Windows 7 - Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

**Brink** · 10-22-2009

Hello everyone,

Just to let you all know that I have confirmed that you can do either a clean install, custom install, or upgrade install with a retail Upgrade version of Windows 7 and activate it on a clean unallocated (blank) drive or partition without any other OS installed or with one installed. It does not matter.

For questions and more information on this, please see this tutorial:
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

100% confirmed
Shawn

Warning

Remember that you need a valid qualifying previous version of Windows to use a Upgrade Windows 7 copy legally. Microsoft only made doing a clean install from a upgrade Windows 7 possible to make it more convenient so you do not have to reinstall both the old Windows version (ex: Vista) and upgrade to Windows 7 everytime you needed or wanted to reinstall.

If you do not have a valid qualifying previous version of Windows, then you are violating the terms of Microsoft's Windows 7 End User License Agreement and could get your product key number invalidated by Microsoft. Plus, it is considered illegal.

For more about this, please see: Microsoft SMB Community Blog : Regardless of what any hack says, a Windows 7 Upgrade is an Upgrade. What you need to know.

**gregrocker** · 10-22-2009

Thank you for clearing this up.

The past few days have been a constant battle against misinformation that an Upgrade clean install can be done from boot. Even some regulars have insisted this on thin evidence that the XP Upgrade installer could boot and ask for the qualifying OS key, something which hasn't been in effect since XP.

Similarly, the Vista upgrade over itself trick was specifically foreclosed by MS, ending any hope for a boot clean install. Or so we thought. Now we learn that the Vista trick itself works, and there is Paul Thurrot's workaround to avoid having to install over itself.

**Brink** · 10-22-2009

You're most welcome Greg.

Nibiru2008 · 10-22-2009

It is possible to do a clean install using an Upgrade version of Windows 7. Just be sure that you have the original install disks of either XP or Vista on-hand.

Microsoft has a tutorial here.

Quote from above link:

Quote:

Locate the original installation disks for the programs currently on your computer.
Insert the Windows 7 DVD and follow the instructions for a custom installation by selecting the Custom (advanced) installation option.

SilverGator · 10-22-2009

But does that "clean" installation also REFORMAT your hard drive?

I am on Windows Vista HP 32-bit and have the Upgrade disc for Windows 7 HP 64-bit. What I WANT to do is reformat the drive and then install a clean, fresh copy of Windows 7.

Is that possible? If so, please explain how (not step-by-step, just what method I should use).

Thank you. (PS - My first post, so be kind!

)

**Brink** · 10-22-2009

Hello SilverGator, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you can do a clean install (format) with your upgrade Windows 7 and activate it.

mastman · 10-22-2009

Similar query to SilverGator's, but I am a few steps further down the road. Have a fully-licensed XP machine. Decided to also install a new larger hard drive. Disconnected XP drive while I installed Build 7600 on the new one. Tried to activate when I got the MS email today for the upgrade I bought during the half-price special in June. Of course MS says no go 'cause it's a clean install. Doh, I should have know better.

Do you see a work around, or do i need to backtrack quite a bit? Sorry in advance if this should have been in a separate post.

BTW i read the entire "clean install" link above and saw nothing that would help.

mastman

**pparks1** · 10-22-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello SilverGator, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you can do a clean install (format) with your upgrade Windows 7 and activate it.

So, you are confirming that with the upgrade media and no operating system on the hard drive whatsoever, you can simply install this clean and then input the upgrade key when you have finished and it will activate.

From your tutorial, i see no proof being gathered whatsoever that you ever had a previous copy of a Microsoft based operating system.

**Brink** · 10-22-2009

Hello Mastman, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yeah, you will not be able to activate the RTM 7600 (full) with a upgrade product key. You can try doing a Custom install from the RTM to your upgrade copy, and activate afterwards.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**Brink** · 10-22-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by pparks1

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Hello SilverGator, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you can do a clean install (format) with your upgrade Windows 7 and activate it.

So, you are confirming that with the upgrade media and no operating system on the hard drive whatsoever, you can simply install this clean and then input the upgrade key when you have finished and it will activate.

From your tutorial, i see no proof being gathered whatsoever that you ever had a previous copy of a Microsoft based operating system.

Hi Parks,

Yes, that's what I am confirming.

I created a new unallocated 40GB partition, then proceded to do a clean install of the Upgrade Windows 7 Home Premium. After installing, I manually activated it without a problem and got the Genuine Software logo.