How To do a clean install of Windows 7 using an upgrade DVD

[AtYourService]

You can do a full install with a win7 upgrade disk

After performing the clean install, ensure that there are no Windows Updates pending that would require a system reboot. (You’ll see an orange shield icon next to Shutdown in the Start Menu if this is the case).

Then, open regedit.exe with Start Menu Search and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediaBootInstall from “1″ to “0″.

Open the Start Menu again and type cmd to display a shortcut to the Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose “Run as administrator.” Handle the UAC prompt.

In the command line window, type: slmgr /rearm

Then tap ENTER, close the command line window and reboot. When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate windows. It should just work.

There you have it. An easy way to do a clean install of Windows 7 using an upgrade DVD. This is obviously only legal if you own a previous Microsoft operating system that’s supported by the Windows 7 Update program.

 

[JosephLeo]

I can foresee this trick being used by many people who don't want to pay full price or even OEM price for Windows 7. In fact, many people might just buy Windows 7 Ultimate (Upgrade Edition) instead of Windows 7 Home Premium (OEM Edition) since it's around the same price.

I don't see this having any good use whatsoever...if I'm going the legit route then I already have the legit disk. But if I want to save cash but still be "in the clear" I would rather pay the $100 instead of having the risk of an invalid copy of windows via torrent.

 

[Markus]

You can do a full install with a win7 upgrade disk

After performing the clean install, ensure that there are no Windows Updates pending that would require a system reboot. (You’ll see an orange shield icon next to Shutdown in the Start Menu if this is the case).

Then, open regedit.exe with Start Menu Search and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediaBootInstall from “1″ to “0″.

Open the Start Menu again and type cmd to display a shortcut to the Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose “Run as administrator.” Handle the UAC prompt.

In the command line window, type: slmgr /rearm

Then tap ENTER, close the command line window and reboot. When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate windows. It should just work.

There you have it. An easy way to do a clean install of Windows 7 using an upgrade DVD. This is obviously only legal if you own a previous Microsoft operating system that’s supported by the Windows 7 Update program.

I got my netbook out which I installed Windows 7 on the other night, I bought the family pack, and changed the registry key you posted to read 1, and not 0. I was able to activate without issue. Obviously there is more to it than just a registry key.

 

[Blues]

I can foresee this trick being used by many people who don't want to pay full price or even OEM price for Windows 7. In fact, many people might just buy Windows 7 Ultimate (Upgrade Edition) instead of Windows 7 Home Premium (OEM Edition) since it's around the same price.

I don't see this having any good use whatsoever...if I'm going the legit route then I already have the legit disk. But if I want to save cash but still be "in the clear" I would rather pay the $100 instead of having the risk of an invalid copy of windows via torrent.

The advantage of this is that if we have a client who got this and we need to do a reinstall we don't need to first install the old OS. This also allows us to do a clean install for the upgrade as a clean install is preferable for stability and performance. While it could be used for the purpose your suggesting there is reason we would want to know how to do this.

 

[ebm]

Just a word of warning, this is completely against Microsoft's EULA. Use it at your own risk.

 

[JosephLeo]

I can't cite the source (I know it's on Microsoft's website somewhere tough) but Microsoft announced that using the CD for this use is against their EULA.

 

[AtYourService]

theres also been some complaints of bluescreens and errors during the upgrade
so this is your alternative. I even called microsoft the toher day for an upgrade issue with the key not working and this is the same process they used on the phone, i was laughing because the rep was walking me through it and trying to spell out the commands and before he finished i was saying the full command and asking what to type next

 

[topshelfpc]

Alternatively, I read somewhere that you can do the upgrade install without the product key, then install it again using the clean install method and then delete windows.old folder. That way you legitimately upgraded from a previous version, but still have a "Clean" installation.

 

[rusty.nells]

Just a word of warning, this is completely against Microsoft's EULA. Use it at your own risk.

I can't cite the source (I know it's on Microsoft's website somewhere tough) but Microsoft announced that using the CD for this use is against their EULA.

Microsoft Says Windows 7 Install Workaround Is Legal.

 

[Methical]

theres also been some complaints of bluescreens and errors during the upgrade
so this is your alternative. I even called microsoft the toher day for an upgrade issue with the key not working and this is the same process they used on the phone, i was laughing because the rep was walking me through it and trying to spell out the commands and before he finished i was saying the full command and asking what to type next

So many call-centres use pre-determined scripts, and not their brain; its unbelievable !

 

[MobileTechie]

Hey great tip, thanks a lot for that one.

 

[Anodyzed]

THis is not much different than Vista. Rather than 'upgrade' I wanted a dual boot, obviously not using them both at the same time, so I clean-installed Vista, did NOT activate it, then I 'upgraded' it with the same DVD, and activated it. Worked fine.

John

 

[Tweak]

i dont even have that file i went and typed it into run gpedit.msc , and i got a error about a missing file..................oh well using xp home btw

Home does not have the Group Policy Editor.

 

[pc-wiz]

I used this same method on my laptop when upgrading to Win 7. I replaced my hard drive and my Vista recovery discs were bad so I couldn't re-install Vista. This tweak came to the rescue!! Very useful as long as you do it legally and have a previous copy of windows.

 

[i2omani]

What do you mean clean install? lose all my data and application?

You can do a full install with a win7 upgrade disk
After performing the clean install, ensure that there are no Windows Updates pending that would require a system reboot. (You’ll see an orange shield icon next to Shutdown in the Start Menu if this is the case).

Then, open regedit.exe with Start Menu Search and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediaBootInstall from “1″ to “0″.

Open the Start Menu again and type cmd to display a shortcut to the Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose “Run as administrator.” Handle the UAC prompt.

In the command line window, type: slmgr /rearm

Then tap ENTER, close the command line window and reboot. When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate windows. It should just work.

do this after the upgrade or before the upgrade...sorry i am confused a little bit here!!

 

[allanc]

Would this technique work with a dual booted computer using EaseUS to partition?