Windows 7 operating system and licence code

[eli]

I have held to Windows 7, to about the end of the year

I have a few concerns on Windows 7, and Windows 7 Home Premium.
I have a DVD with this operating system, 32-bit, and a valid licence code.
If I decide to wipe clean my laptop with this operating system, and re-install the same system from my disk and valid licence code, would Microsoft sort of "invalid" this, as Windows 7 is not "in their books" anymore. What would happen?

Another question, would all the security updates to January 2020, when they stopped would automatically come back, or you have to manually re-load them off the Microsoft Update Catalog.

I would like someone to answer both these concerns.

[auggie]

First off why do you want to wipe & re-install Win7 ? 2. you don't want to upgrade to Win 8-10 ?
MS has ended support for Win7 (no more updates win7) 3. If you Still want to stay with win7, I would "personally" install a 64bit of
Win7 Ultimate (more features etc.) As far as the UPDATES go, should be able to get all "available" from MS update or Windows update
up to when they cut off support ?

Check this out : hxxps://www.howtogeek.com/255435/how-to-update-windows-7-all-at-once-with-microsofts-convenience-rollup/

[Terryl]

One other thing if you wipe the hard drive (format) you will loose all the system drivers for the laptop's mother board, some stuff may work (hard drive interface, USB ports, ect) but other stuff will not. (network card/WIFI, audio, ect)

Unless you have the system drivers I would not do a format, you can first go to the manufactures web site and see if they still have all the drivers for that laptop, then download them to a USB drive or CD/DVD.....But in some cases the CD/DVD drive may not work if the hard drive was formatted.

You can find a W7 ultimate OS full install with new keys at some web sites, this will overwrite the old system or create a second operating system (dual boot) you select the second OS when the laptop boots up, this can be changed to the new system if needed.

And Auggie if his system came with a W7 32 bit operating system, then going to 64 bit OS wont work.

[auggie]

And Auggie if his system came with a W7 32 bit operating system, then going to 64 bit OS wont work.
If it is a New/Fresh install a 64bit should work, Most MS Op. Systems have the drivers built in for most Hardware
compatible or Generic, 64 can see 32 not so the other way, plus 64bit can handle the larger file sizes
Long as the specs on the laptop can handle W7 64 BIT system

[Simon Templar]

eli, please google your processor and make sure its 64bit before loading Windows 7- 64Bit.
64bit also needs min. of 2GB of ram.

[dishuser]

if what you're using is acting up just put in dvd and select repair

[Gates07]

There is some good advice, but the first thing you might want to do is save your files, there may be something you want to save, do some research, but I recently saw on e-bay (micra digital) transfer cable and driver for win 7 & 8, $5. If you have an external H/D save that information there. Not needed for Win 10, depending on how big the H/D it could take some time, when I reformat I always wait 1 minute between files, seems to run better later on, then when all done do a defrag. The security updates will reload, that will take some time to get them all back. The second thing you should do is go to the mfgr home page and look for drivers, there may have been some updates, check your system and see what modem you have seems like there usually are a couple of choices, save them to a thumb drive, but if you are the original owner you probably have the drivers disk look around some. After you have reformatted the H/D let it sit for a while before you start reloading, things seem to load better. And then to you may already have the operating system on your computer look at system reserved in defrag program, then you just have to find it in maintenance or accessories and run it. It will reformat and reload the system, I do not remember about drivers. Been awhile. For the most part win 7 still works fine. and like dishuser says if acting up put the operating disk in and do a repair, but i would expect that there is a ton of junk on the h/d and your just want a clean installation

[steveOtoo]

The Windows System File Checker (SFC) is a tool that is built into all modern versions of Windows. This tool allows you to repair corrupt system files in Windows. System File Checker (SFC) can be run with administrator privileges both from within Windows and using the Windows recovery media. In the command prompt window type in sfc/scannow and press enter.

[Gates07]

in order to get the security updates you need a couple of "SP"'s i forget what they are,right now i think there are 3-4 of them and lots of patients takes hours to get them up to date