Windows 7: Cannot activate Windows 7

Alright so, a while back i for some absent minded reason upgraded to Windows 8 for fun. Pretty sure i was drunk or something. It completely broke my computer in 100 ways and i hated it, so i grabbed my DVD and went back to Windows 7. Only problem is, it keeps telling me invalid key. When i called Customer Support, i was told i have to re-buy Windows 7 because i wiped my HDD when Win8 installed.



Now SURELY there is some way for me to get Windows 7 back without spending tons of money, especially since i have already paid the outrageous price for Ultimate once. I'm not really understanding why it won't let me use the key.

A little more info is needed.
Is your system from a major manufacturer like Dell or HP?
If so was the DVD you used to do the reinstall from that major manufacturer?
Was the Key you used from the COA sticker on that system?
Was the DVD you used the SAME type, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate, as what is on that COA sticker?

???

Please follow this tutorial and post an MGADiag report - then we can see what the problem is.

http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/234159-windows-genuine-activation-issue-posting-instructions.html


Please also state the Version and Edition of Windows quoted on your COA sticker (if you have one) on the case of your machine (or inside the battery compartment), but do NOT quote the Key on the sticker!
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/Hardware.aspx

Well i somewhat solved the problem by going ahead and buying a new key through my college store, which didn't cost me much at all. I now have a very small but new problem, that does not fit this section. So i won't bother those here with it.

I thank you for your time and effort, i appreciate it.

Well, that's one way around it

Good luck!