Which Windows 7 iso Must one use?
I've downloaded almost all of the Windows 7 iso files with the notion of supporting reinstalls that can be Authenticated without any funny business or workarounds.
My orginal understanding was that all one had to do was match up the version such as
Home Premium 32
Professional 32
Ultimate 32
Home Premium 64
Professional 64
Ultimate 64
Then one would use the CD Key that's on the COA or similar.
This has worked fine up to now but now I have a hiccup:
Is it true that one must also match "no Service Pack" or "Service Pack 1" to the original install?
I'm working on a Windows 7 64 Home Premium system from Dell. Windows was so badly messed up that the Recovery partition could not be used. Windows just went into a boot loop after trying an in-Windows Upgrade ("repair"). At that point the Recovery partition couldn't be accessed either. All that's left to do is a bare DVD install.
Jumping ahead: the system has one CD Key on the COA sticker and one CD key extractable from the registry.
- If I try to install from a Windows 7 64 Home Premium SP1 DVD, it will not accept the COA key. But, it will accept the extracted key. So, the install has worked.
- But when I go to Authenticate, neither of the keys work.
So, now I'm going to try reinstalling with a pre-SP1 DVD. But that seems a little silly and is going to be a lot of work in bringing yet another install up to date after the install.
Any wisdom on this?
My orginal understanding was that all one had to do was match up the version such as
Home Premium 32
Professional 32
Ultimate 32
Home Premium 64
Professional 64
Ultimate 64
Then one would use the CD Key that's on the COA or similar.
This has worked fine up to now but now I have a hiccup:
Is it true that one must also match "no Service Pack" or "Service Pack 1" to the original install?
I'm working on a Windows 7 64 Home Premium system from Dell. Windows was so badly messed up that the Recovery partition could not be used. Windows just went into a boot loop after trying an in-Windows Upgrade ("repair"). At that point the Recovery partition couldn't be accessed either. All that's left to do is a bare DVD install.
Jumping ahead: the system has one CD Key on the COA sticker and one CD key extractable from the registry.
- If I try to install from a Windows 7 64 Home Premium SP1 DVD, it will not accept the COA key. But, it will accept the extracted key. So, the install has worked.
- But when I go to Authenticate, neither of the keys work.
So, now I'm going to try reinstalling with a pre-SP1 DVD. But that seems a little silly and is going to be a lot of work in bringing yet another install up to date after the install.
Any wisdom on this?
ASKER
Thanks, I'll try that tool. In the mean time, I wasn't aware that Win 7 had "correct OEM DVD" versions. I thought that the Digital River downloads were enough. That is, they are all the same when installed but need a good CD Key is all. Not so? I do have the COA key and that doesn't work either.....
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Digital River has only the Retail versions for download, as far as I know.
The OEM versions are not available with a TechNet/MSDN membership, either.
You can often find Dell/HP/Gateway install DVDs on auction sites, though you need to act fast if they're not part of a new computer package, because even if hardware (i.e. not the whole new computer) is included, microsoft will eventually have the items taken down.
e.g. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321240491138
I bet that one will be gone within a week (either all copies sold, or the listing taken down).
The OEM versions are not available with a TechNet/MSDN membership, either.
You can often find Dell/HP/Gateway install DVDs on auction sites, though you need to act fast if they're not part of a new computer package, because even if hardware (i.e. not the whole new computer) is included, microsoft will eventually have the items taken down.
e.g. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321240491138
I bet that one will be gone within a week (either all copies sold, or the listing taken down).
ASKER
As far as I know, Dell and others have not been delivering DVDs with their computers for some time.... So, the existence of an OEM DVD is interesting.
ASKER
willcomp: I agree about the difficulty of reading them! And the suggestion for a magnifying glass!
ASKER
I'm beginning to think that the download MD5 was bad on the ones I had tried this time. I have what appears to be a good one going now. We'll see.
How does one compare the MD5 hash of what's been downloaded to something "good". Where are the good hashes to be found? i.e. for Win 7?
How does one compare the MD5 hash of what's been downloaded to something "good". Where are the good hashes to be found? i.e. for Win 7?
> As far as I know, Dell and others have not beenThat's not correct. Dell doesn't provide them unless you order them... either when you specify its build parameters on dell.com or while it's still on warranty if you buy it off the shelf from bestbuy, walmart, et al. I paid an extra $9 each for the reinstall media on the last 3 Win7 notebooks I bought from them.
> delivering DVDs with their computers for some time
For one thing, Microsoft manipulates the files on the DVD so the CRC32 hashes of all the ISOs made from microsoft installation CDs and DVDs come up 0x00000000.
The other hashes are built into their ISO to USB tool. If the ISO's hash is not correct, the tool will say it's not a good copy.
The other hashes are built into their ISO to USB tool. If the ISO's hash is not correct, the tool will say it's not a good copy.
ASKER
Darr247: So, if you buy a Dell at a store then no DVD. Dittio HP. And, unless the buyer is particularly astute then one is not ordered with the computer in the first place. Dell doesn't deliver them with the computer as part of the base package. That's not the same as saying "Dell will provide them". The reality is that in most cases they don't. Thus there are lots of computers out there that don't have these disks available. Then there's the familiar case where the owner loses them.. :-0
ASKER
willcomp: and where might one find OEM files to download?
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"check to ensure you have the product key correct. It is difficult to differentiate B from 8 and Q from O or 0. A magnifying glass helps a lot."
A proofreader can be very helpful too! That's what did it for me in this case - after many, many checks.
Retail Digital River iso with OEM key authenticated online automatically.
You can Google for Clean OEM install of Win 7.
A proofreader can be very helpful too! That's what did it for me in this case - after many, many checks.
Retail Digital River iso with OEM key authenticated online automatically.
You can Google for Clean OEM install of Win 7.
You may be interested in this to reduce the number of disks you have to maintain.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/how-to-create-an-all-in-one-windows-7-install-disk/5533/?tag=nl.e023