win10 not free for oem machines

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  1. Posts : 19
    win10
       #1

    win10 not free for oem machines


    Hi, I have lost many hours trying to get out of a mess that quite frankly I blame Microsoft for. If they have said the Win10 will not be free for oem version of a previous os, I didn't find that.
    My ACER laptop was slowing down, I do a reinstall of win7 every year or so, which revitalises it. So I thought this was an opportunity to test drive win10 and did a fresh install using the ISO file that microsoft provide for that purpose.

    To my surprise it rejected my win 7 licence key. ACER told me that OEM version were not included for free Win10, oh well, back to win 7. BUT when I try to use the win7 iso provided by microsoft, they reject the licence key even before letting me download! So I have tried to reinstall win 7 from an image backup I had done, and also with a dvd version I have - but Win10 has done something to the laptop that prevents ANY win7 setup from running.

    This is cynical, even for micro$oft! I feel I have been tricked into trying Win10 on my oem machine, now microsoft have arranged things so that it appears the only solution is to pay for Win10 - I wondered how they could afford to give it away, it seems they will be funding it through people like me.

    Rant over - anyone know any ways to do a fresh install of win7 without win10 interfering, and so that it recognises my oem product key?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Ognik, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    That's not true.

    You can get the free Windows 10 offer by upgrading to Windows 10 on any activated Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 PC. It doesn't matter if it's OEM or retail.

    The key here is that you must do this from your activated W7, or Windows 10 will not be activated.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html

    OR

    Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 605
    Windows 10
       #3

    As Brink alluded to, you have to upgrade to Win 10 first and then you can do a clean install (skip the two prompts for a key). If done correctly Win 10 will activate automatically without user input of a key.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 19
    win10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Brink said:
    Hello Ognik, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    That's not true.

    You can get the free Windows 10 offer by upgrading to Windows 10 on any activated Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 PC. It doesn't matter if it's OEM or retail.

    The key here is that you must do this from your activated W7, or Windows 10 will not be activated.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html

    OR

    Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First
    Thanks for the welcome.
    That's interesting, it was ACER support who identified the oem issue - they said that the fresh install would have accepted a non-oem licence key.
    My problem is that I assumed that because MS were providing a Win10 ISO, there would be no problem using it; I didn't see any warning that if I didn't upgrade 1st, I couldn't input my win7 key. I have been trying to revert to win7 so that I can upgrade from there, but as I say win10 seems to either intercept and bypass and win7 install, or say it can't run the setup.exe. Any ideas how I can get back to win7 please, to try the upgrade?
    Last edited by ognik; 28 Sep 2015 at 00:23. Reason: manners
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #5

    Do you have factory recovery media from ACER to restore Windows 7 with?
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 102
    W7
       #6
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 18
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
       #7

    ognik said:
    Unfortunately that was on the C disk and the fresh install reformatted the drive; I investigated undeleting it but recoverable. I had an image backed up to DVDs, but that when I try and run the recovery I get an error. AFAICS my options are to somehow reinstall windows or somehow persuade MS to recognise my win7 licence. I am hoping someone knows more than me....
    download win 98 form torrent, burn the image into CD and then try to format your c drive in DOS mode. Afterwards try to install win 7 from your installation disk.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #8

    ognik,

    If you created a System Image of 7, then see if you may be able to boot from a either a Windows 7 or Windows 10 installation USB to do a system image recovery from at boot with the image you created.

    System Image Recovery - Windows 7 Help Forums
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 18
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit
       #9

    Brink said:
    ognik,

    If you created a System Image of 7, then see if you may be able to boot from a either a Windows 7 or Windows 10 installation USB to do a system image recovery from at boot with the image you created.

    System Image Recovery - Windows 7 Help Forums
    Brink

    He did a clean install of Win 10 on Win 7 OEM version, without upgrading to Win 7 SP1 first. Now his windows won't activated, if he trying to install win 7 again from win 7 installation dvd, his win 7 oem key is not recognized. Also he does not have any System Image of 7. So basically he is asking can he install win 7 again on his laptop/desktop
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #10

    vivek kumar said:
    Brink

    He did a clean install of Win 10 on Win 7 OEM version, without upgrading to Win 7 SP1 first. Now his windows won't activated, if he trying to install win 7 again from win 7 installation dvd, his win 7 oem key is not recognized. Also he does not have any System Image of 7. So basically he is asking can he install win 7 again on his laptop/desktop
    From first post. I was wanting to verify, and if he may be able to restore the image at boot instead. :)


    ognik said:
    .....So I have tried to reinstall win 7 from an image backup I had done, and also with a dvd version I have - but Win10 has done something to the laptop that prevents ANY win7 setup from running.....
      My Computers


 

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