How to reinstall OEM windows 7 after upgrade?

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modernwar99

modernwar99

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I just received my new CPU and mobo and need to reinstall my copy of Windows 7 64 bit (OEM of course). The problem is it's OEM so I have no install disk, the package came with a product key and that's it. I originally used digital river to get a Windows 7 ISO but that was shut down. The Windows 7 download on Microsoft's site doesn't work since it doesn't accept OEM product keys... so how do I go about making Windows 7 installation media? I still have my current build up and running with the original Windows 7 btw. I also want to avoid dealing with MS support as much as possible hence why I came here... Thanks.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For a Win 7 OEM license, MS expects you to go through the manufacturer to obtain any installation media. That's who you bought it from.
And as above...OEM license is tied to that original motherboard.
 
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modernwar99

modernwar99

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I might just hook it all up and try booting. If it works then do the phone activation to activate it again. If it doesn't work (since newegg is unlikely to send me an installation disk...):

Can I do a clean install of windows 10 on this computer for free and then use the windows 10 downloader (which works with OEM keys since I used it on my other computer) to reinstall and activate on the new PC? Since afaik, OEM windows 8/10 can be reinstalled on a different PC.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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No and no.
1. Clean install of Win 10 has no license, nor will it see a qualifying OS to Upgrade from. It will need one or the other.

2. OEM 8.1 or 10 cannot be installed elsewhere. It is the same as Win 7. MS may allow it, but they do not have to.
There was a short interval with Win 8, in which the licensing said yes, you could. That went away with 8.1.
 
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modernwar99

modernwar99

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I so prepared for the worst before attempting anything and I'm glad I did. I borrowed a windows 7 disc from a neighbor and copied the files to my flash drive. Realized the disc was only for the retail version of windows 7 pro so using a neat trick I found on google, changing the lines in ei.cfg to HomePremium and OEM presumably made the installer install the version I needed. Then I made a backup of what I wanted to keep on an external HDD. Great.

Basically I put the new computer together, booted from the old HDD, and it was stuck in a boot loop, safe mode didn't work either.... So I booted from the flash drive and reinstalled windows using that. When the installer asked for my product key I clicked activate later knowing the key wouldn't work. Booted into windows, said I needed to activate within 30 days so I called MS's activation center and they pretty much activated it no questions asked. Not as big of a nightmare as I thought it was going to be... hehe

Also is it odd that windows recognizes my R9 390 as a "R9 300 series"? It was a clean install so I have no GPU drivers installed yet... Usually defaults to like Generic VGA or something like that.
 
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