Solved Windows 7 won't install

[shadowboy1795]

I'm trying to upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7. I can't because it says that the unattend answer file contains an invalid product key. I have no idea what that means.

I tried using Windows System Image Manager, but I really don't know my way around that and I don't know where any product key is.

Can anyone help?

 

[Britton30]

Do you have a w7 Upgrade disk?

 

[shadowboy1795]

Yes, and I'm trying to upgrade TO Windows 7.

 

[Britton30]

I understood that.

Give this a try, but backup your Vista personal data and software keys first.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

See this also:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html#post2084805
(Two different link no matter what they say )

 

[shadowboy1795]

--oh, wait. Sorry, I thought you were asking me if my disc had the option to upgrade. I don't have an upgrade disc, sadly.

I just need to know how to fix this unattend answer file of which I have no idea about. Thank you, though.

 

[shadowboy1795]

I know... I don't either, that's a problem.
Anyway this is the error I keep recieving:

 

[Britton30]

--oh, wait. Sorry, I thought you were asking me if my disc had the option to upgrade. I don't have an upgrade disc, sadly.

I just need to know how to fix this unattend answer file of which I have no idea about. Thank you, though.

You will need a w7 disk of some kind to upgrade. The link I posted will show how to download the one your key is for and whether your Vista version is eligble for upgrade.

 

[shadowboy1795]

Thank you for the links, but that's not really what I was looking for. I just want to know how this unattend answer file works and how I can edit it so that I don't get that error anymore.

 

[Layback Bear]

You have been told how to get rid of that warning.
You either do a legal upgrade to Windows 7 or you do a legal clean install to Windows 7. You either beg, borrow, make or buy the needed disk to do either.
Either way you will have to have a legal COA.
------------------
Doing either method will get rid of that warning.

 

[AC]

You need to download image here
Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life
and follow tutorial here
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

-Darren

 

[shadowboy1795]

Thank you all! I hope this works!

Now for a really stupid question...
Earlier today, I added Windows 8 to the boot loader, only to find out that Windows 8 had updates to install and only restarted, and that Windows 7 only went to recovery mode.
Even if I don't add Windows 8 (I probably won't), do I risk having this happen to me again?

 

[Britton30]

Windows 8 too?!? I think I would wipe the drive and start over.

 

[shadowboy1795]

I did wipe the disk and start over. Windows 8 is one thing I'm not going to do again.

Now can someone please tell me where the product key is in this unattend answer file? Please?

 

[richnrockville]

I did wipe the disk and start over. Windows 8 is one thing I'm not going to do again.

Now can someone please tell me where the product key is in this unattend answer file? Please?

The product key goes in the file after you have read it from the install disk that you purchased.

You did purchase an upgrade disk? or a original dvd disk?

Rich

 

[shadowboy1795]

I have an original DVD disk. It's giving me this error before setup even starts. I just want to know where the unattend answer file is and how to fix it so that I can move on with Windows setup.

 

[richnrockville]

I have an original DVD disk. It's giving me this error before setup even starts. I just want to know where the unattend answer file is and how to fix it so that I can move on with Windows setup.

Can it be assumed that your dvd is a bootable dvd? If so then you must boot from the dvd in your dvd/cd rom drive. When the computer starts, you must select the dvd drive as your first boot drive, then the dvd will start up and give you all the options.

FWiW; what does the dvd disk say on the label? update, OEM or full retail?
The code for install is normally on the sleeve or cover for the DVD.

Rich

 

[richnrockville]

Shadowboy, also, where did you get the DVD with the product.???

Rich

 

[shadowboy1795]

The disc I have IS bootable. The only problem is that if I try to boot off of it, Windows 7 just won't install. I don't get that.

Oh, and by the way, I downloaded new software to bypass this answer file thing called RT Seven Lite. My only problem is that I don't know how to use it, so can anyone who reads this that knows how to use it help me?

 

[richnrockville]

Shadowboy, when you boot your computer with the disk, what shows on the screen? when you say it doesn't install, what does the screen show when it fails?

Where did you get the disk? who did you buy it from or where did it come from.

Otherwise, we are all whistling in the dark.

Rich

 

[shadowboy1795]

Nothing necessarily appears on the screen, really. When it gets to expanding files, it hangs at 0%. No, really-- it just hangs there. I downloaded Windows 7 from Digital River- I didn't really get it on a disk.