Win 7 vs Win 7 with SP1

[artbuc]

Need to buy for a clean install on a new HD on my S-I-L's old HP Pavilion 753n rig. It came with Win 7 Home Edition. HD is failing and was too late to image. Macrium Reflect gave it the good ole college try but it would not work. I assume the 753n can handle SP1 but I do not know pros/cons or if it even matters? Thanks. 

[patio]

If you are doing a clean install on the same PC and you have the COA code no need to buy Win7 again...
You can DLoad a version from Digital River and use your liscense key to activate...
Completely legit to do so.

[patio]

P.S. the Editions have to match...

[camerongray]

As patio said, as long as you have a valid licence and key you can just download the media to install it - http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/14709-Windows-7-Digital-River-direct-links-Multiple-Languages-X86-amp-X64/page59?p=470600&viewfull=1#post470600

That said, I would never consider buying a new copy of Windows 7 for that machine, you would be looking at spending $100 on Windows after already spending $60 on a hard drive, this is simply not at all worth it for a machine that old.  There is a time when a PC is simply too old that you start wasting money trying to keep it going, For $160 you could easily find a second hand PC that would be much newer and more powerful.  I felt that $60 for the hard drive was already more than the machine was worth, throwing another $100 at it would be silly.

To answer your original question, like any Windows update you should have SP1 installed as it provides a lot of security and other patches to the OS.

[artbuc]

Thanks Cameronguy but my S-I-L wants this machine fixed up, no if's and's or but's.

[artbuc]

If you are doing a clean install on the same PC and you have the COA code no need to buy Win7 again...
You can DLoad a version from Digital River and use your liscense key to activate...
Completely legit to do so.

Where would I find the Product Code? I wonder if it is on the outside of her tower? I think mine is.

[camerongray]

It would be stuck on the tower on a sticker or in a box with the DVD which you don't have, this is of course assuming the original copy was genuine.

Thanks Cameronguy but my S-I-L wants this machine fixed up, no if's and's or but's.

Just ensure she does realise that she could easily get a much better machine for the same if not less money, a lot of people don't realise this and think that fixing their existing one will work out cheaper.

[artbuc]

It would be stuck on the tower on a sticker or in a box with the DVD which you don't have, this is of course assuming the original copy was genuine.
Just ensure she does realise that she could easily get a much better machine for the same if not less money, a lot of people don't realise this and think that fixing their existing one will work out cheaper.

It came installed on the machine which she purchased new from a reputable company so I assume all is legit. She does not care too much about the money angle, she primarily wants to keep everything the same as long as she can. If $60 buys her one more year, she will be happy. Where could she get a much better machine for $60 or less?

[artbuc]

P.S. the Editions have to match...

Does this mean I can download only Win 7 and must later add SP1? I will have to check her machine. Would her original Win7 install have been automatically updated to Win 7 w/SP1 as part of routine updates?

[camerongray]

In that case the company would have included a sticker on the case which will have the product key printed on it or would have included a DVD with the product key in the box.

Where could she get a much better machine for $60 or less?

eBay has quite a lot of used Core 2 Duo machines for under $60 but I was more thinking about the $160 if you ended up buying  a copy of Windows as well which could easily get you a Core 2 Quad or even better machine with Windows 7.

[artbuc]

Thanks again Cameronguy. I would not have a clue about buying a used machine...chances are pretty good I would end up in a worse position, lol.

[SuperDave]

Look here for direct downloads of Win 7. Click here for good buys on refurbished computers.

[artbuc]

Ok, now I will show you how computer dumb I am. How can I download Win 7 onto a new hard drive? I will not have a browser to connect to the internet. Do I have to download it to a different external storage device? How do I then get it onto the new hard drive? Thanks.

[SuperDave]

If you go down to the third page you will find the ISO images which can be downloaded using the computer that you're presently using to post here. Next, you will need to burn the ISO image to a disk. You can use this ISO burner. Finally, you boot your computer with the the disk in the drive and install Windows 7.Just make sure you download the correct version for your computer.

ISO burner can be found here.

[Geek-9pm]

Ok, now I will show you how computer dumb I am. How can I download Win 7 onto a new hard drive? I will not have a browser to connect to the internet. Do I have to download it to a different external storage device? How do I then get it onto the new hard drive? Thanks.

You need a second computer to make the DVD with Windows 7 on it.
Or get friend to help you.