Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

How to Do a Clean Install with an Upgrade Windows 7 Version​

   Information

This will show you how to do a Clean Install using a retail Upgrade Windows 7 installation disc.

   Warning

Remember that you need to legally own a valid qualifying previous version of Windows to use a Upgrade Windows 7, and to stop using (or uninstall) the qualifying OS while you have the upgrade installed. Microsoft only made doing a clean install from a upgrade Windows 7 possible to make it more convenient so you do not have to reinstall both the old Windows version (ex: Vista) and upgrade to Windows 7 everytime you needed or wanted to reinstall.

If you do not legally own a valid qualifying previous version of Windows, then you are violating the terms of Microsoft's Windows 7 End User License Agreement and could get your product key number invalidated by Microsoft. Plus, it is considered illegal.

For more about this, please see: Microsoft SMB Community Blog : Regardless of what any hack says, a Windows 7 Upgrade is an Upgrade. What you need to know.

OPTION ONE

A Normal Clean Install

1. Do a clean install at boot without checking the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box during the installation process.

2. When the installation is finished, then manually activate Windows 7 with your product key number.

3. If your Windows should fail to activate, then pick up at step 2 in OPTION THREE below.

OPTION TWO

Through a Custom Install

   Note

This option will let you do a clean install of Windows 7 without formating the current Windows installation to have your current Windows installation backed up to the Windows.old folder during the installation of your retail upgrade Windows 7. This way you can copy any files back that you want from the C:\Windows.old folder (previous installation) back into your new installation afterwards.

1. Do a custom install at boot or from within your current Windows installation without checking the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box during the installation process.

2. When the installation is finished, then manually activate Windows 7 with your product key number.

3. Copy any files that you want back from the C:\Windows.old folder into where you want it in you new installation.

4. You can now delete the Windows.old folder using Disk Cleanup to have a clean install now.

OPTION THREE

Clean Install with a Registry Workaround for Error Code 0xc004f061

   Note

If you get a activation error code 0xc004f061 while doing OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above, then you will need to use this option instead

1. Do a clean install of your upgrade Windows 7 at boot without checking the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box during the installation process.
NOTE: If you already did this from OPTION ONE above and got a activation error, then skip this step and just proceed to step 2 below instead. There's no need to reinstall again.

2. Click on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and save it to your desktop.
Activate_Windows_Upgrade_after_Clean_Install.bat


Download


3. Right click on the downloaded .bat file, and click on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted, click/tap on Run and Yes (UAC).
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

5. You will now notice a command prompt quickly open and close while applying the changes to your registry.

6. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Restart the computer.

8. When the computer is finished restarting, then manually activate Windows 7 with your product key number.

OPTION FOUR

Double Installing Windows 7

   Note

This option is the same that was used to do a clean install of an upgrade copy of Windows 7. It's more work, but if the options above did not work for you, then this should since this is the most reliable option.

1. Do a clean install of your upgrade Windows 7 at boot without checking the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box during the installation process, and do not activate Windows 7. When finished with the clean install, do not or install any Windows Updates, drivers, or programs yet.

2. When finished with the clean install, start at step 4 at this link to do an in-place "upgrade" install with your upgrade Windows 7 installation disk from within the just now finished clean install of Windows 7.

3. When the in-place upgrade installation is completely finished, then manually activate Windows 7 with your product key number. You can now also install any Windows Updates drivers, and programs you like.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Do a Upgrade Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/30470-make-bootable-iso-student-d-l.html
• How to Partition the Hard Drive in a Windows 7 Install
• How to Install Windows 7 on Computer with Less than 512MB RAM
• How to Install Windows 7 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)

 

[LapTopUser]

clarifying for clarity

From ignatzatsonic -
"I'd make Dell recovery disks before I deleted the Dell recovery partition." Dell suggested that delete the partitions. Is the recovery disk in case the Win7 re-install doesnt work? Basically the current system is generating so many errors its not functional so there really is no need to "recover to it" unless the re-install doesnt work and then I guess IO take it to a shop.

