I have to buy a new laptop for the program I'm taking this upcoming school year.
Problems:
a) I want to avoid Windows 8 as much as possible, but the selection of laptops that sell with Windows 7 on it is very limited. I want to know of a way to buy a computer with Windows 8 Home Premium on it, and wipe that operating system out somehow, and replace it with Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate.
b) I want to know if there's a way to try out whatever solution is suggested, but with a "backup plan" of somehow using a recovery partition to go back to Windows 8 in case the solution doesn't work. I want to know if this "backup plan" is even possible. (ie, if I wipe out all partitions but the recovery partition, then try to install Windows 7 but fail at it, am I then able to reinstall Windows 8 from the recovery partition alone?).
What I have to work with:
- an old, old computer with a Windows XP product key sticker. I think I probably activated this computer's copy of Windows XP through the internet. I am still actively using this computer.
- my samsung netbook that came with a Windows 7 Starter DVD (and a product key sticker on the computer itself).
- media I bought with a student discount through my school:
a) Windows 7 Professional Upgrade media, which includes a download of an ISO of Windows 7 Professional *upgrade*, plus a product key. Also included are two physical copies of a DVD that are blue in colour, and has the following words on the label: "Windows 7 Professional", "BACKUP DISC: Not for resale", "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade", "Includes Service Pack 1". One DVD says "32-bit software" and the other says "64-bit software"
b) Windows 7 Ultimate, similar to above (a product key, and two black DVDs).
(I'm not confident about the information I'm getting off the internet. Some people say that I can use my *upgrade* Windows 7 product key, and my *upgrade* Windows 7 DVD to do a clean install, that will still pass the product activation step. I'm unsure if I should trust this or not.)
so, again,
- is there a way to install Windows 7 with what I have, and have it pass activation, if I buy a laptop with Windows 8?
- if I try the solution and it fails, will I likely be able to go back to Windows 8 using the recovery partition, even after wiping clean all the other partitions on my laptop in my attempt to get Windows 7 onto it?
Problems:
a) I want to avoid Windows 8 as much as possible, but the selection of laptops that sell with Windows 7 on it is very limited. I want to know of a way to buy a computer with Windows 8 Home Premium on it, and wipe that operating system out somehow, and replace it with Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate.
b) I want to know if there's a way to try out whatever solution is suggested, but with a "backup plan" of somehow using a recovery partition to go back to Windows 8 in case the solution doesn't work. I want to know if this "backup plan" is even possible. (ie, if I wipe out all partitions but the recovery partition, then try to install Windows 7 but fail at it, am I then able to reinstall Windows 8 from the recovery partition alone?).
What I have to work with:
- an old, old computer with a Windows XP product key sticker. I think I probably activated this computer's copy of Windows XP through the internet. I am still actively using this computer.
- my samsung netbook that came with a Windows 7 Starter DVD (and a product key sticker on the computer itself).
- media I bought with a student discount through my school:
a) Windows 7 Professional Upgrade media, which includes a download of an ISO of Windows 7 Professional *upgrade*, plus a product key. Also included are two physical copies of a DVD that are blue in colour, and has the following words on the label: "Windows 7 Professional", "BACKUP DISC: Not for resale", "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade", "Includes Service Pack 1". One DVD says "32-bit software" and the other says "64-bit software"
b) Windows 7 Ultimate, similar to above (a product key, and two black DVDs).
(I'm not confident about the information I'm getting off the internet. Some people say that I can use my *upgrade* Windows 7 product key, and my *upgrade* Windows 7 DVD to do a clean install, that will still pass the product activation step. I'm unsure if I should trust this or not.)
so, again,
- is there a way to install Windows 7 with what I have, and have it pass activation, if I buy a laptop with Windows 8?
- if I try the solution and it fails, will I likely be able to go back to Windows 8 using the recovery partition, even after wiping clean all the other partitions on my laptop in my attempt to get Windows 7 onto it?