📎 AI Summary:
The forum thread discusses John Jensen's difficulty installing Windows 7 Pro on his Dell desktop after a hardware replacement, with initial issues recognizing the product key. Contributors ask for details about the system and the type of Windows version purchased, clarifying whether it was a full or upgrade copy. Eventually, John confirms he bought a full version of Windows 7 Pro, which resolves the confusion, and he thanks others for their assistance; he then inquires about affordable sources for Windows 7 full versions. Overall, the thread reflects a helpful community working through installation issues and product licensing clarification.

John Jensen

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Mar 5, 2014
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5
Thread Author #1
I bought an educational version of Windows 7 Pro 64 bit to install on my Dell desktop. The hard drive had died so I put in a new hard drive and tried to install the OS with good results up until the point of putting in the product key. More than double checked accuracy, but still didn't get the key recognized. I went ahead and installed Linux just to see what would happen and it installed with no trouble. But I still need to get Windows on there. Any suggestions? I lost all my discs from the OS that came with the computer a few years ago.
 

Saltgrass

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Microsoft Community Contributor
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Oct 16, 2009
Messages
15,152
Could you give a little more information about your system? Did it originally come with Windows 7?
 

John Jensen

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Mar 5, 2014
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Thread Author #3
It originally came with Vista home premium 64bit. I upgraded to Windows 7 home premium.
 

Joe S

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Jan 12, 2009
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3,781
Was this a full version or an upgrade version? If it is an upgrade version that might be part of the problem.
Joe
 

John Jensen

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Mar 5, 2014
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Thread Author #5
Yes that was a full version of Windows 7 pro.
 

John Jensen

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Mar 5, 2014
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Thread Author #6
I may be wrong I guess. I'll double check that today. Assumptions being what they are. Thanks.
 

John Jensen

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Mar 5, 2014
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Thread Author #7
Joe;
You nailed it. I bought this disc a couple of years ago. Never used it. Anyway. Thanks for helping me pierce the veil of my false assumptions. Do you know a good source for affordable Windows 7 full version?
Again....thanks!