Thread: Reloading Windows Without a Disk

Garry, the norm these days is to have a "recovery partition" on the hard drive, accessed by a key press at start up, that stores the drive image as it was as new.

However, this doesn't help if your HDD dies, though a number of manufacturers that I've had laptops from have an option to create a set of master recovery disks. Not had an Asus one before, so I can't comment specifically.

You will probably need to get the ASUS distribution of windows for that model laptop.
Or a new key for the version of windows you downloaded.

Originally Posted by sheerluck

Garry, the norm these days is to have a "recovery partition" on the hard drive, accessed by a key press at start up, that stores the drive image as it was as new.

Yes - however while the disk did not die the whole thing got corrupted so the whole drive had its partitions removed and the hard drive reformatted. In the good ole days you got a windows disk with your computer but it is all now pre installed and if you have an issue you are very much on your own.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

You will probably need to get the ASUS distribution of windows for that model laptop.
Or a new key for the version of windows you downloaded.

Mick - not sure I quite follow the first bit but supposedly the system you follow is download the relevant version of Win 7 from Microsoft and use the product key provided with the computer to activate it - clearly MS thinks it is still activated.

Thanks

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

Yes - however while the disk did not die the whole thing got corrupted so the whole drive had its partitions removed and the hard drive reformatted. In the good ole days you got a windows disk with your computer but it is all now pre installed and if you have an issue you are very much on your own.



Mick - not sure I quite follow the first bit but supposedly the system you follow is download the relevant version of Win 7 from Microsoft and use the product key provided with the computer to activate it - clearly MS thinks it is still activated.

Thanks

Garry

That would explain why you're having the problem Garry!

For the license validation issue - Normally, the laptop/PC manufacturers have a specific edition of the OS, the license key from your sticker won't work with a retail version of Windows you might buy from Harvey Norman as an example. The key falls in a sequence that can only be validated by a disk/download from that manufacturer.

What model is it you have?

Just ring Microsoft provided your license key is for the same version of windows they should give you another activation key.
I have done it many times

Originally Posted by sheerluck

For the license validation issue - Normally, the laptop/PC manufacturers have a specific edition of the OS, the license key from your sticker won't work with a retail version of Windows you might buy from Harvey Norman as an example. The key falls in a sequence that can only be validated by a disk/download from that manufacturer.

Not quite - the instructions are to download the OS from the MS website and activate using the key provided on the computer.

Originally Posted by djam1

Just ring Microsoft provided your license key is for the same version of windows they should give you another activation key.
I have done it many times

Thanks - will give that a go.

Cheers

Garry

Originally Posted by garrycol

Not quite - the instructions are to download the OS from the MS website and activate using the key provided on the computer.

just to clarify

if it is a laptop you may be required to use the automated phone activation system if it wont activate over the net.

most laptops have an initial install of the manufacturers volume license. when you do a recovery using a std oem image like the ones available from microsoft they don't always activate over the net.

if you wanna pm me gary i can definately sort you out. if i receive pm I will then reply with my number, I am a pc tech and have what you need will honestly be fixed very easily. no cost