Win 7 install problem HELP!

Yes i have the product key. I never buy or bootleg software - I always buy from the product maker.
I appreciate your input.

It sounds from the term "Gathering files" that you're doing an in-place Upgrade install from Vista. I would recommend instead doing a Clean Install Windows 7 which is a much better install since you're not carrying over a boatload of settings many of which may be corrupt. This is the same reason we recommend never reimporting AppData settings into a fresh install since it is a corruption path.

With Upgrade version during the booted install it will see the underlying OS to allow use of Upgrade key even if you then go on to delete all partitions to create and format new ones as is recommended, using the Drive Options pictured in Steps 7 and 8 of the tutorial in blue link above.

If it still fails then work through these steps which overcome 90% of installation failures: Overcoming Windows 7 Installation Failures - Windows 7 Help Forums. If you end up wiping the disk to get it to install then for Upgrade version leave the key blank and after install do the quick registry workaround shown in Option 3 of Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a wiped HD.

Solved all the problems and got Win 7 upgrade installed and running. When the Win7 advisor says certain programs may not run in Win7 don't wait to find out, after backing up delete those programs. Once that was done finishing the upgrade became very easy with no more hang ups.