Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows Vista and 7 => Topic started by: bluecollar on February 21, 2011, 07:36:11 AM
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???
Hi,
my friend has her first laptop, first computer,
the laptop had a major worm & virus problem when she got it,
it has an "illegal" version of windows 7 on it,
she doesn't want to buy a new OS,
the vista product key is still readable underneath,
we do not know where the original vista OS was loaded,
is it acceptable & moral to copy another (my) vista OS + use her original product key?
it would get her up and running,
she could decide to upgrade later,
is windows 7 that much better?
would a beginner be better off?
please guide us
thanks for being here
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Borrow a Vista CD to install the OS using her validation.
NOTE: The versions have to match exactly.
Also it should be an MS Vista CD...not OEM such as Dell Acer etc.
This is perfectly legal to do so...
Don't forget the Updates.
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This post is running very close to a line that CH members cannot cross. Which is advocating or promoting any activities which are illegal.Therefore "it has an "illegal" version of windows 7 on it,
she doesn't want to buy a new OS, is not a subject we can address. This statement MAY provide some solution "the vista product key is still readable underneath,". You can try contacting Microsoft and telling them that the original installed version of Vista no longer functions and that you do not have the O/S disc (very common to be so) nor do you have any recovery discs. By supplying the product key you may be able to have them provide you with disc for the O/S (it won't be free--but it will be nominal as opposed to buying the software retail).
"is it acceptable & moral to copy another (my) vista OS + use her original product key?" Generally speaking an O/S supplied with a computer (discs) in this case yours are specific to a particular computer(yours in this case) and while you MAY be able to install it when it goes to touchy feely with Microsoft --which it will do at some point you may lose the use of the computer it is installed on (hers). No matter which way you go you may encounter problems which will necessitate the purchase of a legitimate Windows O/S.
There is however an alternative to this and that is install a free version of Ubuntu or there is another company that also has a free O/S available (it escapes me as to who it is). Others may know the name. I think Chrome also has one. truenorth
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The first thing I'd do is look to see whether that computer has a recovery partition on it. If the original recovery partition is still intact, try using it to reinstall the OEM version of Vista that was on the machine when it was new.
Another option in this situation is to contact the manufacturer and request a recovery disc from them. They may be able to and willing to send one for a small fee.
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Using an official MS CD to re-install the OS on a liscensed machine is perfectly Legal and covered in MS's EULA agreement...
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Agreed--my concern is that it is a disc supplied by his computer manufacturer an NOT a Microsoft disc. truenorth
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Using an official MS CD to re-install the OS on a liscensed machine is perfectly Legal and covered in MS's EULA agreement...
Right, I agree with that. Still, if the recovery partition can be used, it would have the device drivers and be an easy way to get the system up and running.
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Probably isn't...that's why i mentioned it...
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Right, I agree with that. Still, if the recovery partition can be used, it would have the device drivers and be an easy way to get the system up and running.
Good point also Soybean.
We may never know....
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Thanks for the response so far,
just to clarify
'it has an "illegal" version of windows 7 on it,
she doesn't want to buy a new OS,'
the 'illegal' version 'expires in 20 days'
i am not intending to endorse illegal actions
both machines have OEM versions
also i think we might have a disc available from another friend to reinstall vista
but would that be compatible with OEM
thanks again
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The first thing I'd do is look to see whether that computer has a recovery partition on it.
Have you done this? Do you know what to look for?
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I haven't looked for a recovery partition
this is mostly because I do not know, where / how to
but i did forget a little too
possibly because i do not know where / how
I would like directions / or a guide
perhaps just breadcrumbs
Thanks for responses
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Travel to the manuf. site....they will have step by step directions...
It's different for most manuf.
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i've read that F10 at start up should begin the recovery process,
does that sound right for this need?
we do not have any recovery discs,
part of instruction suggests making a recovery disc,
does that mean it will still be windows7?
thanks again
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No...
