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need to format my hardrive but dont have the OS disks.

ourorboros
By ourorboros
in Troubleshooting
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basically im passing my old computer to my mother and so i'd prefer to have it wiped clean but after a recent move i cant find disk with the OS, tried googling for the answer and apparently i just cant but im wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

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basically im passing my old computer to my mother and so i'd prefer to have it wiped clean but after a recent move i cant find disk with the OS, tried googling for the answer and apparently i just cant but im wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

 

If you can find the product key on the computer (or using a program to get it) you can safely wipe the hard drive and use a bootable usb stick to do it.

Feel free to message me if you want to chat!

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What OS?

Main Rig: CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X | RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) KLEVV CRAS XR RGB DDR4-3600 | Motherboard: Gigabyte B550I AORUS PRO AX | Storage: 512GB SKHynix PC401, 1TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus, 2x Micron 1100 256GB SATA SSDs | GPU: EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra 10GB | Cooling: ThermalTake Floe 280mm w/ be quiet! Pure Wings 3 | Case: Sliger SM580 (Black) | PSU: Lian Li SP 850W

 

Server: CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3100 | RAM: 32GB (2x16GB) Crucial DDR4 Pro | Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B550-PLUS AC-HES | Storage: 128GB Samsung PM961, 4TB Seagate IronWolf | GPU: AMD FirePro WX 3100 | Cooling: EK-AIO Elite 360 D-RGB | Case: Corsair 5000D Airflow (White) | PSU: Seasonic Focus GM-850

 

Miscellaneous: Dell Optiplex 7060 Micro (i5-8500T/16GB/512GB), Lenovo ThinkCentre M715q Tiny (R5 2400GE/16GB/256GB), Dell Optiplex 7040 SFF (i5-6400/8GB/128GB)

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basically im passing my old computer to my mother and so i'd prefer to have it wiped clean but after a recent move i cant find disk with the OS, tried googling for the answer and apparently i just cant but im wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

If it's Windows, press Windows Key + E then click System Properties in the top of the window. Your product key will be at the bottom of that page.

Write it down, download a copy of the same version of windows, burn it to a CD/DVD, or copy the files to a USB Flash Drive then install as normal and use your key.

While Microsoft doesn't support such a thing, I completely doubt it will be a problem so long as you have the product key.

Good luck.

† Christian Member †

For my pertinent links to guides, reviews, and anything similar, go here, and look under the spoiler labeled such. A brief history of Unix and it's relation to OS X by Builder.

 

 

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Go to a family member, and "borrow" their laptop with windows 7, and use their key :P 

There are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary, and those who don't.

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thank you all for the help, the issue has now been resolved!

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basically im passing my old computer to my mother and so i'd prefer to have it wiped clean but after a recent move i cant find disk with the OS, tried googling for the answer and apparently i just cant but im wondering if anyone has any suggestions?

I use this to find the key:  http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

 

depending on what version of windows, you can get directly from MS.

 

If it's Windows, press Windows Key + E then click System Properties in the top of the window. Your product key will be at the bottom of that page.

Write it down, download a copy of the same version of windows, burn it to a CD/DVD, or copy the files to a USB Flash Drive then install as normal and use your key.

While Microsoft doesn't support such a thing, I completely doubt it will be a problem so long as you have the product key.

Good luck.

That's the product ID.  Not the key, so won't work.

My Rigs (past and present)

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