Microsoft Windows 7 Software Recovery

Corrine · Jan 23, 2015

It used to be that when you purchased a new PC you received a copy of the software along with it. Then that stopped. Many OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. started charging extra for the software. Some would allow customers to purchase the software for a while and then that was no longer possible.

If you have a Windows 7 computer and no recovery software, you can now do one of the following:

Create a Windows 7 DVD for installation on a new hard drive
Create a backup Windows 7 DVD
Create a bootable USB drive with a copy of Windows 7

Instructions are available here: Microsoft Software Recovery.

Corrine · Jan 23, 2015

This may not work with OEM computers as I thought. Reading the website link, it refers to "retail":

This site enables you to recover and install Microsoft software purchased through a retailer. (bold added)

If anyone with an OEM machine tries it, please let us know the results.

Digerati · Jan 24, 2015

That link does not work for me with IE or FF, but does with Chrome and PM. ???

Anyway, just another reason to build your own computers and buy the disks separately. But of course, not possible with notebooks.

The OEM computer and Windows should still allow the user to create a recovery disk. I don't know why it says that. And note you can buy OEM software from a retailer (like Newegg) so I don't think it applies to the "retail" license only. If you buy a Dell that comes with OEM software, Dell is the retailer. And as the "System Builder", they are responsible for 1 year of free Windows tech support. But of course, that means you must be lucky enough to get someone on the phone who actually knows what they are doing.

But frankly, as a hardware guy (NOT - by any means - a Windows expert) I think the recovery disk method is too much a PITA - and not very reliable as a means for complete recovery. Instead, I would recommend using a decent image backup program instead. And then use it frequently so you don't end up having to recover to an image that is years behind.

UnionThug · Mar 14, 2015

Corrine said:
This may not work with OEM computers as I thought. Reading the website link, it refers to "retail":

This site enables you to recover and install Microsoft software purchased through a retailer. (bold added)

Click to expand...

If anyone with an OEM machine tries it, please let us know the results.

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster. :wave: Doesn't work with OEM-SLP key. :noidea:

malletKATman · Jun 16, 2019

I have used the instructions at Microsoft Software Recovery to build both a USB-bootable installation and a recovery memory stick that at least boot up and ask how to proceed with the advertised menus on my 10+ year old custom-built PC.

malletKATman · Jun 16, 2019

If you don't know your Windows 7 Product Key required to build these recovery/reload bootable volumes, the Speccy app at Download Speccy | Find your computer specs, free!. will find it for you if anything can. The Free version is quite sufficient to tell you this and a whole lot more about your hardware and software.

Oops, I didn't read the Speccy output close enough. It reveals your S/N, not your Product Key, so (P.T.I.). Everything else I said about the product is true IMO.

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Microsoft Windows 7 Software Recovery

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Corrine

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

UnionThug

New member

malletKATman

Contributor

malletKATman

Contributor

Microsoft Windows 7 Software Recovery

Corrine

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

Corrine

Administrator, Microsoft MVP, Security Analyst

Digerati

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

UnionThug

New member

malletKATman

Contributor

malletKATman

Contributor

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Administrator,
Microsoft MVP,
Security Analyst

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)