"You'll need the LAN driver and a working modem for a net connection." I have a wireless home network that will survive this re-install. What dirvers wil I need to re-access the wireless network? I do have the network access code.

From Brink -
"It really depends on what type of installation disc you have? If this is a OEM factory restore type installation disc, then this tutorial wouldn't apply to you since it's for doing a clean install with a "retail" upgrade copy instead."

I'm sorry I wan't clear. The Dell came with a factory installed Vista OS and an offer for a free Win7 upgrade DVD from Dell. I later received the Win7 upgrade DVD from Dell. So the disk I am using is from Dell - it's an OS upgrade to Win7. I don't know if that qualifies as an OEM or not.

Thanks to you both - this has been stressful - several family users awaiting the outcome!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

From ignatzatsonic -
"I'd make Dell recovery disks before I deleted the Dell recovery partition." Dell suggested that delete the partitions. Is the recovery disk in case the Win7 re-install doesnt work? Basically the current system is generating so many errors its not functional so there really is no need to "recover to it" unless the re-install doesnt work and then I guess IO take it to a shop.

"You'll need the LAN driver and a working modem for a net connection." I have a wireless home network that will survive this re-install. What dirvers wil I need to re-access the wireless network? I do have the network access code.

I'm not competent at Wireless, so will pass on that question.

Re the recovery disks and recovery partition. The recovery disks (after you make them) do the same thing as the partition---restore you to the way the PC was when you got it---presumably Vista in your case, with the exact same partitions and same software.

You don't HAVE to have either the recovery partition or recovery disks to reinstall and operate successfully.

But it is generally recommended to have one or the other in case of an emergency situation. For all I know, wiping out partitions and doing it your way may have some effect on your Dell warranty, for instance. Recovery disks are just another fallback position that you hope you never have to resort to. Ideally, you make them, put them in a drawer, and never need them.

 

[Brink]

LapTopUser,

You should be able to do the tutorial as is with that installation disk.

Skip automatically activating Windows 7 during the installation. After installation is complete, you will need to install your wireless adapter's driver, then setup your wireless network as usual, then you should be able to activate Windows 7 online, or by phone if needed.

 

[Sergeant Steve]

A little clarification

You say at the start that Microsoft made it possible to do a clean install from an upgrade disk possible to prevent people having to install their old OS when they wanted to reinstall Windows 7, but for the very first install do I need to actually have an old OS present during installation to properly activate.

When I first installed Professional I had a completely new computer and upon trying to activate I got the error code defined in Option 3 and that was how I had to activate it. But I feel that this led me to being unable to get online support from Microsoft as they say the Product ID has expired (which other people have found as well and also question how this can be on the latest OS).

So could you clarify whether I need to install XP onto an old HDD and have that plugged into my machine when I upgrade from Pro to Ultimate whilst changing to a 2TB HDD?

 

[Brink]

Hello Sergeant Steve, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Nope. You do not need to install XP or anything else other than what's in the tutorial to just install the upgrade version. Sometimes OPTION ONE works and sometimes it doesn't. If you get the error, then you could just pick up at OPTION THREE. If all else fails, OPTION FOUR always works.

 

[Sergeant Steve]

Thanks.

I assume that Option 4 in my case would be installing Professional on my 2Tb then doing an in-place upgrade to Ultimate right away? I thought you couldn't do an in place upgrade because that was the same as an Anytime Upgrade which would use a different key (one assumes the same install process for all upgrade versions).

Another thing I have at present is Easy BCD as a boot manager so I can choose between Windows and Ubuntu (I know Ubuntu has Grub as a boot manager but when I first got Ubuntu for some reason I couldn't edit that list so it booted to Ubuntu after the timeout period, not Windows, so confusing my dad the next morning because he had no account), but I assume I could safely switch between Professional and Ultimate with no bother?

 

[Brink]

Steve,

In all options in the tutorial you would only install say a upgrade Ultimate with it's product key. It's just that each option uses a different way to install the say upgrade Ultimate copy. That's all.

