Clean Install Windows 7 With Upgrade Media and Product Key on Formatted or Empty Blank Hard Drive
Retail version of Windows 7 has two main primary type of licenses – full or full package product (FPP) and upgrade, where the most obvious differences between full and upgrade versions are different prices for full and upgrade license, and customers have to possess an existing Windows license to be eligible for upgrade license.
Officially, Windows 7 Upgrade version only allow an user to “upgrade” from a previous version of Windows operating system, via “in-place upgrade” or custom install, which replaces old Windows. Even if upgrade path from some versions of older Windows cannot perform “in-place upgrade”, and require user to perform a custom clean install, but it only means that user has to start the Windows 7 installation from within an existing Windows, and choose “Custom Install” during the course of Windows 7 setup.
Windows 7 Upgrade license wants to see an installed and activated copy of Windows XP or Windows Vista before installation is allowed. As Windows 7 setup does not ask for an existing CD or DVD disc of Windows, thus if user full formats and wipe XP or Vista installation so that the drive is empty and blank before using the upgrade disc, setup no longer able to see any existing installation, and will return “Invalid Product Key” error message.
Tip: User is allowed to create or delete hard disk drive or partition during the setup through Custom (advanced) -> Drive options (advanced) option (note: a 100 MB system reserved partition may be created by Windows 7 Setup), or let Windows 7 install wizard backup the existing Windows files to Windows.old directory, and then delete and wipe clean the whole partition volume prior to install Windows 7.
Many people believe that Windows 7 FPP (full version) disc media or ISO is different from ISO image or disc media of Windows 7 Upgrade version. In fact, the Windows 7 Upgrade disk and Windows 7 FPP disc may be similar, if not completely the same. Only product key represents the actual version of license bought, and Windows 7 will validate against the product key, as shown by Microsoft Product Key Checker.
Not everybody has a PC readily installed with a Windows for upgrade. And more people does not have time to install an operating system especially the time-consuming Windows Vista just to install Windows 7 Upgrade version. Good news is that Windows 7 upgrade media or ISO image and product keys can be used to perform clean install or custom install on a blank and emtpy PC without any prior OS installed. With the following clean install hacks or custom install tricks, which not only save the headache of users who need to install on a new or clean computer system, but also mean everybody just need to purchase an Windows 7 upgrade license, which costs up to $100 cheaper over a Windows 7 full edition price.
How to Clean Install Windows 7 with a Upgrade DVD Disc or ISO Image
Note: User who has downloaded Windows 7 boxed ESD installation files should follow these steps to create a bootable Windows 7 ISO image from unpacked Windows 7 installation files and burn to DVD prior to follow guide below.
- Boot up the PC with the Windows 7 Upgrade DVD disc media into DVD-ROM drive.
Note: May need to change boot sequence or boot order of device in BIOS, and/or press any key to boot from CD/DVD drive.
- Follow the Windows 7 Install Wizard to install the operating system on the blank, empty and clean system.
- During installation, when prompted for a product key, DO NOT enter the upgrade version product key.
Tip: This step is to prevent “Invalid Product Key” error. User can try to input the serial number to check if setup accepts the key. If it’s accepted, all the rest of steps can be skipped.
- Unselect and untick the Automatically activate Windows when I’m online check box during the installation process.
- After Windows 7 is installed, boot up to desktop, and manually enter the Windows 7 upgrade product key to activate online or activate via phone.
Steps above, which is practically how to perform clean install with a Windows 7 full version media and product key, should work for some, if not most, users. On system that the system still does not accept an upgrade version product key, or face activation failure error code of 0xC004F061, try one or more of the following workarounds to get Windows 7 activated:
Workaround 1: Use SLMgr Commands to Insert Product Key and Activate
- Open an elevated command prompt as administrator.
- Use the following command to install product key:
slmgr -ipk <upgrade product key>
- Activate Windows 7 with the following command:
slmgr -ato
Steps above have also been used to clean install Windows Vista Upgrade version. To check activation status from command line, use slmgr -dlv or slmgr -dli.
Workaround 2: Clean Install Windows 7 Upgrade with Double Installs
- After starting up the just installed Windows 7 system, allow system to boot to desktop.
- Insert the same Windows 7 DVD media into CD/DVD optical drive tray to start Install Windows wizard again. Alternatively, mount the Windows 7 ISO image to a virtual CD/DVD-ROM drive, or directly run setup.exe from the unpacked Windows 7 installation files.
- Reinstall Windows 7 once again (both Upgrade or Custom Install should be OK), enter product key during installation so that Windows 7 can be automatically activated when user first online after installation is done.
Steps above is originally used as a workaround to clean install Windows Vista with upgrade media, and is less commonly used as it’s time-consuming.
Workaround 3: Clean Install and Activate Windows 7 with MediaBootInstall Registry Hack
- After booting up, ensure that no Windows Updates pending task which requires a system reboot to finish installing.
Tip: Normally, an orange-colored shield icon will be displayed next to Shutdown button in the Start Menu Power Button or at notification tray area if a restart is required.
If reboot is required, restart the computer to allow any pending updates is installed.
- Run Registry Editor (RegEdit).
- Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE
- In the right pane, change the value data for MediaBootInstall from 1 to 0.
Alternatively, just download and execute MediaBootInstall.reg to merge the value into registry.
- Open an elevated command prompt as administrator.
- Run the command below to reset Windows 7 activation status:
slmgr -rearm
- Reboot the computer.
