I've replaced the hard drive in my Dad's laptop (he dropped it and the hard drive corrupted). Dell haven't given us a disc to reinstall Windows - it came with a backup disc maker utility but it was so buggy we never got it to work. Can I install Windows 7 with a standard disk, then use the key printed on the bottom of the laptop to activate it? Or is it more complicated than that, coming from Dell?

Shouldn't be a problem afaik. I know it works with HP and Acer-laptops, so I don't think Dell is an exception.

yay

I think you should be ok as long as its an OEM windows disc you have and not a boxed retail version.

Yeah it's OEM.

Depends wether you have an OEM key - look at the label on the laptop. Retail keys dont work with OEM disks, and OEM keys wont work with retail install media. If you dont have the right disk go torrent the right one, there'll probably be a copy kicking around somwhere If worse comes to worst, use bootloader extreme edition to bypass the issues.

Don't torrent any disks (for obvious reasons)you can get download windows 7 ISO/usb install legitimate from their site, I did the same thing

I'm just looking up the link now, might be an idea to ask on their forums (say you have a key and you just need the install program)

Ended up download a copy of OEM Windows 7, same exact ISO you can get from MSDN, activation was long winded but successful and legit

Good stuff, where was the download link I couldnt find it anywhere?

Was a Megaupload link, I have a premium account