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#1
OEM Product key invalid - clean install with new OEM disc
Hello
I've just built this new system having had my old MoBo fail on me. On that system I had Xp professional running off the one of the 2 x Western digal hard drives.
I am trying to install Win Home Prem 7 SP1 64 bit bought from Ebuyer.com in the UK.
Installation 1: I connected the Samsung SSD as the primary drive with the two western digitals attached (including one with XP still on it). I installed Win7 onto the SSD - which was quick and fine until I got to the activation stage - which said my product key was invaild. I tried several times. Didn't work. I called to activate and the support person said there was a upgrade problem. I didn't select upgrade during the installation process though.
Installation 2: I disconnected the 2 x western digitals and formated the drive using the Format feature in the Win7 set up. This installed a different Win 7 alongside the existing one (giving me a dual boot on the SSD - even though I formatted the drive?!). Product key still invalid.
Installation 3: I format the drive using the Command Prompt in the Win 7 Set up process. Then restart - and install again. 1 version of windows this time - but still product key invalid.
Insallation 4: I boot the PC using the western digital XP drive, and try to upgrade it from within XP - this doesn't work as XP is 32 and Win 7 is 64 !
Installation 5: I format the SSD using the device manager/disk tools in XP including the Clean function. Disconnect the Western digital drives. Install WIn7 from boot. Product key still invalid. Call to verify installation - they confirm the product key is invalid - again asking about upgrading - but I don't have an upgrade disk and in this installation there is no other O/S.
What have I done wrong? Was it the first installation with the drives connected?
The only thing I can think i've not tried is too disconnect the SSD - make the western digital drive with my XP on my primary drive and try and install Win7 on top of it. Which is not ideal because I want to run the O/S from the SSD. The partition with XP is on is just 20gb so - i wanted to create a larger partition for the o/s to run on.
Any help guys?!! Thanks! Greg
Last edited by grgdvs; 10 Aug 2012 at 15:38. Reason: Better title