It will be the original installed OS which according to what you've told us was Vista...
Follow the instructions and move forward...
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Hi,
just tried the F10 idea,
and now for the next hurdle,
the sony vaio was made in brazil - so it's not in english,
we got to the "centro de recuperação",
at least i think it said that,
so i couldn't quite follow the instructions,
will this be another big problem for us?
i might get through if i could translate each instruction / page as it appeared - perhaps with another laptop beside it,
will i be able to select english via the control panel regional and language options once we are using vista again?
the other friend couldn't find their vista disc
thanks for all the help so far
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Perhaps buying a restore disk from http://www.restoredisks.com/findrestoredisk.aspx would be a wise investment.
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I have a family friend that has a laptop purchased in Germany with the O/S in German. They now wish to have the O/S in English. So far it appears from their investigation all they are entitled to (with fees) are discs in German. This may be the issue with the recovery discs being suggested here for the O/P as well. They may only provide discs in Portuguese. Having someone to assist with the Portuguese translation (from the recovery consul) will result in a computer (hopefully) working with Vista BUT in Portuguese. If another language is desired it won't help. truenorth
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I'd contact the website I previously posted and inquire about the language issue. Contact info:
http://www.restoredisks.com/contactus.aspx
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Another thought has just occurred to me based on this statement from you "the 'illegal' version 'expires in 20 days'". If this warning is being generated by a touchy feely experience with Microsoft to get you to legitimize your "illegal copy" the end result at the expiry may be that you could lose access to the computer. I personally have never been involved with that issue but i have heard anecdotal statements that that can ensue. Other members may wish to address that. I bring it up in case it is a possibility and you may face that consequence if you continue to use an "unregistered " copy of Win 7. If that were to be the case your current problems might seem small then. truenorth
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I have a thought: Would using a language pack like listed on this site (http://windows7center.com/tutorials/how-to-download-and-install-windows-7-beta-language-packs-mui-packs/) be a solution?
Changing O/S from German into English, though I don't know if the O/S/ would become the "English version" or would it still be recognized as the German version with just a language pack installed.
And I'd think it would be ok to borrow a friend's legally obtained vista installation CD to use with a legally obtained key from different computer (as long as O/S version is compatible with key you wish to use)
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2x315x, Interesting but i note that it is restricted to Win 7 and even then only certain versions . So it is NOT applicable to Vista which is where the O/P's hopes currently reside. Also reading the comments by would be users (including the French ones) most people are not jumping up and down about it (except maybe in frustration).truenorth
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thanks again for all the responses
my vista home basic has the "REGIONAL and LANGUAGE OPTIONS"
in the control panel
or am i on the wrong tree? no use?
i spoke with my friend today,
she has had a small winfall and is thinking about spending it on the windows 7 os
i said we could try the language thing -
if it ruins things (remains in Portuguese) then you could buy win7 os
interesting to find the "windows 8" link too - thanks 2x3i5x
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thanks again for all the responses
my vista home basic has the "REGIONAL and LANGUAGE OPTIONS"
in the control panel
or am i on the wrong tree? no use?
I am using win vista too and double-checked control panel "REGIONAL and LANGUAGE OPTIONS".
What you can change there:
1. keyboard language
2. O/S language, meaning if you have an app that's written in German and all its text normally should be displayed in German and now you're getting garbled text instead of the right words, then you can change the language locale there to get the text to be displayed correctly it its native language
But I see you can't change O/S language as in if you wanted to change start menu text to a different language, or whatnot without using language pack or buying a different version of windows in the language you want. Vista does have language packs but I believe this is available only for windows ULTIMATE version (unless somebody found a way to get them to install on non-ULTIMATE versions of vista)
If you want try language pack as listed in above link by me, then I'd probably make restore point before attempting iinstall, so in event language pack test fail or you not happy with it, you can restore windows back to the way it was before you made any changes. :)
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oh, oh dear,
would a restore point still exist after a partition recovery?
thanks again