Unable to activate windows 7 upgrade

[bigonroad]

I just purchased Windows 7 64bit upgrade.

I installed it on my Windows XP computer. According to the official microsoft guidance, this upgrade can only be done as a "clean" or "custom" install - in place installs don't work when upgrading a 32bit system to 64bit.

Anyway, I installed Windows 7 no problem, but when trying to activate I am told 0xC004F061 error, This product key is licensed only for upgrading, not for clean installations.

What do I do? This is a valid CD for installing Windows 7 to an XP computer, and I have a valid XP COA - how do I activate the software I paid for?

Bless,
Chris

 

[richc46]

Welcome bigonroad

Read this, ask any questions and give it a try. Good luck

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[Night Hawk]

This is typical with any upgrade media. Don't feel bad! You first perform a clean install as the guide there explains without entering the product key and trying to activate it. You then perform an upgrade repair install and then enter the product key since it will then look at the first install as the previous version being replaced and allow the activation to work.

 

[bobtran]

You can also do a clean install (do NOT provide the key when asked) and decline when the installer asks to register online, which causes the installation to activate with a temp key. Now go to Computer, Properties, scroll to the bottom and click "change key" then enter the upgrade key. This has worked multiple times for me with upgrades...I have never had it rejected yet.

 

[Night Hawk]

I've never seen any temp key produced at least with a full version's installer. Typically you either perform the first without any attempt to activate to be upgraded over or custom install replaced and packed into the Windows.old folder with the second install. That's where you would enter the key and proceed to activate the second install once you have everything set the way you want it.

If necessary until then you can use the rearm method for the 120 day trial extension to make sure everything is working as it should giving you more time to check everything in case of any software problems or simply seeing a bad installl of Windows occur where you have to start over. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/875-activation-trial-period-extend-up-120-days.html

 

[bobtran]

I've never seen any temp key produced at least with a full version's installer. Typically you either perform the first without any attempt to activate to be upgraded over or custom install replaced and packed into the Windows.old folder with the second install. That's where you would enter the key and proceed to activate the second install once you have everything set the way you want it.

If necessary until then you can use the rearm method for the 120 day trial extension to make sure everything is working as it should giving you more time to check everything in case of any software problems or simply seeing a bad installl of Windows occur where you have to start over. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/875-activation-trial-period-extend-up-120-days.html

Call it what ever you want...it is a trial key (thus the rearm potential) when you don't activate....I just called it a temp key for the purposes of my post...but it does indeed install a key that you can then change with your upgrade key.

 

[bigonroad]

And option three on that other page worked.

That was a win.

Thanks guys!
Chris

 

[Bill2]

Every retail/ upgrade/ evaluation disk has a default, embedded key. This is SKU (edition) specific and is used to keep win7 functional during the trial period. This is what allows rearms to be done. These keys are in the public domain.

 

[Night Hawk]

True! But while the rearm is in use you will find the option to change the key is locked up until the 30 days have passed for each rearm. With a hardware change here and while waiting for a second pair of the same memory to come in I ran into that.

Once all of the new memory was in I simply put a clean install on and activated it. But it does work when you are unsure at first that everything is going to work giving you the extra time needed before activation.

 

[bobtran]

And option three on that other page worked.

That was a win.

Thanks guys!
Chris

Glad you got it worked out....keep coming back.