Need Windows Vista Home Premium OEM CD, for old PCG-7Y1M

[johnspiral]

Hi,

Is it possible to purchase a Windows Vista Home Premium OEM CD, for an old PCG-7Y1M laptop from Sony?

Or even better download a CD image, the machine as a Microsoft licence on the bottom.

Thanks in advance.

John

[Blencogo · Accepted solution]

Hi John,

You are quoting an invalid Vaio model.  You are probably quoting the Chassis Type from the bottom of the Vaio when the correct model type will be shown on the bottom-right of the screen surround.

I'm guessing that you probably have something like a VGN-N38E and if you go to the support page for your model here: -

http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/contacts/login.aspx?m=VGN-N38E_W&l=en_GB

and enter your Vaio's Serial Number, you should be given options of how to contact Vaio Support and buy a replacement Recovery Disc set.

The Microsoft license key on the bottom of your Vaio is for the OEM Sony version of Vista only.  It is not a valid activation key for any other version of Vista.  You could be cheeky and try to activate by phone and hope Microsoft will accept the key but it will not work normally.

There is a full recovery suite including Vista on your hard drive in a hidden partition.  Have you tried this by tapping F10 during boot, or is your drive completely trashed?

[johnspiral]

Thanks Blencogo!

Your F10 suggestion did the trick!

Another laptop kept from the landfill.