I intend to help select a new laptop for my sister-in-law. As part of this service I rebuild the computer by repartitioning hard drive into C: and D:, formatting both partitions, and installing a clean copy of the OS from the included DVD. Subsequently I use Acronis True Image to make a fully customized backup image. Recently I have used Dell laptops since they have always included the OS DVD in the box. I just learned that they no longer do this. I'm looking for suggestions. I see two possibilities:
- Find a mfg that still includes the OS on DVD in the box
- Purchase an OS separately
The second option suggests a substantially higher cost unless I can find a highly discounted laptop and/or a highly discounted OS. In effect this option has me buying the OS twice! Any and all ideas welcome. Thanks
Pete
If the laptop comes with Windows installed, I expect it will also have a recovery partition from which you can burn recovery disks. As you have mentioned, you can also use Acronis to maintain clones of the op sys - I don't see why you feel you need to buy an op sys separately.
Just a couple more possibilities!
Most computer mass marketers offer a system DVD for a price generally in the $10 to $20 range. This would be an additional option much preferable to buying a retail copy of the OS. The installation key that you have on the sticker on your computer would work with the manufacturer supplied DVD if available. (You have already bought the OS with your computer purchase. You only need the DVD that contains the OS you have bought.) You could even borrow an install DVD if you have a friend who has one of the same edition as installed on your computer. Just use the installation key that belongs to your computer.
Coincidentally, I happened to see the results of doing what you suggest vs a clean install. Your suggestions resulted in the loss of 10 GB in disk space compared to the clean install; a huge percentage difference. I can't say where the 10GB went, but it's commonly known that many uninstalls are not very effective. I did not think to test or compare memory utilization or speed. I would expect there would be a huge difference there as well. The point being that with a clean install the computer is as lean and mean as it possibly can be. Why compromise when the created images will last for the life of the machine (or until MS releases the next OS whichever comes first!)?If bloatware is your main concern I'd just do as I've always done - clean it up by uninstalling, deleteig files, directories etc and creating a cleaned up image using Acronis True Image.
Very true; I recall doing that several times with the release of each new XP service pack. I'm still hoping that someone can provide the name of a computer manufacturer who still includes the OS on DVD or lacking that offers it as an option at nominal cost. I've verified that neither Dell nor HP offer that option.No real disk is also annoying if you want to slipstream updates and make an updated clean install at some point later on.
Joe
Thanks for the feedback. I did have one experience trying to do a clean install on a Sony laptop that didn't work out. The laptop didn't come with the OS on DVD, so I installed from a (borrowed) retail copy of Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) and tried to activate with the legitimate key on the bottom of the Sony laptop. It didn't work. The laptop came with Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) installed so it wasn't a case of trying to install a different version. I surmised that I would have needed an OEM copy, but never had the opportunity to verify. It is for this reason that it is best to get the copy of OS directly from manufacturer to ensure compatibility.If you had a legit manufacturer's key could you activate an install form an OEM disk with it? Or would you need to edit some files and make a new ISO? I think this was possible on XP.
Joe
Yes. You only need to modify 1 file on the 7 dvd so I copy to HD and basically delete it. ei.cfg in the sources folder tell's what version and if Oem. Looks something like thisIf you had a legit manufacturer's key could you activate an install form an OEM disk with it? Or would you need to edit some files and make a new ISO? I think this was possible on XP.
Joe
' ##############################################################
' # #
' # VBScript to find the DigitalProductID for your #
' # Microsoft windows Installation and decode it to #
' # retrieve your windows Product Key #
' # #
' # ----------------------------------------------- #
' # #
' # Created by: Parabellum #
' # #
' ##############################################################
'
' <--------------- Open Registry Key and populate binary data into an array -------------------------->
'
const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
strKeyPath = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion"
strValueName = "DigitalProductId"
strComputer = "."
dim iValues()
Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & _
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
oReg.GetBinaryValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,strValueName,iValues
Dim arrDPID
arrDPID = Array()
For i = 52 to 66
ReDim Preserve arrDPID( UBound(arrDPID) + 1 )
arrDPID( UBound(arrDPID) ) = iValues(i)
Next
' <--------------- Create an array to hold the valid characters for a microsoft Product Key -------------------------->
Dim arrChars
arrChars = Array("B","C","D","F","G","H","J","K","M","P","Q","R","T","V","W","X","Y","2","3","4","6","7","8","9")
' <--------------- The clever bit !!! (Decrypt the base24 encoded binary data)-------------------------->
For i = 24 To 0 Step -1
k = 0
For j = 14 To 0 Step -1
k = k * 256 Xor arrDPID(j)
arrDPID(j) = Int(k / 24)
k = k Mod 24
Next
strProductKey = arrChars(k) & strProductKey
' <------- add the "-" between the groups of 5 Char -------->
If i Mod 5 = 0 And i <> 0 Then strProductKey = "-" & strProductKey
Next
strFinalKey = strProductKey
'
' <---------- This part of the script displays operating system Information and the license Key --------->
'
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colOperatingSystems = objWMIService.ExecQuery _
("Select * from Win32_OperatingSystem")
For Each objOperatingSystem in colOperatingSystems
strOS = objOperatingSystem.Caption
strBuild = objOperatingSystem.BuildNumber
strSerial = objOperatingSystem.SerialNumber
strRegistered = objOperatingSystem.RegisteredUser
Next
Set wshShell=CreateObject("wscript.shell")
strPopupMsg = strOS & vbNewLine & vbNewLine
strPopupMsg = strPopupMsg & "Build Number: " & strBuild & vbNewLine
strPopupMsg = strPopupMsg & "PID: " & strSerial & vbNewLine & vbNewLine
strPopupMsg = strPopupMsg & "Registered to: " & strRegistered & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & vbNewLine
strPopupMsg = strPopupMsg & "Your Windows Product Key is:" & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & strFinalKey
strPopupTitle = "Microsoft Windows License Information"
wshShell.Popup strPopupMsg,,strPopupTitle,vbCancelOnly+vbinformation
WScript.Quit
That's very interesting. I have a Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit) DVD which I wish to use for a clean install on a brandnew laptop that did not come with an OS on DVD. This is the ei.cfg file:Yes. You only need to modify 1 file on the 7 dvd so I copy to HD and basically delete it. ei.cfg in the sources folder tell's what version and if Oem. Looks something like this
[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0
Now with that done you can install any of the versions from the dvd. Every dvd I have looked at are identical except 64 will have 4 versions where x86 has starter also for 5 versions.