Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

[zrtom]

I spotted this:
"You can also upgrade from a pre-release build of Windows 7 to a more recent version of the operating systems."

in this Windows 7 Technical Library Roadmap (TechNet) article published today (and updated today):

Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration

The page has changed a couple times since it was originally published earlier today. I wish I had taken screenshots...... for posterity.

I wonder if this is MS making good (in a reduced way) on the original promise (that was rescinded, then re-promised, then not much heard-about) that beta testers would get a copy of Windows 7.

 

[unholymist]

I'm confused. I was running Windows 7 RC 64-Bit and did a clean install using my Home Premium 64-Bit Upgrade disc. It went through and installed correctly, but it won't take my Product Key. It says that it's invalid.

What do I do next? I have my old Windows XP Home Edition Key and my new Windows 7 Home Premium "Upgrade" Version.

 

[zigzag3143]

I'm confused. I was running Windows 7 RC 64-Bit and did a clean install using my Home Premium 64-Bit Upgrade disc. It went through and installed correctly, but it won't take my Product Key. It says that it's invalid.

What do I do next? I have my old Windows XP Home Edition Key and my new Windows 7 Home Premium "Upgrade" Version.

the win 7 RC was ultimate version, yours is now premium. did your format your drive when you did the clean install?

 

[gregrocker]

Did you delete the partition outside or inside the windows 7 setup?
I am basically trying to find out whether there was any for the Windows 7 upgrade setup to detect a previous version of Windows.

I used the Custom Advanced tools on the booted Win7 Upgrade installer to Delete and then Format the HDD.

There was an un-activated RTM underneath. Before that it was zeroed.

This case is exactly similar to mine. Working and activated.
As I said earlier, maybe the new Windows 7 is using previous RTM copy to make it a 'legitimate' upgrade.
Definitely not checking for activation, with a previous Win 7 RTM.

I have spent the past year reading Technet, TechRepublic and Win7 Team blogs. Everything revealed was that the Upgrade would have to be started from the qualifying OS, that no key would be asked for as since XP, that after foreclosing the Vista "upgrade over upgrade" trick, there was no longer any possibility of installing an Upgrade from boot.

Then there were knowing hints from MVP's that activation "might" be detectable from boot and that this might still be an option. An email recently sent to zrtom from MS store pointed in that direction.

I feel like a sucker for MS EUL'ese but at the same time am so glad to know that Upgrades will be as valuable and streamlined as retail. I should have paid attention to LIW2's hint dropped the other night that the Upgrade keys were likely retail, since he is never wrong about anything.

 

[gregrocker]

I spotted this:
"You can also upgrade from a pre-release build of Windows 7 to a more recent version of the operating systems."

in this Windows 7 Technical Library Roadmap (TechNet) article published today (and updated today):

Step-by-Step: Windows 7 Upgrade and Migration

The page has changed a couple times since it was originally published earlier today. I wish I had taken screenshots...... for posterity.

I wonder if this is MS making good (in a reduced way) on the original promise (that was rescinded, then re-promised, then not much heard-about) that beta testers would get a copy of Windows 7.

So you think these are retail keys and only in the pre-orders? Wow, hadn't thought of it, but MS is known to have a generous streak as wide as the world.

BTW Congratulations for being correct in your brilliant interpretation of the MS Store rep's email to you. It went right by me what they had to be saying. You got it right, and I was spreading MS cover story - UNLESS those retail keys are only for pre-orders which would make your right again!

 

[unholymist]

I'm confused. I was running Windows 7 RC 64-Bit and did a clean install using my Home Premium 64-Bit Upgrade disc. It went through and installed correctly, but it won't take my Product Key. It says that it's invalid.

What do I do next? I have my old Windows XP Home Edition Key and my new Windows 7 Home Premium "Upgrade" Version.

the win 7 RC was ultimate version, yours is now premium. did your format your drive when you did the clean install?

Yeah. All I have on that drive is Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit.

 

[Whattf]

Clean Windows 7 Install with Upgrade Media

Is it possible to perform a clean install (on a blank hard drive) with Windows 7 Upgrade media?

I tested this out today and Yes, this is possible.

In short, boot your computer from the Windows 7 DVD select a custom install. Let it install on your system, when prompted for a serial number leave it blank and finish the steps in the activation wizard. This will allow you to use the software in a 30 day evaluation mode. Note at this point you will not be able to activate the software as it will return "Code: 0xC004F061 Description: The software licensing service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations." Then insert the DVD into your computer (if not already in there) and this time select an "upgrade." Once this reinstallation process has finished you should enter the serial number provided with the upgrade media and it will activate successfully!

