Doing Clean Install with upgrade..

[moosetracker]

We already tried the link for the steps to do a clean install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

We still get 0xC004f061 The software licensing service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations.

We have a full older version & hoped sticking it in the hard drive would allow Windows 7 to find it.

We really don't want to have to install the old one then the new one.

Problem with the detailed instructions was we got to the Activate window and we never got the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online checkbox. Just typed in key hit (Next) and it went through it's activation check & didn't like us.

Problem is we have been at it all day and this is like the 10th time we installed it. Computer had a virus. Took it a while to confirm the Bootable section of the hard drive was fried.. So we really don't want to take it down again, in order to install an old OS so the upgrade can "see" it.

 

[DocBrown]

Did you see this tutorial ?

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

 

[gregrocker]

Boot the WIn7 DVD to Custom Install. IF there is any OS on the HD it will pass a flag allowing Upgrade version key. If not, it will not. Skip inserting the key and finish installation.

When you get to the desktop either run a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R (upgrade over itself) which will allow the key, or do the Registry change in the tutorial which Doc posted. Then activate at Computer>Properties - you have 30 days.

This is perfectly legal workaround allowed by MS as a courtesy so millions of beta testers and others don;t have to reinstall the qualifying OS. It doesn't change the legal requirement of having that qualifying OS though.

 

[moosetracker]

Thanks, definately got further this morning.

But new error.

The product key you typed can not be used to active windows 7 on this computer.

Buy a new product key online
Retype product key
use automatic phone system to activate
Contact Microsoft to resolve this issue..

Is this a typical problem, or did the virus do more then kill the driver ? Did it pirate our software key too.

Just need an idea of what I might be facing if I need to call Microsoft. The reason why they no longer like our activation key is very vague.

 

[richc46]

Try this, Activate by phone. If you do not get activated, a rep will come on who can activate you right then.

 

[DocBrown]

Boot the WIn7 DVD to Custom Install. IF there is any OS on the HD it will pass a flag allowing Upgrade version key. If not, it will not. Skip inserting the key and finish installation.

When you get to the desktop either run a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R (upgrade over itself) which will allow the key, or do the Registry change in the tutorial which Doc posted. Then activate at Computer>Properties - you have 30 days.

This is perfectly legal workaround allowed by MS as a courtesy so millions of beta testers and others don;t have to reinstall the qualifying OS. It doesn't change the legal requirement of having that qualifying OS though.

Did you follow tutorial #2 with these steps above as Greg & I suggested ?

 

[moosetracker]

Sorry we tried the first suggestion first.. Thought we could try the 2nd suggestion if first suggestion did not work..

I guess that was a mistake. Is first suggestion not legal where I will get in trouble doing activate by phone?

I tried to do the repair on this install and it gave some error. Then I thought "OK lets reinstall one more time, and use 2nd suggestion." But now when I get to where I should get the W7 install starting with language English, I just get the blue screen with wisps &flowery things totally blank.. I can't even get back to the format or delete option on the W7 CD..

Any suggestion how else I can reformat not using W7, not costly.. So that I can cleanup whatever first suggestion did?

 

[DocBrown]

Start with a clean formatted HD.

OPTION ONE
A Normal Clean Install

Note
This option has been confirmed by me to be able to install from a formated blank drive or system, and install the retail upgrade Windows 7 and activate it without doing anything else.

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.

If it does not activate, do another install over top of this one.
​

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.




​

 

[moosetracker]

Problem is I can no longer get to the point to use W7 for a clean install.. I think I really ticked of Microsoft trying the first suggestion.. we are now locked out of the installation on the CD.. I get to where the CD should boot up to ask if we want English... then moves through until can ask for custom Install to get to do the format for a clean install.. It is just a light blue screen with white wisps & flower/leaves in corner.. Blank.. Blank.. Blank.. Don't even get the chance to choose English for a language.

