Student $30 Upgrade...download iso?

I wanted to do a fresh install because I've heard it's better to do that than upgrade from Vista. I tried burning the files to a disc and my computer didn't recognize it as a bootable disc.

Great thanks a lot for everyone's help. I finally made a bootable disc and made a fresh install, however now when I try to activate I get an error back saying "Code: 0xC004F061 Description The Software Licensing Service determined that this specific product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations." I just deleted my Vista installation to fresh install 7 Professional. How do I just fresh install Windows 7 Professional without getting an error?? I've already wasted hours reinstalling a few times already. I don't want to do an upgrade from Vista.

Thanks everyone for your help. I just decided to reinstall Vista then install Windows 7 through the Custom route. After I deleted the Windows.old file the installation of 7 was basically the same as a fresh install. Thanks a lot. Microsoft really should have given people the option to download the installer or the iso instead of having to jump through hoops to make an iso yourself.

DocBrown said:

I saw earlier that somebody did a second install over the first install & activated it, like an upgrade But I cannot seem to find that post quickly right now

Yes Doc many who cannot clean install from boot with Upgrade media are using the old Vista "upgrade over upgrade" trick when their key is rejected. After installing without key they run the upgrade from desktop (a repair install, BTW) and it takes the key and activates.

Irony is that it might have activated if they had installed without key the first time and activated upon connecting to the internet by giving key on Properties page activation link. Several others report this.