Boot issue

Bare Foot/ Gregrocker/Theog,
Went to tutorial, using diskpart now to clear all. Thanks for the quick responses.

Now I have a new problem. The product activation key does not work; after typing and confirming correct I received an error that it is invalid. I unselected auto-activate and continued with install. When complete, I went to computer properties and added the product key and received an error that the version is not valid for clean install (I purchased the student version). What to do?

Because you wiped the HD (as you should) to get the cleanest reinstall, the installer cannot see a prior OS to allow use of Upgrade version key.

Do the quick registry workaround given in this tutorial to Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Set a Restore Point first in case you goof.

Afterwards activate with Key at Computer>Properties activation link.

gregrocker,
That did the trick, thanks!