[Mada]

Unfortunately I need to downgrade my Mini 10v from OSX to Windows 7 Starter which was originally installed on my netbook.

During the install of OSX, I deleted my restore partition as it would not let me proceed without doing so.

Things haven't gone too smoothly. I have a copy of the Windows 7 Starter DVD and have installed Windows successfully. I installed this via a USB key and everything installs but I can't activate Windows using the product key on the base of my laptop.

What can I do? I suspect the Dell installation will bypass the entering of a key, instead checking the hardware. How can I get my hands on a Dell Windows 7 Starter installation DVD? Is there a way I can rebuild the Dell restore partition?

Has anyone been in a similar position? If so, how did you manage to get around this?

[holmes4]

The key on the laptop is probably for a different license type than the DVD you're using. Where did you get the Windows 7 Starter DVD?

You could call Dell and see if they will send or sell you a restore DVD. Just tell them that the restore partition got corrupted - don't say that you installed OS X.

[Primadog]

You can try using the call in method to authorize the laptop. That often works when the automatic online one doesn't.

http://www.kodyaz.com/articles/how-t...-by-phone.aspx

[Mada]

Originally Posted by Primadog

You can try using the call in method to authorize the laptop. That often works when the automatic online one doesn't.

How To Activate Windows 7 by Phone Step-by-Step Guide

Thanks for this suggestion, I just tried it and it was unsuccessful. I am wondering if this could be because I downgraded the BIOS. I am updating it now to try this.

Other than this, I can only assume a DVD from Dell which contains the installation for Windows 7 Starter? Must be something in the installation that checks the hardware against the key.

[holmes4]

The BIOS should have no effect on this.

A Dell Restore DVD will at least check that the hardware is from Dell. A Windows DVD made for distribution through one channel (such as the student program) won't activate with a key from another channel (OEM, volume license, etc.)

[sedj]

Tbh you should have ghosted the drive before installing osx.

Win7 is ok but maybe just go with xp, you may find it a fair bit quicker in use and it is not tied to your hardware.

It can be made to look just as nice.

[holmes4]

Win7 runs better than XP in my experience.

[MrDellMini10V]

How are you getting the restore DVD on a USB drive. I used Disk Utility for this and it doesn't accept it

[lauriem04]

Originally Posted by MrDellMini10V

How are you getting the restore DVD on a USB drive. I used Disk Utility for this and it doesn't accept it

You have to use a utility like WinSetupfromUSB or WinToFlash to create a bootable USB drive:

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WinToFlash - Install Windows from usb - Home page

[MrDellMini10V]

*update* i guess win2flash decided it was gonna work...it is currently backing up....i wish OSX had a way of doing this...windows is a pain....

since i am virtualizing windows on my imac, for some odd reason wintoflash doesn't do it.

maybe the other will, am trying it now.*update, the other app wants a windows xp,2003 os not windows 7 ugh

*Dell sent me a 10v and i was all happy until i notices the left speaker doesn;t work* ugh!