Windows 7 KEY

[erik_26]

I just recently upgraded my machine. Nice new SSD harddrive.


My old machine came with vista and I did purchase a legitimate copy of Windows 7 upgrade.


I did a nice clean install of the Widows 7 (the upgrade disk). The problem is the Product is invaild because "No previous version of Windows was found."


On the Mircosoft page, they have a section on this. They say to uninstall Windows 7. Install a previous version of Windows. Then reinstall the Windows 7 upgrade..... WTF?

In the past when upgrading, all you had to do during a clean 'upgrade' install was inserst a disc of a previous version. You didn't actually have to install the previous version first.



Is there any ways around having to format and start over? I have already configured my machine with all my programs and settings. I would like to avoid spending another $110 for a full version license of Windows 7.

[Us3rName]

did you buy an upgrade disc or full installation disc?

[goodlookin1]

Install XP. Upgrade to Win 7. Easy Peazy.

Yeah it's a pain. But that's what you get when you take the cheaper "upgrade" path.

[SCZ]

Yes, there is a way around it. Reinstall 7 fresh on top of 7.

Microsoft implemented this "backdoor" for legitimate owners of upgrade media who have lost their previous OS media.

So the process is;
Clean install using upgrade media (which you've done)
Skip the product key and activation (leave blank)
Once you've booted to desktop, start an installation from windows (don't boot from disc).
Windows will perform the installation correctly (put your product key in this time)
Windows will back up the on disk installation in the process to root:\windows.000 (including the windows dir, and user dir's)
Delete windows.000 and you have a clean install of W7 from upgrade media.

---edit
Sysinternals (I think it was) turned me on to this back when I got my 7 upgrades, if you want to check out their info on it.

[hcbr]

hrmm.. that's weird, which version of windows 7 is it? i have professional (upgrade) and i have done a clean install (it gives you an option to bypass entering the key) , from there i can enter the key, but have to do a registry hack (ooBE timer i believe it was) which forces windows 7 to accept the key.

Ive done this a dozen times so i know it works , when installing from an upgrade disk (at least for windows 7 professional iso)

EDIT:

Found the site

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media

[erik_26]

Nice! I knew I could count on fellow Calgunners.

I will try the Registry hack in a little bit. I will let you all know how well it works.

[redking]

[orangeglo]

I think I got beat to it but....

http://www.mydigitallife.info/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-and-product-key-on-formatted-or-empty-blank-hard-drive/

I had the same issue when I installed my SSD recently. I used the registry way and solved the problem.