PC help please.

Owryan

Hi all you wonderful PC knowledgable folk

Recently i had to have the hard drive in my pc replaced so i left it into a pc repair store .

Have it back and its working fine but.........................

It went in with Vista as the o.s. and now it has Windows 7 ,however i keep getting a pop up notice warning me that my "copy of windows is not genuine"

The guy who done the work is no longer around so i'm at a bit of a loss.

Would prefer to uninstall it if possible but i assume that would erase everything on the pc .

So any ideas/advise ?

cookie1977

You'll need to buy a windows 7 licence or reinstall what OS you have for your PC. You could move files off it onto an external hardrive before formatting and reinstalling

Sup08

First of all, not a very reputable store.
Step 1: Shrink the volume on C drive to create a new X: partition. start>"Right Click" Computer>Manage>Disk Management>"Right Click" C: and shrink volume>Format new volume to NTFS with label X:
Step 2. Move all files you wish to back up to the X: Partition.
Step 3. Install new install of vista to C: drive inserting your windows key from the label attached to the PC.
Step 4. Copy all your files back from X: to C: .
Step 5. Go to disk management again as above delete X: partition and extend C: back to full size.

Done without the need for any external HDD.

uncle_sam_ie

Do you have your Vista product key still? If so, then just reinstall Vista and use the key. If you can't find the key then you need to buy windows 7 or download and install the Windows 8 consumer preview. It's free until January 2013.

T-Bird

Looks like he hacked a patch on win7 and Tuesdays windows update fixed it. You need to backup all your stuff and make fresh install of operating system you have or purchase new one.

Or in short what post #2 said lol (just came back from watching game....)

Owryan

uncle_sam_ie wrote: »

Do you have your Vista product key still? If so, then just reinstall Vista and use the key. If you can't find the key then you need to buy windows 7 or download and install the Windows 8 consumer preview. It's free until January 2013.

no, dont think so, came pre installed and the pc is 4yr old so doubt any of the stuff that came with it is still about

T-Bird

Owryan wrote: »

no, dont think so, came pre installed and the pc is 4yr old so doubt any of the stuff that came with it is still about

Are there any menu options at boot? If its preinstalled show option to reinstall or something. BUT if it does make sure you backup first as it will format everything.

T-Bird

BTW, is the company still there but the guy has gone?

Timfy

Simple answer is if he charged you for the work then he should supply you with the licence key. ... if the upgrade was unsolicited then the PC should have been returned with the existing licensed copy of Vista.

If the supplier is funny about it report him to MS as he is making money from supplying unlicensed copies of the operating system. Its one thing if a mate gives you a "dodgy copy" Quite another when a shop is making a living out of it.

oops just read that the supplier is not around!

bette

There should be a small sticker on the machine with the serial no of the operating system. You simply get a copy of this system and key in the numbers! Laptops usually have this sticker under the machine or in the battery compartment.

johnnybmac

Is it just the "guy who did the install" (i.e. the store's technician) who is not around anymore, or is the store itself gone???

If the store is still there, I would, at least, demand a legit licence for win7 or a reinstall of vista free of charge.

Otherwise, get a vista dvd from a friend and use your licence key to re-install...

Owryan

Thanks for all the comments. The store itself is gone and it seems the fellow was just trying to be helpful !

My big concern is that if i have to re install vista or buy a licence for win7 then all the stuff on the pc will be wiped .Have tons of photos/videos of my kids on it .

At the moment i cant afford to buy an ext hd to back everything onto and im not v tech savvy at all.

Jordan537

quote from supo08:

First of all, not a very reputable store.
Step 1: Shrink the volume on C drive to create a new X: partition. start>"Right Click" Computer>Manage>Disk Management>"Right Click" C: and shrink volume>Format new volume to NTFS with label X:
Step 2. Move all files you wish to back up to the X: Partition.
Step 3. Install new install of vista to C: drive inserting your windows key from the label attached to the PC.
Step 4. Copy all your files back from X: to C: .
Step 5. Go to disk management again as above delete X: partition and extend C: back to full size.

Done without the need for any external Hard drive.

Owryan

Jordan537 wrote: »

quote from supo08:

First of all, not a very reputable store.
Step 1: Shrink the volume on C drive to create a new X: partition. start>"Right Click" Computer>Manage>Disk Management>"Right Click" C: and shrink volume>Format new volume to NTFS with label X:
Step 2. Move all files you wish to back up to the X: Partition.
Step 3. Install new install of vista to C: drive inserting your windows key from the label attached to the PC.
Step 4. Copy all your files back from X: to C: .
Step 5. Go to disk management again as above delete X: partition and extend C: back to full size.

Done without the need for any external Hard drive.

Thanks, will try that tomorrow , where will i find vista ? as it came pre installed ?

sorry if thats a stupid question ?

Jordan537

You will need a windows vista disc, if you dont have one its quite possible a mate will. If your computer came with Vista on from factory there should be a sticker on it somewhere with a serial number for Vista, just use this key when reinstalling the os.

Owryan

Great, thanks. So to re install I just have to restore it to factory settings ?

Owryan

Have everything backed up, or copied. Tried to do a system reboot but when i turn on the pc and keep pressing f11 the pc just runs as normal.

F10 and F5 boot work at start up. at a loss now

Sup08

Did you do as in my guide and create an X: partition?
Do you have a Vista Disc?

Sup08

Did you do as in my guide and create an X: partition?
Do you have a Vista Disc?

Owryan

Sup08 wrote: »

Did you do as in my guide and create an X: partition?
Do you have a Vista Disc?

Tried it, but dont have a vista disc, came pre installed. Act found the manual and it says to press F11 at start up. But for some reason nothing happens .

Sup08

Because you had the hard disc replaced, the store/person did not back up the recovery partition and that won't work.

Sup08

Besides if you try and do a factory reset, it will delete all the files you have back up on the extra partition. You need to do this install with a disc.
Where are you based?

Owryan

Sup08 wrote: »

Because you had the hard disc replaced, the store/person did not back up the recovery partition and that won't work.

Thinking of trying the windows 8 preview as an interim solution . Is it hard to install, getting running ?

Sorry for bugging you

Oh everything is backed up to an ext HD

Sup08

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/w/microsoft_os/3317.2-3-microsoft-windows-vista-official-iso-download-links-digital-river.aspx

Follow the instructions on this page from dell and use you key to validate your vista.
Windows 8 will run out on you in Jan, so not woth it unless your gonna buy.

Owryan

Sup08 wrote: »

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/w/microsoft_os/3317.2-3-microsoft-windows-vista-official-iso-download-links-digital-river.aspx

Follow the instructions on this page from dell and use you key to validate your vista.
Windows 8 will run out on you in Jan, so not woth it unless your gonna buy.

Thanks, might throw this. Planning to replace the pc before then so its just a short term fix (hopefully)

Thanks for your help