Restarting W7 again now.
Restarting W7 again now.
No one is sure about retaining all data after reinstalling Windows 7 with the same product key on the same drive. Creating a bootable USB for Windows 7 using a W10 laptop involves using the product key to generate a bootable drive from the installation media.
The product key won’t retain your information unless backed up, which means it could be lost. Use the provided link to obtain an .iso file that you can burn onto a blank USB drive or DVD. Note: Windows 7 is no longer supported and won’t receive security updates. It’s advisable to switch to Windows 10 or another OS, or if you must stay on Windows 7, run it in a secure virtual machine. Edited February 27, 2021 by The_russian
The information will be erased. Here are some ideas I have right now to transfer data before reinstalling: detach the hard drive from the computer and connect it to another machine with Windows installed, then copy the files. Use a bootable Linux USB and an external drive, start in Linux and move files to the external drive (not advised). Attach a Windows-compatible hard drive to the PC and copy data from the original drive to the new one (caution: moving a drive with Windows can sometimes succeed or fail based on driver issues). Refer to the edit of my original post. Updated February 27, 2021 by The_russian
Ensure your files are saved before proceeding. Installing without formatting won’t erase your data, only your programs and personal folders like documents and pictures will be removed. It’s best to back up and format the drive for a clean start. You can create an installer disk with any operating system—just download the ISO file and use a tool such as Rufus to write it onto a USB drive. For Windows PCs, Rufus is a suitable option. To locate your product key, visit the provided link. Remember to note the key before installation. You can obtain the Windows 7 image from the official source here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software...d/windows7