Clean Install via Win 7 Upgrade

Great forum. Just found it via Google.
Question:

I'm currently running Vista Home Premium 32-bit.
I'm going to buy Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit upgrade.
I want to do a clean install on a new hard drive I just bought.
I'm going to put the current Vista hard drive on SATA 1
The new hard drive for Win 7 will be on SATA 0
I can't figure out what procedure to use so Win 7 Upgrade sees the old activated Vista to activate Win 7.
In short, I want a clean install via Win 7 upgrade media on a seperate hard drive.
Can anyone help with this?

hi Cage22, and welcome to sevenforums - the best forum on the planet (possibly),

you could try cloning the vista drive to the new drive, then clean installing 7 on top of it.

i think this will work, although haven't tried myself. you may have to play about to get the bootloader working...

is your plan to have a dual-boot system?

thanks for that mr Shark.

so you don't actually have to have an os installed - you can just show it a disc?

Take your pick:

Windows 7 Upgrade Editions Will Require an Activated Copy for Verification Each Time its Installed | Maximum PC

Harold Wong's Blog Site : Can I do an In-Place upgrade from Windows 7 Release Candidate To Release Code??

Microsoft Source Suggests Win 7 Won't Require Activated OS Before Upgrade - PC World


Nobody seems to know for sure.

I heard, Harold hasn't been able to get confirmation of that from the MS higher ups. Probably will be the case - makes sense.

Here's what he said later:

The requirements for using the Windows 7 Upgrade Media seems to not be fully documented and publicized. I received emails from folks who have said a Microsoft representative had told them that an activated copy of Windows must already be installed onto the computer. I had stated that the original media would be required. Since I cannot get a solid answer internally at this point, I’m going to take the egg on my face and say that I may be wrong in my previous statement. I am not sure yet. Since I don’t have access to the Upgrade Media myself, I cannot test it to know for sure so I am waiting for the Windows 7 Team to post an update to their blog that states all the requirements. Just like the rest of you, I will have to wait for further “official” news. I am very sorry for jumping the gun on this one and stating what I heard were the requirements for using the Upgrade Media.

Thanks for all the replies - and so quick. I was hoping that when I clean install on the new drive, it would scan all drives - including my old one with Vista activated and acccept this. I guess we'll have to wait until someone can verify this with upgrade media. Again, thanks to all.

Good idea Mickey. If we don't find an absolute answer, I'll try cloning.