Will not format windows 7

[Only614]

Tried formatting my computer about a month ago. I would get this error "the product key entered does not match the key of any windows images." Then I tried windows 10 on a separate SSD hard drive which worked. Booted up windows 10, using rufus so i can make make a bootable windows 7 usb. It formatted the hard drive and I installed windows 7 and now I would need to leave the windows 10 ssd in my computer or windows 7 will not boot up and will give me a error ' active partition not found, press any key to continue". I tried taking out the windows 10 ssd, then using the windows 7 usb boot stick and it will not format, giving me "the product key entered does not match the key of any windows images."\

ANY suggestions would help. and i do not want a dual boot windows 7 and windows 10, just windows 7

 

[Layback Bear]

If I understand you correctly I would unhook all drives except the one you want Windows 7 on. That insures when you install Windows 7 it sees nothing but that drive to install Windows 7.

I think the problem you have/had was when you installed Windows you had all the drives hooked up and part of the installation didn't end up where it should of.
First back up any thing you want to save to another drive.

Then I would use this tutorial by Brink and do a Clean Install.

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

Keep the proper COA key handy because you will be needing it.

 

[AddRAM]

Why are you entering a product key during installation, there`s no need to, you have 30 days to do that.

The key has nothing to do with formatting the hard drive.

Make and use a Partition Wizard Boot CD. Boot from the cd to delete the drive to unallocated space, then create a Primary partition, mark Active, Align and format the partition.

Then try your windows install.

There is no reason to enter a key during a Windows 7 install.

 

[Ztruker]

He wants to get Windows 7 working.

Should be able to copy the boot files from the Win 10 disk to the Win 7 disk: http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/11294-moving-boot-manager-different-drive.html