Virus formatted Hard drive and Key used Doesn't work

[AGCSanthos]

A virus formatted my hard drive. My only Windows DVD was an upgrade disk I used before on the same computer a few months before. I used the command prompt on the DVD to create a NTFS partition for the OS to load onto. After that everything installed and worked fine until I tried to activate use the upgrade key, it says that it can only be for upgrading and not clean installations. I was under the impression that since I already used the key to upgrade on the computer, I would be able to use it again. Will I need to buy a new install disk or will I be able to activate the OS another way? If I do need to buy a new install disk, would it be possible for me to simply find a X16-96072 Windows 7 Home Premium iso and use the activation code that my computer came with to provide the upgrade code with?

 

[Maguscreed]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[AGCSanthos]

So because the virus formatted the HDD, the upgrade key in unusable now without me reinstalling another Windows platform? Where can I download a X16-96072 Windows Home Premium iso then, provided the COA key that came with my computer is still usable? Or would Customer Service through phone allow the activation?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Windows 7 ISOs are here:

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

You need a valid 25 character Product Key to activate. The ISO you burn to a disk must be for the same version as your Product Key.

Assuming your key is valid and you have not changed motherboards, it should activate---there is some chance you will have to contact Microsoft to activate, rather than automatically.

I can't say why you are having problems, but I don't know anything at all about the disc you are attempting to use for the install. Is it burned at home, retail, OEM, borrowed, or what?

 

[AGCSanthos]

The Disk I am using is an upgrade disk for Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I had used the disk a few months ago to upgrade my system. I tried to use the disk to do a "Custom Install" on a partition to get an OS on my computer, but Windows does not let me activate it unless I reuse it on a fully activated copy of Windows. I do not wish to spend $200 nor end up speaking to the person on a phone in case they void the activation key for some obscure reason that does not make sense. Also, none of the isos from DigitalRiver are x16-96072. I have already checked many areas, but none of them had it.

 

[Maguscreed]

I would like a copy of this virus please. I've never gotten to look at one that actually formats an entire system. I would like to rip it apart and see what makes it tick.
I'm guessing you mistakenly gave it permissions at some point. or had UAC disabled.
This is actually my first hearing of anything like it in many years.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

The Disk I am using is an upgrade disk for Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I had used the disk a few months ago to upgrade my system. I tried to use the disk to do a "Custom Install" on a partition to get an OS on my computer, but Windows does not let me activate it unless I reuse it on a fully activated copy of Windows. I do not wish to spend $200 nor end up speaking to the person on a phone in case they void the activation key for some obscure reason that does not make sense. Also, none of the isos from DigitalRiver are x16-96072. I have already checked many areas, but none of them had it.

We still don't know anything in particular about your disk. Is it retail, OEM, borrowed, burned or what?

The disk is less important than your Product Key. We know nothing about it either.

Do you have a Certificate Of Authenticity sticker anywhere on the PC? The OEM PC manufacturers are required to include such a sticker, which contains the Product Key.

I'm surprised by your unwillingness to contact Microsoft if necessary.

A valid Product Key will work with those ISOs at mydigitallife, even though they do not begin with X16.

 

[karlsnooks]

AGCSanthos,
I thank you for putting a smile on my normally grouchy face. So a virus reformatted your hard drive. Now that is a new one.

Looks to me like you will need to purchase an upgrade version of Win 7. When you do, then you will also receive a 25 character Product key which you can use to install the Win 7.

 

[cyclic]

It is a new one, they are normally self propogating, so destroying system files and internet connection seems to be against their purpose.

 

[AGCSanthos]

I was able to activate Windows. I used the DigitalRiver downloads to install Win7 Home Premium and called Microsoft to activate that one. Then I overwrote it with the upgrade disc (OEM) and called again. I was reluctant to call because the last time I did they told me to wipe out my Microsoft Office Package and reinstall it. When I called them back they refused to activate it again saying that it was the end user's fault (Mine) for wiping it out without contacting them. It took me a full month of arguing with the call center until I just bought a new key.

The virus was made by a friend of mine to get back at me for something. If you would like, I could try to get him to post the code for it somewhere. He said that he used a live Linux disc to install it as a subroutine in startup and to set it to bring up a fake HDD check screen before login to give the program time to format.