Manual activation questions

[p5200]

I have a new ssd coming I plan to do a fresh clean install on. I have a universal disc I made and was wondering if it will work to install Win 7 Professional which, I have a valid product key that I am using on the computer at this time. Will I have to deactivate this copy first? and will the directions in post #4 of this link work for the install? Thanks! http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...en-forums-tutorial-error-when-activating.html

 

[derekimo]

That is for using an upgrade disc to do a clean install, was your install from a previous upgrade?

The best install method is using this method,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Those practices work for retail as well as OEM.

If you want you can deactivate the product key,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/165472-product-key-number-uninstall-deactivate-windows.html

Is your universal disc a SP1 integrated disc? It will save a lot of time if you use one that is, there is a link to updated installers in the first tutorial.

I always wait till I have all the updates and the install running smooth before I go ahead and enter the product key.

 

[p5200]

That is for using an upgrade disc to do a clean install, was your install from a previous upgrade?

The best install method is using this method,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

Those practices work for retail as well as OEM.

If you want you can deactivate the product key,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/165472-product-key-number-uninstall-deactivate-windows.html

Is your universal disc a SP1 integrated disc? It will save a lot of time if you use one that is, there is a link to updated installers in the first tutorial.

I always wait till I have all the updates and the install running smooth before I go ahead and enter the product key.

I have a retail upgrade 64/32 bit and I used the 64 bit disc to make the universal which gives the option to select which version to install.

 

[p5200]

The disc doesn't have sp1

 

[derekimo]

Yeah, I know what a universal does, I have one too. There is a link in the first tutorial with legitimate SP1 installers, it will save a lot of time.

 

[p5200]

Yeah, I know what a universal does, I have one too. There is a link in the first tutorial with legitimate SP1 installers, it will save a lot of time.

Will the disc I have work and allow me to update to service pack 1 from Microsoft?

 

[derekimo]

Yeah, it will work, just thought you would want to speed things up.

 

[p5200]

I had Home premium from the upgrade disc on here and about 2 years ago, I purchased a pro key online and entered it into windows anytime upgrade so that's how I got where I am at this time.

 

[derekimo]

You can do the same thing if you want, install Home Premium then use http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

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

In which case, that post you linked earlier would be the way to go.

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

 

[p5200]

You can do the same thing if you want, install Home Premium then use http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

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

In which case, that post you linked earlier would be the way to go.

If I use the universal disc and select the pro version, it won't install all the versions and take up more space on my drive is this correct? Thanks!

 

[derekimo]

No, it will only install the Pro version, you can't install all versions at the same time.

 

[p5200]

No, it will only install the Pro version, you can't install all versions at the same time.

OK, good deal as I wanted to save the disc space if possible. I sure do appreciate all your great help! Thanks.

 

[derekimo]

You're welcome.

My suggestion would be to wait till you have everything installed, updates, etc.

Then enter your product key afterwards,

That is option one here,

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

You are technically using a full install disc, but your Pro key is an upgrade key so I would try the method I suggest first.

 

[p5200]

You're welcome.

My suggestion would be to wait till you have everything installed, updates, etc.

Then enter your product key afterwards,

That is option one here,

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

You are technically using a full install disc, but your Pro key is an upgrade key so I would try the method I suggest first.

OK, but will it let me install the updates without entering the key first?

 

[derekimo]

Yeah, I do it all the time on virtual machines.

 

[p5200]

Yeah, I do it all the time on virtual machines.

I don't know what a virtual machine is lol! but, I'll give it a try as you said. Thanks again!

 

[derekimo]

That's alright, all you need to know is it does work.

You're welcome, post back if you have any other questions.

 

[p5200]

That's alright, all you need to know is it does work.

You're welcome, post back if you have any other questions.

Will do, I'm suppose to receive the ssd on Tuesday.

 

[derekimo]

Cool, best upgrade you can throw on your computer, I have a Crucial M4 in my laptop.

 

[p5200]

I got to thinking, I don't believe I told you that I had 2 towers which I built my self and after I upgraded this one to pro, I used the same retail upgrade disc using it's intended home premium key on the second tower. Are you saying I should use the same disc again which will install Home Premium then install all updates, use the Home premium key to activate and then, use the any time upgrade feature to enter my pro key? Or were you meaning for me to use my universal disc, install the pro version all updates then activate using the pro key? I just want to make sure I do the install the way you are telling me to. Sorry to be such a pain in the butt with so many questions.