Windows 8 deleted my disc - Solved

[Ed Cryer]

I solved the problem with two simple steps;
1. Run Testdisk to rebuild the partition tables;
http://download.cnet.com/TestDisk-and-PhotoRec/3000-2248_4-10511775.html
2. Boot from a Win7 installation disk and use Repair. If you haven't got
one borrow a friend's or download here;
http://techpp.com/2009/11/11/download-windows-7-iso-official-direct-download-links/

Ed

 

[Char Jackson]

I solved the problem with two simple steps;
1. Run Testdisk to rebuild the partition tables;
http://download.cnet.com/TestDisk-and-PhotoRec/3000-2248_4-10511775.html
2. Boot from a Win7 installation disk and use Repair. If you haven't got
one borrow a friend's or download here;
http://techpp.com/2009/11/11/download-windows-7-iso-official-direct-download-links/

Thanks for summarizing. This has been an interesting thread.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Char

See my post in the other thread of the same subject in a reply to when Ed posted
that it is solved

--
Peter
Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

I solved the problem with two simple steps; 1. Run Testdisk to
rebuild the partition tables;
http://download.cnet.com/TestDisk-and-PhotoRec/3000-2248_4-10511775.html
2. Boot from a Win7 installation disk and use Repair. If you haven't
got one borrow a friend's or download here;
http://techpp.com/2009/11/11/download-windows-7-iso-official-direct-download-links/

I don't understand. What am I missing? Are these free ISO's of Windows 7
installation disks? What about registration/authentication?

I have a registered, authentic installation DVD (Ultimate x64), but I'd
like to have a disk with integrated SP1.

 

[Char Jackson]

I don't understand. What am I missing? Are these free ISO's of Windows 7
installation disks? What about registration/authentication?

I have a registered, authentic installation DVD (Ultimate x64), but I'd
like to have a disk with integrated SP1.

They are just the physical media. Honest people will still need a
valid registration key in order to activate, which it's assumed would
be purchased legitimately.

(Dishonest people are not under the same constraints.)

 

[Char Jackson]

Char

See my post in the other thread of the same subject in a reply to when Ed posted
that it is solved

I saw that, but at this point I have no reason to disbelieve Ed's
account of the situation.

 

[Ed Cryer]

They are just the physical media. Honest people will still need a
valid registration key in order to activate, which it's assumed would
be purchased legitimately.

(Dishonest people are not under the same constraints.)

Fair point, but I used a borrowed installation DVD and ran the system
repair function without any hitch or mention of a cent.
Presumably you could download one of those .ISO files and do the same.
Whether you could install from it or not I don't know, but I should
think it highly likely that you can. Activation of the installation
would be, of course, a different matter.

Ed

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Fair point, but I used a borrowed installation DVD and ran the system
repair function without any hitch or mention of a cent.
Presumably you could download one of those .ISO files and do the same.
Whether you could install from it or not I don't know, but I should
think it highly likely that you can. Activation of the installation
would be, of course, a different matter.

I wonder if the product key from my legitimate MS DVD would work.

 

[Ed Cryer]

I wonder if the product key from my legitimate MS DVD would work.

It's to be proven, and can be by downloading.
Personally I doubt it. Unless, that is, you haven't already used the
product key on another activation.

MS are cunning. That's why people pride themselves on tinkering with
Windows Setup discs, taking and removing items and validation, and then
putting them on torrent websites.

Ed

 

[Char Jackson]

Fair point, but I used a borrowed installation DVD and ran the system
repair function without any hitch or mention of a cent.

Right. That set of operations doesn't require any activation or
validation.

Presumably you could download one of those .ISO files and do the same.
Whether you could install from it or not I don't know, but I should
think it highly likely that you can. Activation of the installation
would be, of course, a different matter.

Exactly. You'd use your own valid key to activate the installation.

And yes, you can install from these media. I sometimes use them, or
images like them, to get people back up and running. Many of my
customers don't have or have misplaced their physical media, if they
ever had it in the first place, so in some cases I use one of these
images along with the customer's valid product key to get them back in
business.

 

[Char Jackson]

I wonder if the product key from my legitimate MS DVD would work.

Yes, if the versions match.

 

[nomail]

I solved the problem with two simple steps;
1. Run Testdisk to rebuild the partition tables;
http://download.cnet.com/TestDisk-and-PhotoRec/3000-2248_4-10511775.html

But beware the cnet 'wrapper' problem - get the prog from another
source if you can.

http://hightechreality.com/2011/08/cnet-downloadcoms-installer-install-malware/

Plenty of info elsewhere on the web.

Pete

 

[Ken Blake]

Yes, if the versions match.

Product keys have to match with respect to version, edition, Retail
vs. OEM, and Full vs. Upgrade.

 

[Char Jackson]

Product keys have to match with respect to version, edition, Retail
vs. OEM, and Full vs. Upgrade.

After I posted that I wondered if I should have spelled it out, so
thanks for doing it for me.

 

[Andy]

How does one get a beta copy of windows 8 to test?

 

[Paul]

How does one get a beta copy of windows 8 to test?

This is the bookmark I made at the time.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516

Paul

 

[KCB]

But beware the cnet 'wrapper' problem - get the prog from another
source if you can.

http://hightechreality.com/2011/08/cnet-downloadcoms-installer-install-malware/

Plenty of info elsewhere on the web.

Pete

I use download.com quite frequently and have NEVER come across what you are
pointing to.

 

[Rob]

I don't understand. What am I missing? Are these free ISO's of Windows 7
installation disks? What about registration/authentication?

I have a registered, authentic installation DVD (Ultimate x64), but I'd
like to have a disk with integrated SP1.

You can 'slipstream' SP1 and make yourself a Win7 SP1 installation DVD using
your original disc:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ows-7-sp1-into-installation-dvd-iso-file.html

HTH,

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

After I posted that I wondered if I should have spelled it out, so
thanks for doing it for me.

What I have is the academic release of Windows 7 Ultimate x64 upgrade, so it
probably wouldn't match. :-(

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

You can 'slipstream' SP1 and make yourself a Win7 SP1 installation DVD using
your original disc:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ows-7-sp1-into-installation-dvd-iso-file.html

Yeah, I know. I was looking for an easier way.