Jimmy Marsh :
I acquired an HP A900 running a corrupt vista. I loaded windows 8 on it. Microsoft informs me that my pass key is being used. I have restore disk. with windows 7 which I would rather run anyway. How can I load it on the laptop?
Jimmy Marsh,
The HP will have the COA sticker showing the original OS and product key. The key is tied to that exact motherboard and in theory if not in law, if you change the motherboard, you must buy a new Windows license.
I don't know the source of the Windows 8 that you tried, and the Windows 7 you'd like to try, but it's not possible to use a disk unless you have the key and it's not activated elsewhere. Microsoft is increasingly strict. If you purchased a full version and it's showing it's activated, you would need to de-activate and reinstall, or possibly use phone activation where you declare it's installed on one system. But, be sure of the true situation or Bill Gates will send demons to hide under your bed.
One approach to doing it properly is that you could could use a re-installation disk of the original OS- Vista?- and then purchase a never-used Win 7 upgrade, but double-check the source or you might have a repeat of the conflicting activation.
There are also sometimes good buys on never used full versions on Ebahhh. I bought a full, never used version of Windows 7 Ultimate for $75 in 2010 a Dell Precision T5400 - that arrived with Vista- and activated and reinstalled on new HD's a couple of times- using phone activation- with no problems. The last time, I restored from a system image and it never asked for activation or else activated online without my realizing.
I just bought a used Dell Precision T5500 ,which has a Win 7 Pro COA. I phoned Dell and they're sending me a disk of the original software- no charge!- and I'll only have to run it, read the key off the sticker and I'm all set. You might inquire at HP as to whether they can provide a re-installation disk. It might be Vista, but it's a start and at least it's not 8.
Cheers,
BambiBoom
HP: z420, M9436F / Dell Precisions: T5500, T5400, 390 / Dell Dimensions: E520, 8400, T700R
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