Doing a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

[shoe]

Hello everyone,

Just to let you all know that I have confirmed that you can do either a clean install, custom install, or upgrade install with a retail Upgrade version of Windows 7 and activate it on a clean unallocated (blank) drive or partition without any other OS installed or with one installed. It does not matter.

For questions and more information on this, please see this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html


100% confirmed
Shawn

   Warning

Remember that you need a valid qualifying previous version of Windows to use a Upgrade Windows 7 copy legally. 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 have 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.

I first did a upgrade from Vista to 7 with the upgrade disc. Not satisfied with the results I did a custom install install went without a flaw activated fine

 

[gregrocker]

When you ran or booted the installer, it scanned the HD to see an OS which is enough to pass flag allowing Upgrade version key - even if you then go on to use Custom>Drive Options on booted DVD to Delete, Repartition and Format the HD.

 

[beyonddc]

Option 3 worked great for me! Saved a trip for me to reinstall Windows XP then Windows 7. Thanks...

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome David, and welcome back to Seven Forums.

 

[Reilly]

Thanks for clearing up

 

[jsettoon]

I just tried to do a clean install on a new SSD with my win 7 upgrade disk. When I tried to activate windows with the upgrade product key it would not let me. Any ideas on what I may have done wrong?

 

[Petey7]

Use option three here. It worked for me. Just remember that unless you already have a version of XP or Vista the you could have installed, or that you removed before installing 7, then the method is illegal.

 

[jsettoon]

Thanks, I don't know how I missed that option. It's working now.

 

[Riloux]

Does using the registry hack option still flag your OS as genuine after you enter the product key? I'm not going to encounter any problems with Windows refusing to do something because my copy isn't genuine, right? Windows Update will still work and not deactivate your product key?

 

[Petey7]

Does using the registry hack option still flag your OS as genuine after you enter the product key? I'm not going to encounter any problems with Windows refusing to do something because my copy isn't genuine, right? Windows Update will still work and not deactivate your product key?

I did it and it worked perfectly.

 

[n5ls]

Clean Install didn't work with Upgrade Media

I had the same problem. Installed fine on a brand new clean HDD, but product key came up as "Invalid Key". Called Microsoft. They said that because no previous OS on the drive, the key wouldn't activate.

Rather than go through the rigamarole of Option 3, I just loaded an old copy of XP, and then did the re-install of Windows 7 Upgrade --> Worked perfectly.

So, if you have an old XP or Vista disc lying around, and don't mind the extra 45-60 minutes to load it first, it will save you a registry hack!

Just my 2 cents.

Larry.

 

[gregrocker]

Why would reinstalling XP or Vista be easier than doing a 20 second REgistry edit or running an Upgrade of WIn7 over itself to get it to accept Upgrade version key?

All of this is on the honor system anyway. There is no "legal way" of upgrading, only the EULA requirement that you have Vista or XP on hand to use WIn7 Upgrade version, and do not use the qualifying OS after 7 install.

These workarounds have been in effect since Vista release to make it easier to install/reinstall Upgrade version.

Some are mired in XP oldthink that the installer is smart enough to audit what OS is on your HD. It passes the key to allow Upgrade version key if it sees any OS on the computer, including Win7 itself.

 

[bridges1993]

so what if i installed windows 7 over windows vista???

 

[gregrocker]

When you boot the Win7 installer, it scans the HD to see any OS which then passes a flag to allow Upgrade version key.

If you ran it from Vista then you are already in it so it allows Upgrade key, of course, whether you in-place Upgrade or Custom overwrite or to another partition or HD.

 

[azizuddin]

RE: The Family Pack 7 Upgrade (re-released copy)

Folks:

Just out of curiosity, does the Windows 7 clean install with an upgrade still work (i.e., from the re-released medium of the Family Pack 7 Upgrade?):huh:

 

[Brink]

Hello Azizuddin,

Yes, it sure does.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[shoe]

Worked great fo me also

 

[Kaydy123]

Here's a more interesting question:

Does a Clean Install with Upgrade Media work one more than one computer (IE can I use the same product key for more than one Win7 installation, on two different computers)?

 

[Brink]

Hello AxeluteZero,

No. You can only activate one Windows 7 computer using the same product key number at any one time. Any previous installation with that same key number will have to be uninstalled first, and you may have to do a phone activation.

 

[Gilly Boy]

Folks:

Just out of curiosity, does the Windows 7 clean install with an upgrade still work (i.e., from the re-released medium of the Family Pack 7 Upgrade?):huh:

YES it still does