Windows 7: Doing Clean Install with upgrade..

We already tried the link for the steps to do a clean install.

Clean Install Windows 7

We still get 0xC004f061 The software licensing service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations.

We have a full older version & hoped sticking it in the hard drive would allow Windows 7 to find it.

We really don't want to have to install the old one then the new one.

Problem with the detailed instructions was we got to the Activate window and we never got the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online checkbox. Just typed in key hit (Next) and it went through it's activation check & didn't like us.

Problem is we have been at it all day and this is like the 10th time we installed it. Computer had a virus. Took it a while to confirm the Bootable section of the hard drive was fried.. So we really don't want to take it down again, in order to install an old OS so the upgrade can "see" it.

Did you see this tutorial ?

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Boot the Windows 7 DVD to Custom Install. IF there is any OS on the HD it will pass a flag allowing Upgrade version key. If not, it will not. Skip inserting the key and finish installation.

When you get to the desktop either run a Repair Install (upgrade over itself) which will allow the key, or do the Registry change in the tutorial which Doc posted. Then activate at Computer>Properties - you have 30 days.

This is perfectly legal workaround allowed by MS as a courtesy so millions of beta testers and others don;t have to reinstall the qualifying OS. It doesn't change the legal requirement of having that qualifying OS though.

Thanks, definately got further this morning.

But new error.

The product key you typed can not be used to active windows 7 on this computer.

Buy a new product key online
Retype product key
use automatic phone system to activate
Contact Microsoft to resolve this issue..

Is this a typical problem, or did the virus do more then kill the driver ? Did it pirate our software key too.

Just need an idea of what I might be facing if I need to call Microsoft. The reason why they no longer like our activation key is very vague.

Try this, Activate by phone. If you do not get activated, a rep will come on who can activate you right then.

Did you follow tutorial #2 with these steps above as Greg & I suggested ?

Sorry we tried the first suggestion first.. Thought we could try the 2nd suggestion if first suggestion did not work..

I guess that was a mistake. Is first suggestion not legal where I will get in trouble doing activate by phone?

I tried to do the repair on this install and it gave some error. Then I thought "OK lets reinstall one more time, and use 2nd suggestion." But now when I get to where I should get the Windows 7 install starting with language English, I just get the blue screen with wisps &flowery things totally blank.. I can't even get back to the format or delete option on the Windows 7 CD..

Any suggestion how else I can reformat not using Windows 7, not costly.. So that I can cleanup whatever first suggestion did?

Start with a clean formatted HD.

OPTION ONE
A Normal Clean Install


Note
This option has been confirmed by me to be able to install from a formated blank drive or system, and install the retail upgrade Windows 7 and activate it without doing anything else.

1. Do a clean install at boot without checking the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box during the installation process.

2. When the installation is finished, then manually activate Windows 7 with your product key number.

If it does not activate, do another install over top of this one.

Through a Custom Install

Note
This option will let you do a clean install of Windows 7 without formating the current Windows installation to have your current Windows installation backed up to the Windows.old folder during the installation of your retail upgrade Windows 7. This way you can copy any files back that you want from the C:\Windows.old folder (previous installation) back into your new installation afterwards.

1. Do a custom install at boot or from within your current Windows installation without checking the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box during the installation process.

2. When the installation is finished, then manually activate Windows 7 with your product key number.

3. Copy any files that you want back from the C:\Windows.old folder into where you want it in you new installation.

4. You can now delete the Windows.old folder using Disk Cleanup to have a clean install now.

Problem is I can no longer get to the point to use Windows 7 for a clean install.. I think I really ticked of Microsoft trying the first suggestion.. we are now locked out of the installation on the CD.. I get to where the CD should boot up to ask if we want English... then moves through until can ask for custom Install to get to do the format for a clean install.. It is just a light blue screen with white wisps & flower/leaves in corner.. Blank.. Blank.. Blank.. Don't even get the chance to choose English for a language.

We have 2 version of Windows, my son was premium.. But I also had a Professional.. So I tried that to at least get to the format, then once clean put premium back in.. But my Professional CD does the exact same thing.. So it is a lock out on the computer.. Not the CD went bad.

I am looking for maybe a dos command to format the C: drive.. Or a free program that I burn to disk then use to format the hard drive off. I would hope once drive is clean then then we can start clean without the first attempt to get around the update activation key, and hopefully Microsofts lock-out.

Maybe you can download the Free version of Partition Wizard & burn to a disc on your son's computer. Then boot it to clean format /erase the HD for another install attempt.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD