Windows 7: Clean install W7 64bit prof. student upgrade (oem?), no disks

Hi,

I am about to upgrade my cpu,mobo and ram (moving from q6600, abit aw9d, ddr2) to i5 2500k, asus P8Z68-V LX, ddr3.

I need to reinstall windows 7 after making these changes. I do not have any windows disks, I have the .iso file for windows 7 64 bit professional (Windows 7 ISO x86 and x64 Official Direct Download Links (Ultimate, Professional and Home Premium) « My Digital Life)



I understand that the license i have a atm is a oem so I will have to call Microsoft up and ask for my code and explain I am changing hardware.

I don't have any burnable dvd drives but I do have a 4gb memory stick, I have read that its possible to put the .iso file on the memory stick but is it as simple as dropping it on then changing the boot order to the usb when I go to re install? I need a bit of an explanation on how I install the .iso file from my memory stick.

Cheers

I'd be surprised if your call to Microsoft will cause them to go along with your plan to use an OEM license on a new motherboard, but I stand to be corrected.

I don't really know, but I think that a "student" version is no different from a retail upgrade license.

See here:

Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Here's one way to prepare a USB stick:

Installing Win7 using a USB Stick | TechNet Edge

(Scroll to the bottom for a brief text description.) If you have an .iso, you either have to extract it (7zip, open source, can do it), or mount the .iso with a utility (I used MagicISO - not free) and copy the contents just as if you were doing it from the DVD. (Or, you could just create a DVD from the .iso, and copy the stuff from there.)

Write the latest ISO with SP1 to stick using Universal USB Installer with Windows 7 in dropdown menu.

Student version is retail Upgrade. When you boot the installer it will see an OS to allow use of upgrade version Key during install. On a new or wiped HD leave the key blank during install and do the quick registry workaround given here to use Upgrade key: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Sometimes Windows 7 will start up on the new hardware, or you can also sysprep it on the old hardware first: SysPrep to move HD to another computer

Make sure you print out, the COA email with your product key number & keep it safe.

As the new Asus MOBO has a uEFI BIOS.
When using a Upgrade to install, you need to use those two tutorials together.
How to install Windows 64 bit on a uEFI BIOS:
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Asus uEFT BIOS setup:
ASUS Sabertooth P67 Motherboard EFI BIOS - YouTube

Thanks for the replies, going to attempt this tomo as long as the snow hasn't disrupted delivery of the new hardware. Will update some time tomo.

Had a look for my email with coa etc on but can't find it anywhere. Looked on control panel and found the product number.

Have a look at this tutorial, which explains how to use the automated telephone activation service after you've reinstalled Windows.

Activate Windows 7 by Phone

The Product ID on the System Properties page is not the same as the Product Key. If you wipe the OS without first auditing the Key from the mobo using Belarc Advisor then you will have to find that email or buy another Product Key.

Big thanks for all advice guys, everything worked flawlessly and my pc is running at double the speed

Glad to hear it.

Thanks for the update.