Windows 7: Windows 7 Product Key

When Microsoft announced its cheap upgrade pricing for Windows 7 a while back, I advance purchased the Win 7 Professional upgrade edition (presumably to be released on October 22). In the meantime, I installed the RTM version of Windows 7 on my machine. I have not yet “activated” it, choosing to wait for the official product key in the upgrade version that I purchased (I can use the installed RTM version for up to 120 days without activation). Here’s my problem. I did a clean install with the RTM, not an in-place upgrade. I know from past experience that Microsoft product keys can be twitchy. Will I be able to use the forthcoming upgrade product key with a cleanly installed OS? TIA.

memman

Did you install Win 7 Ultimate or Win 7 Pro using the RTM? If you installed Ultimate, you'll probably need a clean install to go to your purchase Win 7 Pro....

If you are asking if you can just plug in your key and activate your present install, I do not think so but hey its worth a shot. Might work. If you are asking if you can upgrade your present install with the pro that you get in Oct. Same answer. Some say no way others say yes you can. Good luck to you. Hope things work the way you want them to.
Also Welcome to SevenForums memman

memman. i upgraded an earlier version of Windows 7 ultimate x64 to the Ultimate x64 RTM and activated using a technet key. It all went without a hitch.

Knowing that I had an upgrade product key coming for Win 7 Professional, I made sure that I installed the Professional RTM version. So the versions match. So I am left with the question: Will an upgrade product key entered after installation activate a clean install?

As I recall, the RTM iso gave me the opportunity to do either a clean install or an in-pace upgrade. I was tired of all of the crap collected from XP and Vista, so I decided to do a clean install. However, because I had Vista, I am eligible for upgrade pricing. Since the install media is the same, is there a registry setting that designates whether I am eligible for an upgrade product key?

memman

I cannot tell you that it will work, but I cannot see why it shouldn't. All you can do is try it when you get it.

If it's like Vista, you won't be able to use an upgrade license key with an already installed version of the OS. (I believe that a full-version license would be accepted.)

I have not yet seen the official restrictions published yet for the Windows 7 upgrade license. Some have stated that it will only install on a system with an *activated* version of a qualifying OS. That'll make installing it on a new hard drive even more annoying than Vista.