Device identification

To identify if your system is an HP Pavilion p7 series system, the sticker on the bottom of the case will say Pavilion p7-1000. This is a generic sticker. It cannot be used to narrow down the factory specifications or actual model, but helps positively identify the system model.

This is what the bottom case sticker looks like:

To identify which model you have, each model variation has different specifications and a different system specific model code. To identify which SKU you have, look for a sticker on the side of the chassis with the following appearance:

Once you find the sticker, search the number above the 2nd number and barcode (Ex: H2L96AAR#ABA). Note: Systems ending in R were sold as factory refurbished.

Windows license identification

Note: Most Pavilion p7s shipped with Windows 7.

If you do not know what operating system your system shipped with, there are 3 ways to figure out what OS your specific system shipped with, as some are factory Windows 7 systems and others shipped with Windows 8 from the factory.

  • Windows 7 COA (chassis side panel)
    • Systems that shipped with Windows 7 will have a COA on the side of the chassis, and rely on the OEM recovery media for SLIC activation. These do not have a unique key integrated into the BIOS - these rely on a SLIC key based on a BIOS signature used to activate the operating system.
    • Typical operating system option on AMD Trinity APU systems and Intel Core 2nd gen systems (2XXX)
  • Windows 8
    • Lacks Windows 7 key on early examples. Product key is integrated into the BIOS and any media can be used* to recover the system.
      *If your system does not find the key, intervention to add OEM SetupComplete is required.
    • Typically found in Intel Ivy Bridge systems (3XXX). Also found on similarly aged AMD A Series systems.
  • OEM Recovery DVDs
    • If you got the OEM recovery DVDs with the system or have the hard drive to recover the system, this includes a factory image of the licensed operating system at the time the system was sold.
    • Windows 7 systems use CyberLink for recovery due to lack of means to recover these systems provided by Microsoft. Windows 8 recovery mechanism unknown to page author at this time.