Reinstalling Windows on Pre-Built PC

[Interfectorem]

Hello everyone! So I have a problem. I used to own a cheap HP pre-built PC that I bought from Best Buy. I'm passing it down to a younger sibling and I want him to get max performance out of it. I want to reinstall Windows on it, since it has a Windows product key sticker on the bottom. I don't want to do one of those recovery options that just restores it to factory settings with all of that junk bloatware HP loads into it. Is there a way to do a complete clean reinstall of Windows on it using the product key it came with? I would high appreciate any help given. Thanks in advance!

[TheSLSAMG]

Yes, it should work. What version of Windows is it running?

[Interfectorem]

Yes, it should work. What version of Windows is it running?

It's running Windows 7 Home Premium. Do you know what the procedure is? Thanks a lot in advance.

[TheSLSAMG]

It's running Windows 7 Home Premium. Do you know what the procedure is? Thanks a lot in advance.

When you click this sentence, your web browser will begin downloading a 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium image. It is an official download from Microsoft's digital content provider.

 

You can also torrent the image, which will generally have it download faster. Look around on some websites for that if you so choose, but do not download a pre-activated/cracked version.

 

Get a DVD-RW disc and drive handy, unless the computer already supports USB boot (this can be found in the BIOS.)

 

If it supports USB boot, extract the .iso file onto a flash drive with nothing else on it. If it does not support it, you can use ImgBurn (download link) to burn it 

 

Then insert the media into the target computer, set the BIOS to boot off of it, install Windows with the existing code and voila, you should have a working and clean PC, though you will need to install drivers.

[Faruko]

Hello everyone! So I have a problem. I used to own a cheap HP pre-built PC that I bought from Best Buy. I'm passing it down to a younger sibling and I want him to get max performance out of it. I want to reinstall Windows on it, since it has a Windows product key sticker on the bottom. I don't want to do one of those recovery options that just restores it to factory settings with all of that junk bloatware HP loads into it. Is there a way to do a complete clean reinstall of Windows on it using the product key it came with? I would high appreciate any help given. Thanks in advance!

 

As long as you get a copy of Windows that the product key sticker on the bottom of your PC is made for, you shouldn't run into any trouble.

[silentmelodies]

You must deactivate the key to use it again.

Open a admin cmd and run "slmgr.vbs /upk"

[Speedbird]

You must deactivate the key to use it again.

Open a admin cmd and run "slmgr.vbs /upk"

No you don't. I have reinstalled Windows several times and I have never had to do it.

[Speedbird]

When you click this sentence, your web browser will begin downloading a 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium image. It is an official download from Microsoft's digital content provider.

 

You can also torrent the image, which will generally have it download faster. Look around on some websites for that if you so choose, but do not download a pre-activated/cracked version.

 

Get a DVD-RW disc and drive handy, unless the computer already supports USB boot (this can be found in the BIOS.)

 

If it supports USB boot, extract the .iso file onto a flash drive with nothing else on it. If it does not support it, you can use ImgBurn (download link) to burn it 

 

Then insert the media into the target computer, set the BIOS to boot off of it, install Windows with the existing code and voila, you should have a working and clean PC, though you will need to install drivers.

I wouldn't go with a torrent. Sometimes they come bundled with malware.

[TheSLSAMG]

I wouldn't go with a torrent. Sometimes they come bundled with malware.

I do understand this risk, though I have never run into the issue before, which is exactly why I did not supply OP with an image from a torrent site.

[Speedbird]

Also make sure to erase your hard drive with Darik's boot-and-nuke (DBAN). Download a CD image at http://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/

[Interfectorem]

Oh wow, I never realized it was this easy. Alright, thank you so much guys.

[silentmelodies]

No you don't. I have reinstalled Windows several times and I have never had to do it.

Well, just to be sure. I had errors some times with keys that said they were used.

[Speedbird]

Well, just to be sure. I had errors some times with keys that said they were used.

Mine would never activate during the install, but would activate inside Windows. Must be an ei.cfg problem.

[silentmelodies]

Mine would never activate during the install, but would activate inside Windows. Must be an ei.cfg problem.

Well, using a generic key and then using your real key is the fix for that

[Speedbird]

Well, using a generic key and then using your real key is the fix for that

No, I said that it would install, but not activate.

[Interfectorem]

When you click this sentence, your web browser will begin downloading a 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium image. It is an official download from Microsoft's digital content provider.

 

You can also torrent the image, which will generally have it download faster. Look around on some websites for that if you so choose, but do not download a pre-activated/cracked version.

 

Get a DVD-RW disc and drive handy, unless the computer already supports USB boot (this can be found in the BIOS.)

 

If it supports USB boot, extract the .iso file onto a flash drive with nothing else on it. If it does not support it, you can use ImgBurn (download link) to burn it 

 

Then insert the media into the target computer, set the BIOS to boot off of it, install Windows with the existing code and voila, you should have a working and clean PC, though you will need to install drivers.

Would a DVD-R would? I don't have a DVD-RW.

[Speedbird]

Would a DVD-R would? I don't have a DVD-RW.

Yes it will, you just can't erase the DVD after that. You can use a USB drive too if you want.

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

No you don't. I have reinstalled Windows several times and I have never had to do it.

Yes, but was it an OEM version of Windows?

[Speedbird]

Yes, but was it an OEM version of Windows?

Yep.

[SlayerOfHellWyrm]

Yep.

Assuming you kept the mobo, that's fine. But swapping it to a different mobo for re-install should not have worked, seeing as OEM versions are only allowed a single activation and said activation is tied to the motherboard.