Windows 7 OEM product Keys

[Steve Van Wijnen]

I have several laptops currently that have windows 7 product key stickers. They currently have no OS on them or backup partition. i have other computers i can use to download the ISO
I have windows a windows 8 product key aswell but MS wont seem to let me download the ISO from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only
I am trying to take advantage of the free windows 10 upgrade for these computers but idk how to get the proper ISO's for the original OS and the Win 8 does not work. would i be better off downloading it from unofficial sources as MS seems to be of no help in this situiation

 

[USAFRet]

For Win 7 (or 8) OEM licenses, you're supposed to get those from the original manufacturer, not MS.
Other unofficial sources may contain all sorts of nastiness.

 

[Steve Van Wijnen]

dealing with Dell or Microsoft directly is what i am trying to avoid they will likely charge me money and or want me to wait weeks to receive this recovery media

 

[USAFRet]

dealing with Dell or Microsoft directly is what i am trying to avoid they will likely charge me money and or want me to wait weeks to receive this recovery media

Well...for OEM licenses, going to Dell is pretty much your only real option. And yes, they'd probably charge you.

When the laptop was new, it included a recovery partition. The original user would, theoretically, use that to create his own reinstall media.
Upon selling/transferring that laptop, those disks were supposed to go with it. Getting them now from Dell would probably cost.

 

[Kraszmyl]

If its a Dell the media from them is ~5-10$ and you only need one copy of the media. Just call and ask for "spare parts/out of warranty". If you're in warranty most of the time they will just send you the media for free.

Otherwise you have the keys, just get the ISOs from iriver or numerous other places. MS doesn't really care what media you use so long as the keys are valid.

 

[USAFRet]

If its a Dell the media from them is ~5-10$ and you only need one copy of the media. Just call and ask for "spare parts/out of warranty". If you're in warranty most of the time they will just send you the media for free.

Otherwise you have the keys, just get the ISOs from iriver or numerous other places. MS doesn't really care what media you use so long as the keys are valid.

DigitalRiver is no longer a resource to obtain Win 7 ISO files.

 

[Steve Van Wijnen]

dealing with Dell or Microsoft directly is what i am trying to avoid they will likely charge me money and or want me to wait weeks to receive this recovery media

Well...for OEM licenses, going to Dell is pretty much your only real option. And yes, they'd probably charge you.

When the laptop was new, it included a recovery partition. The original user would, theoretically, use that to create his own reinstall media.
Upon selling/transferring that laptop, those disks were supposed to go with it. Getting them now from Dell would probably cost.

Ty. I will try calling Dell and HP (the mfr's for the devices i have). if they are going to charge me i will also call Best Buy and such to see if they have OEM versions of the OS i need perhaps it will be cheaper with them to simply install it for me. in the end it might be cheaper to buy new retail versions.

There are no recovery disks and the restore partitions were deleted