OPTION FOUR has you to install Ultimate once without activating it, then immediately do an in-place upgrade install with the same Ultimate and activate it afterwards.

If you are upgrading from Pro, then you should not be using Pro anymore to comply with the EULA of the upgrade Ultimate copy. You get the discount for a upgrade copy since you are agreeing to not use the previous version (ex: Pro) for as long as you have the upgrade (ex: Ultimate) installed.

 

[Sergeant Steve]

So a clean install with Ultimate then an in-place upgrade immediately afterwards should work if I decide not to go down the install old OS and overwrite route.

I guess Technically I'm upgrading XP since that was what I had before I had this machine (and as far as I know I have to have an older OS than W7 to actually "upgrade" or else it then becomes an Anytime Upgrade which costs more money), I in theory used Pro to upgrade from XP already, but since there is no product keys involved anymore (apparently before it used to ask for your Product Key or Windows Disc) I'll be using Pro to upgrade properly from Vista and Ultimate to Upgrade from XP.

I'll probably still go down the method that should be Guaranteed to work - installing the old operating system and upgrading from that, just so I know everything is going to work, probably takes as long as Option 4 would, but I can always use Option 3 or 4 if I can't get it working. I'll post back how things go.

 

[Brink]

That's just if you use OPTION FOUR. You could also do either one of the other options if you like that may allow you to only do a clean install of the upgrade Ultimate once instead.

Yes, please do let us know how it goes, and if you have any questions.

 

[reluttr]

I have a question... I did not notice it before doing it. But I did option 4, the one that involved me editing the registry entry and when I went to restart the computer I noticed I had upgrades ready. I restarted by clicking the arrow next to the power down + install upgrades button and choosing restart.

Will this cause problems down the line?

Also, is it recommended to change the registry value back to 1 after performing activation?

 

[Brink]

Hello reluttr,

It looks like you meant OPTION THREE instead, but no you do not want to change the registry value back.

As long as you were able to activate, then installing the Windows Updates and restarting the computer will not be an issue either.

 

[JonathanV]

Hello Brink, what will happen if I validate my upgrade copy of Windows 7 with no previous OS installed?

 

[Brink]

Hello Jonathan,

You would get the error in OPTION THREE, then have to do OPTION THREE to be able to activate.

 

[da305kratos]

Upgrade on a trial period

Currently trying out Win7 64 bit ultimate...ended up buying the Win7 Pro Upgrade (completely missread)...well, long story short I ended up finding your post here.

Is it possible to just try the upgrade option while I am now on the Win 7 Ultimate trial period?

Much thanks for taking your time.

 

[Brink]

Hello da305kratos, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but you cannot upgrade from Ultimate to Pro since that is a downgrade instead. Unfortunately, you would need to do a clean install to downgrade.

 

[da305kratos]

Thank you for welcoming me and for the post...

I figured as much, no harm in asking I suppose...

Thanks and i'll post results once I get a chance and thank you again!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. Never any harm in asking.

 

[da305kratos]

Hello da305kratos, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but you cannot upgrade from Ultimate to Pro since that is a downgrade instead. Unfortunately, you would need to do a clean install to downgrade.

The clean install option worked perfectly...deleted and unallocated the space on my primary drive (SSD in my case), went through the install and did exactly as you stated in step 1...activated just fine

Thanks again for the help Brink!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. I'm happy to hear it went smoothly for you.

 

[kxracer]

Hi Brink,

I'm looking to get Windows 7. I have a Vista x64 Ultimate and Win XP Pro. I read the tutorial explaining how you can install windows 7 upgrade on a blank hard drive and activate it. What I don't understand is why would Microsoft allow this? What's the catch here?

If I get windows 7 upgrade could I purchase windows 8 upgrade and use it to upgrade from windows 7 upgrade?(I'm not really interested in Windows 8, just weighing my options)

Is it allowed to upgrade to windows 7 Home Premium from Windows Vista ultimate or Windows XP Pro or would I need at least Win 7 Ultimate or Pro?