Clean Install using Factory COA Activation Key


  1. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #1

    Clean Install using Factory COA Activation Key


    I have created this as an actual tutorial so more people can find the information.

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    Last edited by Bare Foot Kid; 13 Jul 2011 at 15:32. Reason: Added link to tutorial!
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  2. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #2

    Nice work BFK

    How about adding the link for a USB Flash drive for those netbooks without a DVD drive.
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  3. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Doc, there you go mate!
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  4. Posts : 212
    WIN7 x64 Home Premium SP1
       #4

    Bare Foot Kid said:
    Have a look through this information below to see the best option for your situation and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

    After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media.

    If you can borrow or download installation media of the exact same Windows 7 version the PC shipped with you can do a clean install using the activation key on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker attached to the PC though it may require a robo-call to MS to sort the OEM batch-key.

    How to Activate Windows 7 by Phone

    If you can't find an exact same version, you could use the information in this tutorial to create an "all versions" installer of any version Windows 7 installation media so you are able to install your version using the same activation method I posted above.

    Windows 7 is version specific and not bit-rate specific, i.e. a Home Premium COA activation key will activate either the 32-bit or the 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium Operating System.

    Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

    ISO - Disk Image File : Extract to the Desktop

    After you have made backups of everything you care to save to external media, the best method forward is to do a complete wipe secure erase of the entire Hard Disk Drive / Solid State Drive first, it over-writes everything, all the old Windows code including all the old drivers and installed programs, giving you the best possible space to do a clean installation of Windows 7 to.

    SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

    Additional Secure Erase / Wipe Information

    For those with netbooks and no CD/DVD drive, have a look at this tutorial.

    USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create


    .
    What about the way we did it in XP, where you continually press the F8 key as the computer boots, and choose install to the out of box OS? :)
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  5. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #5

    [quote]What about the way we did it in XP, where you continually press the F8 key as the computer boots, and choose install to the out of box OS?[quote]

    That is for one of the OEM manufacturer preinstalls.
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  6. Posts : 212
    WIN7 x64 Home Premium SP1
       #6

    Bare Foot Kid said:
    Heyyou said:


    What about the way we did it in XP ...

    Did you not bother to read any of the information presented here?
    Yes and I understand. I just thought I'd ask.
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  7. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Heyyou said:



    Yes and I understand. I just thought I'd ask.


    My apologies my friend, sometime I speak before I think.
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  8. Posts : 212
    WIN7 x64 Home Premium SP1
       #8

    Bare Foot Kid said:
    Heyyou said:



    Yes and I understand. I just thought I'd ask.


    My apologies my friend, sometime I speak before I think.
    No need to apologize. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Bare Foot Kid said:
    I have created this as an actual tutorial so more people can find the information.




    For those interested, I have added a link to information about the Vista "all versions" process to the main-body of the tutorial, as it differs from the Windows 7 method.
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