Windows 7: Activation issue using Upgrade software on new HDD

Hello,



Recently I upgraded my PC's MOBO and hdd (replaced it with an SSD). On my old hard drive, I had Windows 7 Pro (an upgrade version, purchased from Digital River, from my previous version of Windows XP).

Now my Windows 7 Pro won't activate. I do not have access to my Windows XP disc that I originally purchased five or so years ago. I do, however, have the OEM product key for it (I taped it to the side of my tower). Is there a method I can use to incorporate proof of owning a previous Windows version (such as my XP product key) to allow the Windows 7 Pro activation to work?

Or must I purchase a copy of Home and then use my Windows 7 Pro upgrade?

Thanks for any help you may offer.

You say "Now my Windows 7 Pro won't activate." == Do you mean it won't boot or it boots fine, but you just can't get the activation key installed? If it boots, do you have the key that came with the Windows 7 Pro upgrade when you purchased it?

Oh sorry, I was using the "now" in reference to my Windows 7 Pro Upgrade activation working earlier on my previous install.

It boots fine. Only problems I've had are inability to install a lot of Windows 7 Updates. My upgrade activation key doesn't work, I get the classic message of: "You cannot use an upgrade key for a full version of Windows 7 Pro." Or something along those lines.

I'm just saying that I do not have my Windows XP CD anymore, so I can't install that on my computer, and then install Windows 7 Pro upgrade. I do, however, have the OEM CD key for Windows XP. Hoping for a way to bypass this problem.

Thanks for the reply and I hope I clarified my post (I typed it up really quickly before work). Thanks again.

Are you using the key that came with the Win 7 upgrade and you also installed the Win 7 upgrade, correct? If you put that in, it should work. It might have a window pop up that tells you to call for activation and gives you a phone number. This is no big deal. It is a recording and it asks a few questions. Are you seeing a phone number to call? == Write down the exact wording of the message that pops up and post it.

Correct. Installed the Windows 7 upgrade and I'm using the key that came with it. Sorry for my confusing posts - I guess I also should have been more clear that I'm doing this off of a clean installation. Well, here's the window that pops up when I try to activate Windows 7:
"The following failure occurred while trying to use the product key:

Code:
0xC004F061

Description:
The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations."

Using this tutorial should solve your problem. Give it a read and see what happens.
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

This is a perfectly legal way to do this, so there should not be a problem. Post back and let us know. == Option 3 discusses the Error Code that you got.

Thanks. About to leave for work but I'll give it a read when I get home.

Option 3 worked. My first activation attempt after restart failed. Then I re-did it and it worked...

An error-filled pre-activation will worry me, but I hope there aren't any ramifications.

Thanks for the link and the responses. Windows 7 Pro was successfully installed and was genuine and all that fun stuff.

Hoping now my Windows Updates will work.

Good deal. Glad to hear it. If you have any other issues, just post again.