- Run the Activate Windows utility (accessible from bottom section of Control Panel -> System and Security -> System, or type Activate Windows into Start Search), type in the upgrade product key and activate Windows.
Related Articles
- Windows 7 Installation Fails and Hangs At 62% When Upgrade from Vista
- The Product Key Is Not Valid Or 0xC004F061 Activation Error On Windows 7 Upgrade
- How to Upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium or Home Basic to Windows 7 Professional
- Unable to Clean Install Windows Vista with Upgrade Edition Product Key
- Hack to Install Windows 7 Build 6956 Directly from VHD File
- Workaround to Upgrade from 32-Bit (x86) to 64-Bit (x64) Windows 7 Operating System
- Hack and Workaround to Clean or Fresh Install Windows Vista with Upgrade License DVD
- Windows Vista In-Place Upgrade from Windows XP Support Matrix and Options
- Trick to Buy and Install Full Retail Windows Vista at Upgrade Price Even Without Existing Old Windows CD
- Download Folder Vanity Remover to Remove and Clean Up Empty Folders from Windows System
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February 10th, 2010 00:45
I tried all of these multiple times and can’t get it to work! (sing the upgrade key) I looked up the issue and it says been installed on 6 machines.. which it clearly hasn’t! When I go into media boot, it’s already listed as “0″, is this an issue?
Anyone try calling MS to get more keys, what do you have to say/provide and what’s the response?
February 9th, 2010 04:36
Workaround 3 worked for me. Thanks!
February 8th, 2010 01:23
Great information!!! This is so helpful and much appreciated. Thank you!
Also, thanks to the many people who posted useful responses as well.
February 4th, 2010 05:43
Just a wonderful work you have done
)
Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
Greetings from Switzerland,
grebe
February 4th, 2010 03:02
Hey,
What do you do if you’re already running Windows 7 Home Premium? It comes up with an error when installing telling you to install using Windows Anytime Upgrade. When I tried it through that you had to input the product key. I really want to get ultimate any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
February 4th, 2010 02:23
I can confirm that for me only Workaround 3 worked.
I used to have Vista Ultimate, upgraded using a Student/Educational version of the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade.
Thanks!
February 3rd, 2010 08:08
Thanks it works well-
I had already done the clean install on a MAC and did not initially provided the key. This morning,after 30 days or so, it asked for the key. I did the online registration and got the error message since it was only to be installed on PC with prior version installed.
I have used the workaround #3 and it worked suprisingly easy and just as described.
Many thanks again,
February 3rd, 2010 02:07
Thanks! I had done the clean install, and expected no troubles with activation. Wrong! I of course received the ‘no can do’ error message. But I found your answer right away when I searched. Workaround 1 failed, but only because I had already attempted an online Activation. Windows said my key was “blocked.” So I went to Workaround 3, re-armed, rebooted, and then succeeded with Workaround 1. So in case anyone else has my particular issue, redo Workaround 1 again after doing Workaround 3, and that just might solve it. Thanks again!
February 1st, 2010 20:00
Thank you so much. People will run into a hell of a lot of problems the next time they need to flush their OS and install the W7 upgrade -cos they’ll end up having to install Vista fist and then run the W7 upgrade. User experience my %&R¤/&!
By the way do you have to set the hex value back to 1 when used the third option?
January 29th, 2010 12:07
[...] in until you have completed the install, then activate as usual. Worked for me! This may help – Install W7 onto clean HDD with Upgrade media __________________ iPhone 3GS [...]
January 23rd, 2010 09:21
I was about to flip the heck out when I realized I had to start all over, but a few minutes later, I’m good to go thanks to you…please don’t ever stop making the world a better place.
Cheers and thanks again!
January 23rd, 2010 03:02
I bought the home premium upgrade from microsoft’s website, and did a clean install on a clean drive. I skipped entering the key when it asked for it, and right after it came up, I activated it in control panel with no issues. Not sure why anyone would spend the extra money for a full version.
January 22nd, 2010 19:39
Thanks. You have made it so much easier and saved me money and lots of headaches.
January 22nd, 2010 06:19
I never usually post on random blogs, however you’ll be the first. Window’s isnt cheap.. I just wanted to install it to my non-corrupt HDD and it was being shitty about it. Thanks so much.
January 20th, 2010 03:06
Thank you so much. I totally didn’t realise i had an upgrade pack and wanted to install on a new machine. After working out why the key wasn’t working i did another fresh install without putting in the key and then once loaded all up i clicked start, typed in activate and put the key in the box that came up and it worked perfectly.
THANK YOU!!!!!!
January 19th, 2010 06:44
Thank you for putting this together. I have a copy of Vista and wanted to clean install Windows 7 and was getting frustrated when I couldn’t activate with my upgrade product key. I used the third option and it worked perfectly. Thanks again so much!!!!!
January 19th, 2010 01:49
[...] Originally Posted by Robxiii I had a lot of problems with this, especially as I didn't format my drive(s) before installing W7. There were a *ton* of file permission problems leftover from my Vista build. If you look at the files security/permissions, you'll see an unknown account listed, its what was causing my issue. I managed to buy 2 copies of Win 7 Pro $30 upgrades from Digital River months ago, and when I upgraded my Vista machine I had the same problems. I also had an unknown account and once I deleted it most of the permission problems seemed to clear up. I just built a new system and installed the other copy clean and it runs perfectly. As it has been said many times before in this thread, clean install is the way to go. Clean Install Windows 7 With Upgrade [...]
January 17th, 2010 14:32
Hey, Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing. You don’t know how many people you help.
By the way, Thank you.