Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Zidane24 said:

Do all that you said to do +....

1) Don't insert the product key on install
2) Make the registry change Paul Thurrott documented
3)Re-Arm the install (yes...I said Re-Arm)
4)Input your key and activate

Of course this needs alot more info but this is the general process. THIS WAS ALSO VERIFIED OVER THE PHONE FROM MS WHEN I CALLED THEM TODAY

You meant Re-Arm and reboot under #3) didn't you? (since you don't have to install again)

gregrocker said:

SilverGator said:

Zidane24 said:

Will formatting with the Clean Install option get rid of both of these "partitions?" Is there a way I can do that? If not, what do I do with that other partition once I format the main partition? Just use it for my own back-up?
When you run Windows Setup and get to the partitioner part just choose each partition and click delete (if this is what you desire). After that you, in essence, formatted the drive. Just continue by double clicking the un-allocated space

I guess I need to do it in order to understand it, but I was under the impression that...

When you get to that screen, you can choose one drive, format it, and then it will install Windows 7 on it. Are you saying I can delete the second partition before I do any of this? Then when it goes back to the screen, it will combine both into one, I would format that, and then it would all work?

Do you guys utilize partitions? If so, why? Should I just keep this tiny partition, wipe it clean and utilize it for something else?

Thanks again for the advice.

Yes, using Advanced Tools on the Custom install from boot, you can delete any or all partitions, which will combine their unallocated space, then Create one or more new partitions as you please, which you format and then install to the first partition since it is faster and contains the boot sector.

On a dual boot, as long as you install Win7 last, you can put it in any partition separate from the other OS and it will configure the boot menu for you.

Be sure to back up any data on a deleted partition first.

Normally I delete them all and format one big partition, which can later be shrunk and partitioned using WIn7's excellent Disk Management utility.

Exactly what I wanted to know. My second partition is titled "RECOVERY D:" and has 10 GB. The main one is 173 GB (250 GB drive). OK, that's good. So there is no good reason for me to have a partition then? (I have a 500GB back-up external HD as well, FYI.)

neely615 said:

Here is a petition to Digital River which I hope to get more signers on
Digital River Should Provide New Windows 7 Installer Petition

There is an old saying in Rome... Caveat Emptor!

You should have done your research before you pre-ordered! A 32 bit OS has never been an upgrade path to a 64 bit... and for you to cry foul is amazing given MS documentation of the upgrade scenarios.

I agree that the current DL in an .exe format is not going to work for probably 30-50% of "students" who qualified for the Digital River/MS offering. However, we all chose to save the $13 USD and avoid ordering the DVD... so again that roman saying comes into play!

But there is a great WORKING remedy to this .exe issue here: Make bootable iso from student d/l

It works and creates a perfect bootable DVD! I know, I've used it... many thanks SIW2!

Does MS sell a hard disk with Win 7 installed?

gregrocker said:

mastman said:

Similar query to SilverGator's, but I am a few steps further down the road. Have a fully-licensed XP machine. Decided to also install a new larger hard drive. Disconnected XP drive while I installed Build 7600 on the new one. Tried to activate when I got the MS email today for the upgrade I bought during the half-price special in June. Of course MS says no go 'cause it's a clean install. Doh, I should have know better.

Do you see a work around, or do i need to backtrack quite a bit? Sorry in advance if this should have been in a separate post.

BTW i read the entire "clean install" link above and saw nothing that would help.

mastman

You have to start the Upgrade disk from the qualifying activated OS in order to install Win7 Upgrade disk via clean install to the separate HDD. Then you can dual boot, or change the boot order in the BIOS, mark Win7 install HDD active and run startup repair to get rid of the dual boot.

Glad I subscribed to this thread. Just used the Paul Thurrott trick, and I am now properly activated without having to go through any other troubles. I was even doing this over Remote Desktop to my work PC! - mm

SilverGator said:

gregrocker said:

SilverGator said:

I guess I need to do it in order to understand it, but I was under the impression that...

When you get to that screen, you can choose one drive, format it, and then it will install Windows 7 on it. Are you saying I can delete the second partition before I do any of this? Then when it goes back to the screen, it will combine both into one, I would format that, and then it would all work?

Do you guys utilize partitions? If so, why? Should I just keep this tiny partition, wipe it clean and utilize it for something else?

Thanks again for the advice.

Yes, using Advanced Tools on the Custom install from boot, you can delete any or all partitions, which will combine their unallocated space, then Create one or more new partitions as you please, which you format and then install to the first partition since it is faster and contains the boot sector.

On a dual boot, as long as you install Win7 last, you can put it in any partition separate from the other OS and it will configure the boot menu for you.

Be sure to back up any data on a deleted partition first.

Normally I delete them all and format one big partition, which can later be shrunk and partitioned using WIn7's excellent Disk Management utility.

Exactly what I wanted to know. My second partition is titled "RECOVERY D:" and has 10 GB. The main one is 173 GB (250 GB drive). OK, that's good. So there is no good reason for me to have a partition then? (I have a 500GB back-up external HD as well, FYI.)

Gator,
You should fill in your system specs.
If your system is a Dell, installing Windows 7 does not disable your recovery partition. And Dells do not have a "create recovery disk set" process. The recovery is all contained in the D:\RECOVERY\Dell\Factory.wim file which is run through the F8 Windows Recovery enviroment by the files in the D:\RECOVERY\Tools folder. Again, that is if your system is a Dell.

Additionally, early reports indicate the mere existence of the D:\RECOVERY partition (which contains a Windows Preinstallation Environment besides the Factory.wim file and the Tools folder) obviates the need for tweaks or hacks to get an upgrade version of Windows 7 to clean install and activate on the first try.
Tom

mastman said:

Glad I subscribed to this thread. Just used the Paul Thurrott trick, and I am now properly activated without having to go through any other troubles. I was even doing this over Remote Desktop to my work PC! - mm

Yes, that and the nice workaround posted here Make bootable iso from student d/l
on making the student upgrade download into a bootable DVD from those nasty setup1.box, setup2.box, and Win7-P-Retail-en-us-x86.exe or x64 executables!

As I've stated previously, it works! I burned following instructions there and it booted right to setup... then I opted out of installation as it's not my copy!

I will be trying Paul's trick Tuesday when I install it on a student's laptop!

Also, for anyone who hasnt tried it yet, Windows 7 EZ Transfer (migwiz.exe) is just that! I used it when I upgraded my personal lappy to Win7 Ultimate, and it performed quickly and accurately! You just need an external drive or similar large storage device to hold your old files, settings, etc! My data amounted to 23GB.

HINT for XP and other upgraders: Use the MIGWIZ.EXEW file found on your Win7 DVD not the one in XP! It's found in the Support\migwiz folder on your install DVD and it is faster and much more detailed than XP's migwiz!