MSI GT70 Quick Questions

Hello, I purchased recently GT70 0ND with 16GB DDR3, 4GB GeForce 675MX, 128MB SSD and 750GB HDD, IntelCore i7. I would need help with those:

1) I bought the product from US, I am in Europe. I am trying to register the serial on their site but it shows as invalid or format.. I know it is under the battery but when it says for example: GT70 0ND - 123USK1234567890 (fictional numbers and model given here), what should I put in there? Nothing I did worked so far.

2) Purchased country in the field, does it mean the country you purchased from (origin of the purchase) or where you are?

3) What is this proof of purchase, a screenshot of some onvoice is enough?

4) I received a disk with drivers and manual. Usually I like to not leave any backup partitions for factory settings (I don't use factory settings!) or used space, format the hard disk, remove all partitions and build them myself. Can I do that on the MSI? And how would I reinstall Windows 8? Do I have like windows 7, setup where I can delete and format all into Unallocated space and create partitions? I want to create e.g 61GB from SSD for C: where windows will be, 67 GB the other drive where a high graphics game will be played, some other partitions with the 750GB HDD. Any instructions how to install Windows 8? Where is they key located?

5) I am new to Windows 8, I prefer Win 7 and older windows, where I can see the Desktop wallpaper, icons on the desktop, My Computer, Documents, shortcuts, to be able to see my files and folders in My Computer, to be able to browse them as on all previouis OS. Is there a way to configure it through the settings without 3rd party tools because Win 8 looks wayy different? Any instructions or tutorials for that?

 

no clue on warranty, I never register my waranty anyways

well you can reinstall windows 7 (there is drivers on msi site)

or use start8 (which is I have done)

 

1. You might want to contact MSI directly just in case you're being redirected to their European relations site. A representative can register the product over the phone for you. Also, are you reading the one that's labeled S/N? There's another I think that's labeled as PSN. You want S/N.

2. Origin of purchase. Not where you live.

3. Yes, they want a receipt. If you don't have a physical receipt, then you should have received an invoice via email. You can scan it and upload it for them (or if you don't have a scanner, you should be able to make a copy of it and mail it to them).

4. Windows 8 key is hard coded into the firmware. When you reinstall Windows 8, it will pull the key from there. No more OA sticker. You'll just need to get your hands on Windows 8 install media.

5. You still have the Desktop. Although you can't boot to it, you can access it from the Metro UI. To get the start menu back, however, you'll need 3rd party software, such as Start8 or Classic Shell.

 

for SN try GT70 0ND-123USK1234567890

 

1.2 Thanks, so that explains it, then I should select US, though I am not sure if fields will be OK with non-US address. Yes I do read the S/N but maybe because it has US included and if the fields are redirecting me to global or nonUS, it gives them as invalid. I will try to add them within the US page.

So I just need a USB or DVD to burn the Win 8 setup files onto?


I can live without the Start button for now, as long as I can have my icons on the deskop, my wallpaper on it, hide all the tiled menus and screens on the desktop. So I will try without using 3rd party.

I have this question for GT70, I do not like factory settings... So I will use a DVD to create the setup, so I can boot from it, delete all partitions on the SSD and HDD and run clean install, creating new partitions from them. So, what do I need to do?

I mean, there is probably some partition currently with factory settings but I do not want to install factory settings, I need a clean installation. So what files should I copy to the DVD to do that? Would it ask for my inbuilt product key (that I do not know) if I installed non-factory settings from the DVD?

 

Yeah, I had a feeling that you may have been entering information for European registration, which would include a different serial.

You'll need either a USB drive or a disc, yes, as well as the .iso of Windows 8. You can download it legally (upgrade version) from Microsoft, but you'll need to pay for it.

I think you're thinking of a full installation, not a "clean" installation. You can't use a recovery DVD to install Windows; it will simply restore a factory image. With Windows 8, you can do a "clean" install by using the upgrade assistant; you just need to select to not preserve your data. To do a full install (install OS onto a drive with no OS that needs formatted), you would need a full copy of Windows 8. Since the key is hard coded in the firmware now, you don't need to know your key to install the OS; installation should pull the key from the firmware. But if you're installing a different version, you'll have to use the upgrade assistant.

 

Ok let me ask more proper questions:

1) Do you know what Windows 8 x64 bit do GT70 (0NE, 0ND) come with? Is it basic, home premium or some other?
2) How do I install the same Windows 8 that came with the laptop? I want to make a custom installation where I delete all partitions from the SSD and HDD disks and create them all over again (as in delete even any Backup partitions). I mean, what should I burn to DVD, should I take some new ISO file and burn setup files from there to DVD with the same Windows 8 version? Or can I burn to DVD setup files I already have but without any factory settings to do what I want? Also would it recognize the built-in Windows 8 license if I used another ISO? With the upgrade assistant you're talking about, I cannot wipe out all and do a fresh install and partitioning. Cause I need to do that exactly.

Oh btw what is the newest driver for my 675MX video card?
http://www.msi.com/product/nb/GE70-0ND.html#/?div=Driver&os=Win8 64

It lists there the 660M-680M series there

 

1. Windows 8 64 bit (Home/non Pro edition).

2. As long as your installation media is for Windows 8 64-bit, it should work. Which .iso you use or where you got it from doesn't matter so much as long as it matches the key that is in the firmware. But avoid pirated material.

 

Thanks, finally an answer as to which Win 8 it has.

Do you know any place with Windows 8 ISO for that edition, without any firmware, recoveries or extras that I do not want.

 

Not for free, no. You can get a .iso per Microsoft but you need to pay for it. Newegg also sells a full version copy.

 

I know that 20GB free space are needed for Win 8 x64 (core/Home edition but what about Win 8 Pro x64? How much space needed for Win 8 Pro x64?