How to install x64 Upgrade Edition on new HD

[asuh]

I have gone all the way through step 13 of this guide:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

When I get to enter the product ID, it says it won't accept it. When I talk to Microsoft, they say I have to have XP already installed on this new HDD in order to use this ID. I don't want to do this all over again. Help!

 

[wallyinnc]

Asuh, there is no rule saying you need to have the program installed in the computer to be able to install Windows 7. It allows you to do a clean install even with an update license: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...version.html?filter[3]=Installation and Setup. But you must own a previous license of XP or Vista to be able to use the upgrade license.

What version are you trying to install and do you have an XP (or Vista) license?

 

[asuh]

I'm trying to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 using an Upgrade Edition DVD. I have the older license, but it does not prompt me to enter that one upon installation. It literally takes me to step 13 and then I can't use the Windows 7 ID that came with the disk.

 

[wallyinnc]

You don't need to enter the XP key in any step, you just have to own it to be legal. It is not a technical requirement, just a legal one

If you are sure you have an original disk (there are counterfeit products), and you are sure you are typing the key correctly (do not type dashes), I suggest you try MS technical support again. They should be able to validate your key

let us know

 

[asuh]

So wait, I already contacted MS and they told me the only solution is to install XP on that disk first. They didn't give me any other option. If I contact them again, it's very likely they will not give me any new advice.

Just to clarify, I am upgrading to a brand new HDD with no OS on it. Microsoft says it requires I install XP on that new HDD before upgrading. I'd rather not do that since I've already installed Win7 already to step 13 in that link in the first post.

 

[Mark Phelps]

I did a similar thing to you -- and I did NOT have XP on the system, nor did I have to enter the XP product key.

As previously suggested, have you checked your Win7 DVD to ensure that it's legitimate?

 

[asuh]

I bought this from my university's bookstore. They wouldn't sell me something that's not legitimate. After I had trouble, I also talked to MS. This disk is legitimate.

 

[wallyinnc]

asuh, technical support depends on the person on the other side of the lines. I can tell you for sure you don't need to install XP in the disk to be able to install and validate Windows 7. A second call should give you a different answer, since that piece of information is wrong.

By the way, there is no way to "upgrade" from XP to Windows 7, you need to do a clean install. So there is no point in requiring it to be on the disk

 

[asuh]

I called MS and they gave me another run around. THe product key that I have is a volume license key for this disk. MS would not give any support.

I called the IT dept of the university and a support guy said there's no way around installing XP first legally.

 

[Tews]

Your "IT" guy has no idea what he is talking about...

 

[asuh]

Tell me about it!! So I have no clue what to do!

On this blank HDD, it doesn't even ask me to insert the media for prior version of Windows XP to verify ownership. It just says I need to enter the Product Key. When I do, it won't allow me to continue.

The IT guy said that XP must be on the disk already so that the Upgrade DVD can verify and validate that there's a valid ownership for upgrade to Win7.

 

[wallyinnc]

I called MS and they gave me another run around. THe product key that I have is a volume license key for this disk. MS would not give any support.

I called the IT dept of the university and a support guy said there's no way around installing XP first legally.

Well, I guess seeing is believing. Let us know if it works that way.
But I agree with Tews, it makes no sense.... If your IT guys is right, it will be the first time I see that.

 

[asuh]

I called back again and the IT guy said that Win7 will actually overwrite the XP installation on the disk. Is this information correct??

 

[wallyinnc]

When you do a clean install XP will be gone and your files and personal configurations will be saved on a folder called Windows.old

 

[asuh]

So I went ahead and installed the rest of my x64 Win7 installation without a product key. Last night when I tried to go to the next screen with a blank product key, it wouldn't let me! So it's strange that 24 hours later it does let me go past the product key screen without entering anything. Anywho!

Now that I'm in Windows, I went to Computer, right-click properties, and at the bottom of that window, it says I have 29 days to activate.

When I try to enter my product key and let Win7 try to validate with this key, it gives me the following error:

Error code 0x004F061
"The software licensing service determined that this specified product key can only be used for updating and not for clean installations"

Is the solution to this problem to hack the registry? I am surprised that Win7 didn't ask me to validate this copy of Windows with my old XP CD.

 

[gregrocker]

There are two workarounds given in the tutorial Wally posted earlier to get Upgrade version activated without the presence of another OS during install: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Perhaps easiest is the one carried over from Vista for the same situation: Just run the install again from your Win7 desktop using Upgrade, which is a Repair Install in Win7. It will reset your activation to allow use of Upgrade version key.

 

[asuh]

After using the registry hack, it activated fine.

F**k the IT department and their Nazi ways! I can put away my XP CD until I sell this laptop again. Woo hoo!

Thanks for all your replies!

 

[wallyinnc]

Good job!

 

[Saltgrass]

Don't be too hard on the IT guys. The upgrade requirements were stated as needing a prior installed and activated OS. That install perhaps could have been on a separate hard drive, but I know of no one that can say for sure what the actual situation is.

Microsoft appears to be currently going back and checking installs for workarounds that might have been used to install without the correct requirements, so some of those folks that though they were being cool, may still have a problem.

Can you install the upgrade to a new hard drive if the old OS drive is in your system, I do not know for sure. Some folks originally said if the Win 7 install could see a prior install, it would be OK.

I always remember when XP came out that the EULA said you could use it on two computers, which I felt showed they realized many folks have a desktop and laptop computer. The upgrades for XP changed that so it was one computer only and basically doubled the cost. The REAL install requirements may still be in a state of flux and end up changing.

 

[asuh]

Microsoft appears to be currently going back and checking installs for workarounds that might have been used to install without the correct requirements, so some of those folks that though they were being cool, may still have a problem.

Oh right, I read about this somewhere. What makes no sense to me is why Microsoft didn't automatically do what they've done in the past, which is force a user trying to do a fresh install of Windows just stick in the XP/Vista media to verify ownership. Instead, I had to hack the registry. Now I'm a little concerned that this registry hack might not be sufficient enough to keep this installation of Windows running correctly. I don't want Windows to revert back to 2-hour shut off mode if it finds I only did the registry hack!

Can you install the upgrade to a new hard drive if the old OS drive is in your system, I do not know for sure. Some folks originally said if the Win 7 install could see a prior install, it would be OK.

Why can't it just be a prior install OR the original media? Seems silly to just up and change this from how it used to be.

The REAL install requirements may still be in a state of flux and end up changing.

As long as Microsoft doesn't end up screwing up this installation because of my registry hack, I'll be fine. I can prove I have a valid XP CD but Win7 never asked me for this proof after the registry hack.