Trying to get a little more life out of my daughters laptop. My wife tells me we need a builders copy of Windows 7 64bit to buy some more time. Anyone?
Looking for a builders copy of Windows 7 64bit
- Thread starter LandCruiserPhil
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Huh ???
Seriously - I have never heard of that in any of my Windows Server Management Classes (I became a Network Server Engineer - two degrees even - after losing my last job - it was free and kept the UE coming for 24 months).
I have multiple copies of several types of MS Operating Systems as part of the classes ... but never picked up copies any 'home' product, though did trade keys for a 64 home for a 32 bit I didn't want.
So first - what is the issue you are trying to solve and maybe I have something that can help. If all you need is a Win7 Pro x64 Install DVD, I can burn one for you. A license key will be up to you. But the Pro DVD will allow things like real recovery, restore, etc. Check the Windows Logo Tag under teh notebook - should have a serial number a mile long, and identify what OS it is for. Win 7 Home, Win 7 Pro, Win 7 Ulitmate, and whether it's x32 or x64. Upgrades between the versions are usually not life threateningly expensive... but Pro is my preference for most work.
Seriously - I have never heard of that in any of my Windows Server Management Classes (I became a Network Server Engineer - two degrees even - after losing my last job - it was free and kept the UE coming for 24 months).
I have multiple copies of several types of MS Operating Systems as part of the classes ... but never picked up copies any 'home' product, though did trade keys for a 64 home for a 32 bit I didn't want.
So first - what is the issue you are trying to solve and maybe I have something that can help. If all you need is a Win7 Pro x64 Install DVD, I can burn one for you. A license key will be up to you. But the Pro DVD will allow things like real recovery, restore, etc. Check the Windows Logo Tag under teh notebook - should have a serial number a mile long, and identify what OS it is for. Win 7 Home, Win 7 Pro, Win 7 Ulitmate, and whether it's x32 or x64. Upgrades between the versions are usually not life threateningly expensive... but Pro is my preference for most work.
By builders copy I am guessing you want OEM? These links will work for OEM serial numbers I use them all the time for work.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...ws-7-iso/618efa8a-24b5-458e-b1c6-24c7ba828099
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...ws-7-iso/618efa8a-24b5-458e-b1c6-24c7ba828099
Didn't know MS made these isos public -- thanks for the link. Now if they did the same for the servers 
ps: OEM - Most vendors of notebooks place a hidden partition on the hard drive. When new, you must "create" DVD's from that partition to have the OEM disks. These have specific drivers and software included with the make and model of Notebook. A Delll OEM DVD will not work well with an HP or Lenova notebook, for example - different drivers, etc.
What most guys do is use a generic install DVD - like one of thse from the Microsoft site above, and then manually patch in the drivers that are lacking (usually notebooks require odd drivers not included in the stock MS Windows distribution.
ps: OEM - Most vendors of notebooks place a hidden partition on the hard drive. When new, you must "create" DVD's from that partition to have the OEM disks. These have specific drivers and software included with the make and model of Notebook. A Delll OEM DVD will not work well with an HP or Lenova notebook, for example - different drivers, etc.
What most guys do is use a generic install DVD - like one of thse from the Microsoft site above, and then manually patch in the drivers that are lacking (usually notebooks require odd drivers not included in the stock MS Windows distribution.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #5
Let me start over.....My daughter has a Sony Vaio SVE141L11L laptop which came with Windows 8. The hard drive crashed and has been replaced. We did not make back-up discs for the computer, therefore we have no OEM operating system. We do have however an OEM System Builder Pack for Windows 7 Pro 32 bit. Therefore, we installed this on her laptop, but Sony does provide drivers for 32 bit only 64 bit.
Didn't know MS made these isos public -- thanks for the link. Now if they did the same for the servers
ps: OEM - Most vendors of notebooks place a hidden partition on the hard drive. When new, you must "create" DVD's from that partition to have the OEM disks. These have specific drivers and software included with the make and model of Notebook. A Delll OEM DVD will not work well with an HP or Lenova notebook, for example - different drivers, etc.
What most guys do is use a generic install DVD - like one of thse from the Microsoft site above, and then manually patch in the drivers that are lacking (usually notebooks require odd drivers not included in the stock MS Windows distribution.
Best thing about having all those ISO's is you can use them with a USB drive, use this.
http://rufus.akeo.ie/
Phil did the Win7 install not find the hardware and/or didn't install the drivers? Regardless of 32 or 64. If not, what hardware couldn't it identify?
Sometimes, since it came with Windows 8 (blech) it MAY not be able to identify all the drivers.
Sometimes, since it came with Windows 8 (blech) it MAY not be able to identify all the drivers.
So you need 32 bit drivers for the notebook; a copy of WIN7 x64, or the WIN8x64 OEM recovery disks so that you can use the license key you already have.
Now that you have the laptop running more or less - if you can surf the web and get to this Microsoft site, try this link and use the Win8.1 installer provided ... after the install your notebook license key should work (if it's an 8.1 key)...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
And another - 'I'm screwed' method is here: but doubt it will help you.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc
Keep in mind, at 30 days you will need to activate whatever you've installed with a key for that specific product, or clear the timer every 30 days (allows up to 120 days if done right).
ps: x64 is also sometimes referred to as AMD64... when searching for drivers...
Now that you have the laptop running more or less - if you can surf the web and get to this Microsoft site, try this link and use the Win8.1 installer provided ... after the install your notebook license key should work (if it's an 8.1 key)...
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media
And another - 'I'm screwed' method is here: but doubt it will help you.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/restore-refresh-reset-pc
Keep in mind, at 30 days you will need to activate whatever you've installed with a key for that specific product, or clear the timer every 30 days (allows up to 120 days if done right).
ps: x64 is also sometimes referred to as AMD64... when searching for drivers...