Windows Re-Install ?

rodneys

Hi, I bought a second hand laptop and the previous owner had re-set it to factory settings after he upgraded to windows 10, I am now unable to activate windows 10 or restore windows 7. any help is much appreciated.
a fools guide preferably as I,m not very tech savvy,
thanks

me_irl

On the machine itself does it have a Windows Serial number? It's usually on the bottom and will say what version (Windows Home, Professional, etc).

Depending on what version you have you can (legitimately) download an image of the corresponding version, burn it to a dvd. Boot from that and install it using the key.

Links to download (you'll need the key): https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows7

rodneys

thanks, I'll try that, onlty thing is cant burn to dvd because my dvd drive wont work without windows ! can I do it on another computer and then just load it to this ?

me_irl

rodneys wrote: »

thanks, I'll try that, onlty thing is cant burn to dvd because my dvd drive wont work without windows ! can I do it on another computer and then just load it to this ?

If you have a usb key with enough room (min 6GB) you can use Rufus to make it bootable.

https://rufus.akeo.ie/

jimbooth

Same issue here, no joy with that link, keeps coming up error

bside29

Just use a USB stick, then change settings on Bios to boot to USB. Make sure you download and create a bootable file on that USB stick so you could reinstall through it.