This SAVED me big time!!!
Coming from an OEM copy of XP Pro and a failing HDD, I had to buy a new HDD.
Already installed Win7 2xs on failing HDD, but would not boot up. 2 days of Diagnostics showed it had read failure.
This is just a FANTASTIC option! I hate doing an upgrade install on top of an existing OS, I swear it causes problems.
I have no problem paying for a new OS, but let me install it the way I want to, MS!
So this is just telling how to make a clean install of a Windows 7 CD that is a later edition? As opposed to re-installing the same edition? Just wondering that's all.
Hello WF,
It's for how to do a clean formatted install of any retail copy of Windows 7 Upgrade edition.
I think you may mean a repair install for reinstalling the same edition again as a in-place upgrade?
Hope this helps,
Shawn
Last edited by Brink; 15 Apr 2010 at 11:53. Reason: addition
Well no I don't mean that, so, what is the difference between a Clean install of Windows 7 and a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7?
There is no difference. MS allows you to do a clean install of the retail upgrade version just like a full retail version. :)
I know I'm just saying...there must be a slight difference...they are two different tutorials...
What comes to mind is the install upgrade thing...is it similar to that? Meaning, still a clean install but the Windows 7 you're installing is a more recent version? I guess that's it. Either way it doesn't matter in my case, I have one windows 7 CD and that's the only thing I'm going to use if I ever want to do a repair install or clean install which, I'm going to have to do after my most recent incident.
WE,
While Option Two and Option Three are different ways to do so, Option One is identical since clicking on the link in step 1 takes you to the other tutorial.
I wish you luck and hope it goes smoothly for you.
Hi, Brink;
Great turorial. But I just want to clarify something, so that I know what to expect. This will work on an already activated copy of a Windows 7 installation? I preordered Windows 7 and have been using it (activated) since it was released last year... I did a custom install on top of my existing Vista installation (maintaining the "windows.old" directory). However, I've got a brand new hard drive on the way and I wish to do a completely clean install of Windows 7 on the new hard drive (I don't want to mess with transferring my current drive to the new one, I want to start absolutely clean by letting Windows 7 format the new drive and install brand new). One of the sites I've seen linked from this one is Paul Thurrott's Super Site for Windows, and the following post caught my eye:
http://community.winsupersite.com/bl...oduct-key.aspx
In it, he states the following:
"Each product key (with the exception of those supplied by the Windows 7 Family Pack, of course) allows for only one electronic, automatic activation".
Is this true? Am I going to have to call Microsoft this time, to get it activated? Or will the normal online activation work more than once? If I have to call, then so be it... but I just want to make sure I'm prepared with the correct phone number, support hours, etcetra. I would appreciate any clarification that you can offer.
Thanks again for the great post, and for taking the time to follow up with everyone's questions. :)
Jeff
Hello Jeff, and welcome to Seven Forums.
Yes, you can activate Windows 7 on that same computer with the same product key number as many times as you like as long as it's only installed on that computer and only once. :)
A retail Windows 7 can be installed and activated on any computer as long as it has been uninstalled from any previous computer first. Sometimes a phone activation may be required instead of a normal online activation.
A OEM Windows 7 can only be installed and activated on the exact same first computer it was activated on. It is permanently tied to the first computer and cannot activated on another computer. This is why a OEM Windows 7 is much cheaper than a retail (full) Windows 7.
Hope this helps,
Shawn
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