 

[zrtom]

So you think these are retail keys and only in the pre-orders? Wow, hadn't thought of it, but MS is known to have a generous streak as wide as the world.

BTW Congratulations for being correct in your brilliant interpretation of the MS Store rep's email to you. It went right by me what they had to be saying. You got it right, and I was spreading MS cover story - UNLESS those retail keys are only for pre-orders which would make your right again!

Thanks bud!
I must say I'm not holding my breath on any of this. I feel that MS could change the "rules" at any moment and what you got activated today might not activate tomorrow.....or a week from tomorrow. Hell, they've already changed their "Step by Step" guide and it's only day one.
As for the retail keys, pre-orders, etc. I wasn't thinking anything really.... and for good reason. I think that trying to out-think Microsoft will lead to certain insanity.

 

[SilverGator]

Hi I was just coming back to check on you . I got you some more info. this is a complete tutorial on how to do it http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html?ltr=C

Based on that tutorial, why should I not "register" it in the first place and do it after? Just to make sure it installs correctly?

 

[SilverGator]

Basically I am stuck right now on what I should do. (I will not have the DVD until tomorrow, so I am just prepping.)

I feel like I should just be inserting the DVD, booting from it, "custom" installing it and clicking the "format" button.

Is there any reason to go through the step of reformatting BEFORE booting from the Windows 7 DVD?

 

[gregrocker]

I don't think so Gator. I just formatted after booting into the Upgrade disk using Custom>Advanced>Delete>Create>Format.

Gave it my license key upfront too (why not?).

I think these are full retail keys given with pre-orders as an extra Thank You to beta testers.

 

[Brink]

I don't think so Gator. I just formatted after booting into the Upgrade disk using Custom>Advanced>Delete>Create>Format.

Gave it my license key upfront too (why not?).

I think these are full retail keys given with pre-orders as an extra Thank You to beta testers.

That may be, but mine was a retail Upgrade Windows 7 and not a preorder or download. It still activated with that key number as well with a clean install.

 

[djjaeger82]

Guys,
Sorry to say this but doing a clean install from upgrade disc is not working for me. Here are my details: I preordered via MS store for Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade. I downloaded the 64-bit ISO file and burned it. I was running RAID 0 + RAID 1 on my 2 300gb hds, and i figured nows a good time to reconfigure the raid so I DELETED ALL PARTITIONS and created a single 600GB RAID 0 partition (completely blank). I booted off of the 64-bit ISO (file name was Windows7HomePremium64bit.iso direct from microsofts store download), however I was at a black screen that said "Select CD-ROM Boot Type: " and it listed two options. A "1.)" and "2.)" both of which were blank. Not sure what to do I typed 1 and hit enter and the Windows 7 setup began. I selected a custom install and choose the one and only blank raid HD in my system. Everything appeared to be going well but then when it came time to enter my product key I used the one from my MS Store order and it said it was invalid. I retyped it 3 times to make sure I wasn't making a typo. Finally I gave up and left it blank and it finished install. After setup completed I right clicked on my computer and tried to activate windows. Again I entered the product key from the MS store, it also failed but at least this time I got some useful information. It said something on the order of I was trying to use an upgrade key and this was a violation of the licensing agreement since it was not an upgrade edition. Not sure what I did wrong here, I'm suspicious about the "Select CD-ROM Boot Type:" msg when booting from my 64-bit DVD, I don't get this if I boot from my 32-bit DVD (instead I get the regular "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" msg. I'm trying to install the 32-bit now and I'll post my results shortly. Any ideas?

 

[markst]

Finally, thanks for informing us..

 

[djjaeger82]

Ok couple of updates: I just tried installing off of my 32-bit ISO download. I left my unactivated windows 7 64-bit install from 15 min ago in place and just booted of the 32-bit ISO. During setup it showed the existing partitions from the 64-bit install and I deleted both of them. Then I choose to install the 32-bit version in the unallocated space. This time it accepted my product key in the windows setup! (I didn't bother to activate yet since I really want to activate the 64-bit version)

So heres the big question:

Is 32-bit upgrade disc behaving differently than 64-bit upgrade disc??

or

Does having the previous windows7 unactivated 64-bit partition on the hard drive when I booted off the 32-bit DVD trigger something different?

More testing up next: My plan right now is to leave the 32-bit version installed on the HD, and boot off the 64-bit DVD again and delete all partitions and then install on the unallocated space. I'll post again in a few min when I have results.

