Should This Affect The Value of this Laptop

Well as from many other questions you may know that I may in the future purchase a computer from a from a friend. That computer laptop is a Gateway MT 6707. He claims that that computer does not have a stock hard drive. I've been reading up on this laptop and in one of the manuals I found that it said to restore to a factory copy of windows there is a hidden partition on the Hard Drive. Since that partition will be on the factory hard drive it will make it hard for me to reinstall the default (and current) OS Windows Vista (No I will NOT be upgrading to 7). So he want's 85 but should I tell him no way I will only buy it for Max Price 75 or 80 or not. Also if I do end I up buying I will be reinstalling ASAP so I think this question has been asked but since I don't have a Win vista disc is it ok to download one and then use the product key on the laptop?

asked May 31 '11 at 12:52

ryebread761
7.5k●216●242●325

5 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

You're saying that the hard disk that came with the computer, which could have been as small as 150 gb, was replaced with something newer and likely larger. In fact, the hidden partition which contained Vista and a whole bunch of bloatware crap is not there. Dude, this is value added, not a negative.

You're getting a good deal, but go to an office store and buy a copy of Windows 7. Don't skimp on the key. If you have a money issue, try Ubuntu.

answered Jun 01 '11 at 23:50

Duodave
4.6k●40●49●98

0	You're getting a pretty good deal already. Do you want to squabble over $5-$10 and potentially lose the deal? answered May 31 '11 at 13:07 Illusion Slayer (suspended)

I must be understanding this wrong: "85" for a laptop? As in US dollars? Because that'd be incredibly cheap, even if you have to buy a discrete HDD.

As far as using your friend's product key to install a downloaded version of Vista, it seems illegal. I'm no expert but I think the key is only valid with the Windows version given by the OEM (i.e. with the crap they got paid to bundle in).

Again, I'm not sure I understood everything well. How can a computer be sold by a retailer without a hard drive ?

answered May 31 '11 at 13:12

PlumpyShrimp
106●3●3●9

Ok yes $85 canadian dollars. And the laptop has I hard drive we were using it chilling at his place. He just says it was replaced by who I honestly don't know but it seems to work fine. About vista I meant use the product key that comes with laptop to reinstall vista on the laptop.

(May 31 '11 at 13:18) ryebread761

Thanks for the additional info. 85 seems like a good deal to me.

As for Vista, again, I'm not sure if you can use it with another version than the one embeded in the laptop.

I hope someone will be able to shed some light on that.

(May 31 '11 at 13:50) PlumpyShrimp

Ok thanks for your thoughts.

(May 31 '11 at 15:11) ryebread761

As long as you use a Vista disc and reinstall the same version (It won't work if you don't) you will be fine. Vista reinstall discs have every version of Vista on them so if you do not put the product key in during installation, you need to pick the right version. Do not select the versions with 'N' after them because those are for European computers and will not work with your product key. I would suggest putting in the product key during installation because it will automatically select the right installation. Any Vista reinstallation disc will work as long as you have the right bit version (64 or 86)

(May 31 '11 at 15:18) Josh_M

The problem is I don't have a windows vista disc.

(May 31 '11 at 16:38) ryebread761

0	I would say that it is a great deal - (even if you couldn't get it to run, I would part it out....) answered May 31 '11 at 13:35 TRASH 166●1●2●6 It runs perfectly :) (May 31 '11 at 13:42) ryebread761

0	If installing Windows is an issue can you purchase a recovery disk for system? I have done that twice to date for a netbook and a tablet. answered May 31 '11 at 19:33 Xiro 4.4k●37●54●103 I don't know. (Jun 01 '11 at 18:58) ryebread761

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