Windows 7 Restore/Install Error

Will do. I'll report back any progress or issue once I get started. I will try to get 7 back on there with the key that I have and I will show you the issues I am experiencing.

Well it looks like I was right. I skipped the key input and continued on to set up the computer. I tried to activate the code again and I got a real error message that said the code I had was only for upgrading and not for clean installs. So I ran the disc and did an upgrade and it worked perfect. It accepted the key and I got this computer all ready to go.
I want to thank you for of your help, it is greatly appreciated. I will be sure to come back here if I am ever in need of help and I will also be recommending this site to everyone else I know.

So you did an Upgrade over itself (Option Four) instead of the quick registry edit (Option Three) as suggested.

gregrocker said:

Is this Win7 Upgrade version? If so you may need to skip the key during install then afterwards do the Option 3 workaround given in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a new or cleaned HD.

That's the long way around but glad it worked for you.

Did you compare the Product Key from the wife's PC to see if they match? If so one may not hold activation since there isn't any Student version we've heard of here that allows multiple licenses. For that and the fact that Student license is not transferrable I'd put Vista on the PC if you do get rid of it.

I haven't compared them yet but I don't think there will be a problem with the activation holding up because we both had the same registered version on our computers since 7 was released without a problem. I will probably leave 7 on the one I am giving my friend and put vista back on my wife's before I sell it.