgrading to Windows 10 to preserve your license key, I was working on the assumption it's a genuine activation.

Now that you've stated you see errors when you try to run W7 currently, I'd be inclined to lean towards a non-genuine license (what I was alluding to in my original post with 'mimic a genuine license).

You can certainly attempt the upgrade - if your Windows 7 isn't valid, neither will your copy of Windows 10.
MS are being pretty lenient though, so if you upgrade from a "non-genuine" W7, your install can remain, and you can purchase a Windows 10 key.
If it turns out to be genuine, you're Windows 10 will activate on your rig, and you can reinstall to your hearts content.

Of course, if it turns out not to be genuine, you can always purchase Windows 7, format your drive and install it.

 
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I messed up, so used to say windows 10 that the info got confused. on windows 10 it should say windows 7 xd.
I am not english, I live at another country than UK, and here the free upgrade ended on 29 May.
 
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Do you have any documentation or a link stating that the free Upgrade to Win 10 ended on May 29 where you are?
Because I've never seen that, anywhere.
 
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nope. you are right, july 29. I install a lot of programs daily, probably I confused it with some update or end of support for some program... it's just that I read so much things daily, it's hard not to confuse information from time to time 😛
sorry for questioning your credibility.
 
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There's definitely some mis-quoted regarding the 'end date' online, but they're normally within a day or two of the actual July 29th 'end'.

At the end of this article, it states July 26th http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36397835

The article has the correct date, but the title could be interpreted as "you can still upgrade for free on July 30th"
http://bgr.com/2016/05/05/windows-10-free-upgrade-offer-expires-soon/

Can't find a single mention of May 29th, anywhere in the world though.

Slightly off-topic..
I don't see any reason, if someone is comfortable with clean installing their OS, why they wouldn't upgrade to Windows 10 and have their license registered. You can always reinstall a prior OS, which having your hardware validated with Windows 10 for free....
 
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