windows 7 upgrade

[liamf91]

i have got the windows 7 pro upgrade disk... obviously i know i cant install windows 7 fresh on a blank hard drive with this disk.

i had windows xp home before i upgraded...

my question is,

Am i able to "re-install" windows 7 pro, using the upgrade disk, again, as if i am upgrading again?

im wanting it as if its a clean install.

hope u understand what im trying to say haha

thanks, Liam

 

[Bill2]

I'm not sure I understand completely but as long as you have a previous, qualifying OS (like XP), you can legally do a clean install with an upgrade disk. See here.

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

And yes, you can do a reinstall with the upgrade disk.

 

[liamf91]

thank you

well what i meant was that i had XP on there, which was qualified... and i upgraded, which i selected to delete my old data...just wondering if i can do the reinstall with the upgrade disk, as well as deleting the data which is on it now

 

[gregrocker]

You do not have to have the qualifying OS on the system to use Upgrade version.

In fact the cleanest possible install wipes the HD first of all code, so it would defeat the purpose. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

Leave the Product Key blank during install, afterwards do the quick registry workaround in tutorial Bill posted above, then activate with Key at Computer>Properties link.

If you dont' want to wipe the HD and only delete the partitions you have on there now, the Win7 DVD will see XP at bootup and allow use of the Upgrade version key up front during install - even if you go on to use Custom>Drive Options to Delete, repartition and format before install.

Be sure to boot the installer to get the Custom>Drive Options or to wipe the HD then install.

 

[Bill2]

Basically you can do everything with an upgrade disk, provided of course you have the underlying OS to make it legal. To do a clean install, you need to use a workaround that is described in the tut I linked.

 

[liamf91]

thanks bill and greg

 

[liamf91]

just a question.... what do u think would happen if you didnt use the workaround?

 

[Bill2]

The key would be rejected as invalid.

 

[gregrocker]

It will not accept the Upgrade version Product Key until you do the workaround. Easiest is the quick registry edit - set a restore point in case you goof.

If you don't want to have to do that, then boot the DVD and delete XP using Custom>Drive Options, create new partition(s) and format. This is clean enough for most installs.

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

 

[liamf91]

ahh thought so. thanks bill

 

[liamf91]

and greg its not XP im on right now... i upgraded to 7 but basically wanted to reinstall 7.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello liamf91, welcome to Seven Forums!



If you don't want to mess with the Windows registry, you can still do a clean install.


Do the first install and don't enter an activation key when prompted, leave it blank and click next.

As soon as that installation completes, do a second Upgrade install over the first Windows 7 install and this time enter the upgrade key when prompted and all will be well.