 

[zrtom]

Guys,
Sorry to say this but doing a clean install from upgrade disc is not working for me. Here are my details: I preordered via MS store for Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade. I downloaded the 64-bit ISO file and burned it. I was running RAID 0 + RAID 1 on my 2 300gb hds, and i figured nows a good time to reconfigure the raid so I DELETED ALL PARTITIONS and created a single 600GB RAID 0 partition (completely blank). I booted off of the 64-bit ISO (file name was Windows7HomePremium64bit.iso direct from microsofts store download), however I was at a black screen that said "Select CD-ROM Boot Type: " and it listed two options. A "1.)" and "2.)" both of which were blank. Not sure what to do I typed 1 and hit enter and the Windows 7 setup began. I selected a custom install and choose the one and only blank raid HD in my system. Everything appeared to be going well but then when it came time to enter my product key I used the one from my MS Store order and it said it was invalid. I retyped it 3 times to make sure I wasn't making a typo. Finally I gave up and left it blank and it finished install. After setup completed I right clicked on my computer and tried to activate windows. Again I entered the product key from the MS store, it also failed but at least this time I got some useful information. It said something on the order of I was trying to use an upgrade key and this was a violation of the licensing agreement since it was not an upgrade edition. Not sure what I did wrong here, I'm suspicious about the "Select CD-ROM Boot Type:" msg when booting from my 64-bit DVD, I don't get this if I boot from my 32-bit DVD (instead I get the regular "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" msg. I'm trying to install the 32-bit now and I'll post my results shortly. Any ideas?

Well, another twist in the never-ending saga. Could Option 1 possibly mean something like "clean install of Retail version and Option 2 "clean install of Upgrade version?"
Or efi boot (an option only in x64)?
If you are experimenting, try Option 2 of the x64 install.

In your case it almost sounds like MS is shipping a full version with an upgrade key, perhaps erroneously.

 

[djjaeger82]

Well, another twist in the never-ending saga. Could Option 1 possibly mean something like "clean install of Retail version and Option 2 "clean install of Upgrade version?"
Or efi boot (an option only in x64)?
If you are experimenting, try Option 2 of the x64 install.

This time before I started installing x64 with x32 in place on the HD I tried option 2, but instead I got a Non-System disk or Desk error msg. I googled this Select cd-rom boot type problem and most of what came up had to do with trying to install windows7/vista on Mac Hardware. Something to do with EFI BIOS. I'm running an Intel DG965WH motherboard (few years old) with a Core 2 Duo CPU at 1.83ghz (also a few years old). Using onboard RAID0 with my Maxtor 300GB 7200RPM drives and an ATI X1900. Don't think I have anything out of the ordinary for hardware.

Since option 2 wouldn't start the install, I picked #1 again and its running right now. Should know soon. I'm determined to get to the root of this tonight! =)

 

[Perumexican]

7 Professional RTM + 7Loader to Academic Upgrade

I bought an academic version of the upgrade last month for $29.99. I was so excited that I set up the Windows 7 Professional RTM on my old desktop, which was previously using XP Professional, around the first of October. I wiped the C partition with GParted and did a clean install. I figured, like a dork, that I'd just enter the product key as soon as I got the email. I did that but I got an error code. So, I activated using 7Loader 1.5. I then started the 7 Professional upgrade installation I downloaded from MS shortly after midnight on the 22nd. I was able to do a clean install, but I had to kiss all my programs goodbye (for now). I just now activated my desktop using the upgrade product key I purchased and am glad I don't have to rely on a loader.

BTW, I had been using 7Loader on my laptop with Windows 7 Ultimate before I installed Professional on my desktop. I wasn't sure how I'd ultimately pay for the real deal. Luckily, I got chosen to host a launch party. As soon as I got my party pack, I uninstalled 7Loader and typed in my new product key. Free and legit 7 Ultimate!

 

[SilverGator]

Geeze - now I don't know what to do anymore.

 

[zrtom]

Well, another twist in the never-ending saga. Could Option 1 possibly mean something like "clean install of Retail version and Option 2 "clean install of Upgrade version?"
Or efi boot (an option only in x64)?
If you are experimenting, try Option 2 of the x64 install.

This time before I started installing x64 with x32 in place on the HD I tried option 2, but instead I got a Non-System disk or Desk error msg. I googled this Select cd-rom boot type problem and most of what came up had to do with trying to install windows7/vista on Mac Hardware. Something to do with EFI BIOS. I'm running an Intel DG965WH motherboard (few years old) with a Core 2 Duo CPU at 1.83ghz (also a few years old). Using onboard RAID0 with my Maxtor 300GB 7200RPM drives and an ATI X1900. Don't think I have anything out of the ordinary for hardware.

Since option 2 wouldn't start the install, I picked #1 again and its running right now. Should know soon. I'm determined to get to the root of this tonight! =)

I might have been right on the efi boot idea. I'm curious to see what happens this time around.