My girlfriend has just purchased a laptop with windows 7 pre-installed meaning its full of shit HP decided to whack on there. I'd like to format the HDD and do a fresh install of windows but I'm not actually sure how to legally/officially obtain the install files to do so.

I know I can just go torrent the needed files but I would like to know how to actually get an installation CD or officially download the files. Silly that they don't provide a CD with the laptop really......

Would appreciate if anybody could point me in the right direction. Ta.

Really the only way is to get a 32 or 64 bit disc from someone and use that. You can't download it. However HP does have a restore parition with Windows in... though it has all the crapware in there

Sorry this isn't that helpful, but this is the sad ways of bundled versions of Windows.

Are you off to uni? If so, pick up a cheap copy of Win 7 for yourself here then give her a copy of the install files and use her own code with it.

If you want to get the key off your laptop, you can use this handy little utility if you've lost the box and so on.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

It doesn't say it works with Windows 7, but it does say it works with Vista so I'd say it's a pretty reasonable bet it works on Windows 7 as well.

Wow! Thought this was going to be the case but was hoping it wouldn't be

Already discovered that the restore partition is jammed with pre-installed software myself. Guess I'll just have to find a friend with an install CD, or obtain one with another method

Thanks for the help all.

Just needed this for my housemate's laptop (YAY HP BLOATWARE!)

We found this:

http://www.itechnobuzz.com/tips-and-tri ... ks-leaked/

They are links to the downloads for MS official online store, they work and at good speed too (currently downloading one as we have a Home Premium key and only Professional discs). Just match the version with the one on the laptop.

Enjoy!

favourited just in case I ever need to dl. Thanks.

I'd seen a few of those 'leaked' links before on some other blogs but was a tad sceptical. However I don't have much choice now so I'm gonna go ahead and download.

Let us know how you get on installing it on your house mates laptop Skillers! Thanks.

The url of these seem legit, as it is the domain which Microsoft sales do come from.

Downloaded, burnt to disc and installed (using the product key on the laptop) easily.

These are legit, they are links to MS downloader links (same base URL I got my Win 7 Pro from the student deal).

Was a success. Many thanks all!