Windows 7 - Unable to install: unattended file error

I am trying to install with the downloadable executable from the student discount program, the files are located on an external hard drive.

I downloaded Windows 7 last night and started the install, it got up to the point where it checked for Vista SP1 and stopped. I had reinstalled Vista recentely and forgotten to install it.

I quit the Windows 7 install and installed SP1 for Vista. Now every time I try to launch the Windows 7 install I get the following error:

"The unattend answer file contains an invalid product key. Either remove the invalid key or provide a valid product key in the unattend answer file to proceed with Windows installation."

I tried deleting the temp file that was in the same directory as the install files for Windows 7 as well as deleting the \expanded set up directory and letting it re unpack the files.

Hi RB and welcome.

Did you take the download and burn it to dvd? what version (pro, ultimate) 32bit or 64>

You may need to wipe and start all over again to remove the error. I dont think the "key" is stored in temp, more likely in registry.

Let us know if you need help

Ken J+

RB, I would strongly recommend you back up your personal files before you proceed.

It looks like you have something left from the interrupted install and it might be hard to find what it is. As Ken said, you probably will need to do a clean install

I appreciate the info and input, burning the install files to a DVD worked for whatever reason. I would be curious, but not curious enough to do it on my own, to see if I could duplicate the issue in reverse. i.e. Cancel the install from the DVD then install from an external drive.

So far Windows 7 seems nice but I do find it a bit disconcerting that wiping the current install of my OS is recommended just because I had to to cancel out of set up when I was prompted to do so by the software. If it really is just a reg key, as Ken suggested, then it should be easy enough to delete the entry and go about my day.

Thanks,
Bob