We have 2 version of Windows, my son was premium.. But I also had a Professional.. So I tried that to at least get to the format, then once clean put premium back in.. But my Professional CD does the exact same thing.. So it is a lock out on the computer.. Not the CD went bad.

I am looking for maybe a dos command to format the C: drive.. Or a free program that I burn to disk then use to format the hard drive off. I would hope once drive is clean then then we can start clean without the first attempt to get around the update activation key, and hopefully Microsofts lock-out.

 

[DocBrown]

Maybe you can download the Free version of Partition Wizard & burn to a disc on your son's computer. Then boot it to clean format /erase the HD for another install attempt.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

 

[gregrocker]

Boot the Win7 DVD, press Shift F10 at first screen to open a Command Line, then use the steps given here to wipe the HD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

The HD must always be wiped with at least one set of zeroes if there is a virus to overwrite infected code.

The reason your key was not accepted is because you didn't compete either of the workarounds given. I dont' know why you think that MS is somehow punishing you since it was explained to you that this is a perfectly legal workaround used by millions to avoid having to install the qualifying OS first. As long as you have the qualifying OS on hand then you meet the EULA license agreement.

Once you wipe the HD, the DVD will autostart to Custom Install. Do one of the workarounds given in the tutorial to get it activated.

 

[bobkn]

I am looking for maybe a dos command to format the C: drive.. Or a free program that I burn to disk then use to format the hard drive off. I would hope once drive is clean then then we can start clean without the first attempt to get around the update activation key, and hopefully Microsofts lock-out.

As far as I know, Microsoft has no "lock-out" that's triggered by attempts to hack the Win7 install. There may be a problem installing to a disk that contains no qualifying former OS. The work-around may be as simple as installing without a license key (You'd need to install a second time to activate), but you may need to create a generic installer. (Search on "ei.cfg".)

There are freeware tools around that can do the basic disk chores. GPARTed seems to be popular, but I've never used it. (It's Linux based, which could be a problem if your hardware is too new for Linux drivers to exist.)

I suggest creating a bootable USB key drive for the install:

Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7—Even on a Netbook

It may not help you, but at least you'll spend less time on each failed install.

 

[moosetracker]

Ok Got all done up to the reinstall of the W7.. I guess the partition it created for where W7 is is too tiny. I get the error..

Windows setup cannot find a location to store temp installation files. To Install Windows make sure that a partition on your boot disk has at least 686 megabtes mb free space.. when I look at the Computer the hard drive shows 452 GB of free space.. But I know that W7 creates a small partition onto itself.. That must be what is too small.

How can I increase the size of this invisible partition?

 

[DocBrown]

Please explain how you cleaned & formatted the HD for this most recent attempt at installing. Did you format it to one large single partition ?

 

[moosetracker]

Ok I see under Computer management// Disk Management the C: drive has 465.76 GB capacity with 452.33 GB free.. I also have a System Reserved area 100 MB capacity with 72 MB free.

I would imagine my System Reserved area is my problem ?yes?.. If so can I allocate it more without a reformat?

 

[moosetracker]

YES.. I just formated it then went. I did not make any partitions. So one big partition.. But it seemed everytime we went back to redo their was 2 partitions one being tiny.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at this tutorial at the link below.



SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[DocBrown]

It sounds like the last install has already used up most of the space of the 100mb partition.

I have done over 50 win7 installs. My favorite way is to pre-format the whole HD as one large partition. So I think your best option is to re-format it that way.

 

[moosetracker]

Why did I fear that answer.. This install is getting really old guys! For the 15th plus time.. I have done my computer at least twice.. Why my son's was such a hair puller. Thought this was a good time to let him do it himself to learn. I don't think he EVER wants to do a window install again.

 

[moosetracker]

Back again. Trying to follow link barefoot kid left.. in my Bios I am to choose Optical Disk drive.. I don't have that option. I have:
Hard disk
CDROM
Disabled
removable

So How do I clear down & create a partition before the install without using the DOS prompt? Or get the Dos to be the book area with what I have to select from?