Activation of Windows 7 Ultimate following a fresh installation

[CaseyDog]

Windows 7.0 was preinstalled on my Gateway desktop and did not come with any backup disks. I purchased and successfully downloaded/activated Windows 7.0 Ultimate. A year later my system became unstable and was advised to reinstall the Windows. In so doing, Windows was over-written and wiped out the desktop and other installed programs.

At this point I have re-installed all of these programs and was then alerted by Microsoft that I needed to activate Windows. The activation failed - "The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not a clean installation".

I have checked the tower, as well the original shipping box for a label containing the product key for the initial Windows 7.0 without success.

Is there any way around now purchasing Windows 7.0 OS?
Assuming that this is what I must do . . . is there any way to download & install the 7.0 OS without having to rebuild/reinstall all of my additional programs?

Microsoft has informed me that I must successfully activate the OS within the next 8 days . . . HELP.

 

[NoelDP]

See the workarounds here...
Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media | Windows 7 content from Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows
- or simply try Operator activation.....



telephone activation (operator calls)
Click on the Start button
in the Search box, type
SLUI 4
and hit the Enter key
follow the instructions, but when asked which service you require by the telephone ansafone, do NOT reply - this should force an operator to respond, who can deal with you