So my friend thought it would be funny to pull a prank on me while I was at work. He not only installed Linux on my computer, but rewrote everything that existed on my hard drive. I had quite a few things that were really important (mainly poker related), but not to get too far off topic. I am not asking to get my stuff back I think it would be too complicated, but I do want Windows 7 back on my laptop somehow. Here's the other problem, I don't have a Windows 7 cd that came with my laptop because it came preinstalled without a disk. I do have the product key on the back, but the Microsoft page wants me to rebuy Windows7 to install it... I don't want to "rebuy" the program. I need help getting Windows 7 on my computer! PLEASE


e/ Also forgot to mention I am using a Sony Vaio if that counts/matters for anything.

This post was edited by Redonkulous on Jan 7 2011 04:16am

Very dick move but I'm sorry, I chuckled...

Unless I'm mistaken, reformatting a computer with just a disk doesn't delete the data. It deletes the pointers that the OS uses to find the data on the physical harddrive.

bitch slap your friend and tell him to fix the problem

You might want to rethink the company you keep around. I would even consider dumping my girlfriend if she did something like that.

if he completely reformatted, you may have to buy a new one since the windows 7 product key is only good up to 1 computer. however seeing as its still technically one computer, idk if it will realize this or not (i personally do not think so). i think you may be S.O.L but you could try emailing microsoft the problem and seeing what they say.

goto my computer and check for a restore partition

Something else you can do is find someone that has the same version of Windows 7 you have now and get them to burn a back-up disk. When you first get Windows 7, you're supposed to make your own backup install disk. I don't know if the backup they make is tied to the CD key used to install it on that computer, though, so you might be out of luck.

That's straight fucked. I would beat the shit out of that guy and probably screw his mom or something.



Just using the recycle bin / trash on windows removes the pointers (not the data). Reformatting it completely flushes everything.