Help! Creating install media from Student Download

OK, I've downloaded the Student version of Windows 7 Professional 64bit.
There appears to be two methods of creating installation media so that I can format my wife's PC and install a fresh/clean copy of Windows 7.

The first method involves using the program ImgBurn.
I have tried this 3 times and created 3 DVD's.
These DVD's boot fine in a 2 year old PC, however in two brand new machines I get the error message:

CDBOOT: Cannot boot from CD - Code 5

This is not a BIOS issue or boot order issue - all machines have very up to date BIOS and are set to boot from SATA DVD-ROM first.

So I attempted to use the second method as detailed here, using the oscdimg.exe method.
I copied the "ExpandedSetup" folder to the root of C and followed the instructions here - resulted in an ISO.
I used isoburner to create the DVD.

Great news - I can get this new DVD to boot in all of the machines.
Went through the Windows 7 installation on a totally wiped HD.
OS installed, prompted for product key.
Enter the Student Key and I'm told "Invalid Key".
I've deleted and entered the key 3 times - I know it's correct.
I also know it wors as yesterday I had tried the:

Install Retail 7 - do not enter any key
Run Retail 7 from within Windows and choose upgrade
After upgrade is complete enter student key

This method worked, so I know the key is sound.

All I want to be able to do is take a wiped PC, use a DVD to install Windows 7 and then enter/activate with the student key without the need to install twice etc.

Any help?

did you read the sticky thread on doing a clean install with the upgrade version?

JColt said:

sorry misread the question

Click to expand...

I don't know if anyone has noticed or posted here about it but if you scroll down that thread there is a post from a Microsoft bod:

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to let everyone know we are aware of this issue and we are actively working with Digital River for a resolution.

We will post back when we have a solution.
Michael
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Click to expand...

Perhaps they will provide an ISO for download?

I just want to confirm that performing the two steps installation of Windows 7 works:
1. Buy & Download Windows 7
2. Make ISO and burn on DVD
3. Perform clean installation
4. Do not input Product Key (as it is reported to be invalid) but carry on to complete the installation.
5. Restart and logon to Windows 7
6. (Re)Run installation of Windows 7 (from DVD in my case)
7. Select to upgrade (did not select to download updates from Internet).

Summary: install Windows 7 then upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 7 works

By the way, I did the installation of Windows 7 as guest OS in VirtualBox VM running on Linux as host system.

Okay I've gone through hell trying to figure out why my product key is not working for my windows 7 digital river upgrade and I think what I did wrong was I did a clean install instead of an upgrade and now my product key is coming up as invalid. So right now I am re-downloading the windows 7 files from the digital river website and I'm planning on re running the program and trying to do the upgrade but I am on Windows 7 now and I wanted to know if I would be able to do the upgrade to windows 7 while i'm already running windows 7 so that I can put in my product key and hopefully it works that way. Please some one help me because I have not gotten any help from microsoft when I was on the phone with them for 5 hours today and I'm really frusterated.

Here is official statement from Microsoft with some helpful and informative details, posted on October 22, 2009

We are unable to create or save new files in the folder in which this application was downloaded