PC Laptop price

[Thryleon]

I cant say we have done this widely before, but I would imagine that HP might even oblige and send out the original discs that came with the device.

Edit - I think I can actually source a set of discs, just have to get a request for a new install and I can happily give them out, as we just throw them out usually.

The discs should allow to roll back to factory.

We deploy an SOE so we dont use them, and that should allow the license that came with the product to be used and installed with a HP OEM version of windows.

Let me know if  you want a set of discs, and you can PM me to arrange a delivery.  Will cost nothing.

[capcom]

LP, that'll also come back to previous OSs installed (if any) which determines whether their IT department is given management of upgrades to a more recent version of Windows. 

Seen that often in major companies from 95 / 98 to XP (note NEVER Vista) to W7 without regard to the original hardware supplier.

The setup for a fresh / clean start will be governed by the OS selected and the preferences Paul's wife may have if she's familiar with them.  But then, I'm a strong advocate of a physical licenced DVD.  And a bloody good recovery program (e.g. Acronis)

[capcom]

Let me know if  you want a set of discs, and you can PM me to arrange a delivery.  Will cost nothing.

All class Thry

[Thryleon]

Always happy to help a fellow blue bagger.  No skin off my nose in this case aside from a trip to a post office/other.

[capcom]

If you have a spare set for Win 7 Pro, I'd happily pay you  

[LP]

I presume if the device was factory Win 7 it'll have the MS sticker and serial number on it, otherwise it will be Win 8 or 10 and subject to the ESD, the factory install discs if not included should be obtainable through HP as [member=105]Thryleon[/member]‍ suggests.

The company [member=64]PaulP[/member]‍'s wife works for might retain the factory install discs if they image with a company default SOE, we do not standardise on an OS as we aren't big enough to worry about it.

Also the SOE can be the source of those audio problems, the reason being later versions of hardware might change chipset but the SOE might not include the newer correct drivers.

If it's Win 8 Pro you can still to this day use the free upgrade path to Win 10.

Win 10 was not initially widely adopted, personally I think it's the best OS that MS has ever produced.

I've found with the HP devices that the Win 8/10 factory media install is online only, as the key / license is buried in firmware and has to be reconciled to a central database. You can retrieve keys with a little effort but you have no way to manually make use of it as the license is not entered but the result of a hash from hardware and MS database.

For those of you interested there is a nice podcast called the Windows Insider Podcast that covers many of these subjects, but it's not light listening.

[Thryleon]

If you have a spare set for Win 7 Pro, I'd happily pay you  

Sadly no.  The devices we have been coming are all windows 10.

I think the main issue is these days the devices themselves dont have cd/dvd drives anyway, so Im not sure what CD's they are providing in the packs, but I tend to throw one out each time I unbox one although it has been a while.

We have windows 10 licenses with this particular model and are only just starting to go through the testing phase of the 840 G7.  The G seems to stand for generation, and we are probably a bit behind the rest of the market given the size of our organisation.

[capcom]

Well, thank you for trying mate !!  Appreciate it

EDIT ... I could not survive without a CD / DVD drive and don't know how people can

[PaulP]

Hi all. Thanks again to all those who have offered disks, advice, knowledge, help etc. Much appreciated. Updated information from the company as follows :

1.  they will not transfer ownership / warranty to my wife, which is a shame, as according to my serial number check, there is still about 2 years left to run.

2. Office will definitely be wiped, so we will need to choose between :
a. free Office alternatives (unlikely as my better half prefers to stick with Office)
b. Office subscription (more likely than a., but still not really our cup of tea)
c. purchase "old school" perpetual Office licence (most likely)

3. They will provide a copy of Windows 10 (not sure if it will be the Pro version), but we will need to purchase an activation key. If we buy Office Business and Win 10 Pro, it pushes the total cost beyond $1k. If we go for Office Home / Student and Win 10 Home, the total is a bit under $800. Decisions..........

Although I note copies of Office 2019 Business on eBay for $90-$100.

Thanks everyone.

[capcom]

Only Office 2007 and 2010 are the only "older" edition that can run under Win 10 Paul ... and 2007 is a lot less resource hungry.  2007 hums along on my HP

Sealed ones (PRO) on ebay (2007) are pretty cheap.  So many MS editions, it's crazy but I assume she'll want one with Outlook