Revalidate windows 7

If so, what if I choose to reformat my HD drive although I probably wouldn't need to since it's going to be as clean as it's going to get, but I'm a stickler for performance sometimes, which is why I ended up in the current situation will I once again run into the same problem since formatting the drive gets rid of Vista?

Carey Frisch If he had been using the Vista install, and had data that he needed to bring over, I could see it. However, in this case, he's already nuked his system. At this point, using either the approved method for doing a clean install, or the above procedure, is a lot more palatable. Please note, not one, but two Microsoft reps told me to use a double-install method for handling a very similar situation. In my case, I couldn't obtain a restore CD Putting Vista back on the system to run an installer is silly.

It's not like he's not eligible for an upgrade - the machine came licensed for Vista. Is it even possible to install a 64 bit os on a 32 bit machine? Thursday, October 29, AM. If your system can support it, yes. At the bottom of the box that pops up will be a section called 'System.

If it says yes, you can upgrade to a bit OS. Seth, Thanks a lot for posting the steps for activating an upgrade key on a clean install Seth, method 2 worked like a charm for me! For those who say they cannot get to the start menu to follow these steps, the trick is to leave the product key blank during the install which will allow you to continue without activating Windows.

Joe Van. Friday, November 6, AM. On the replacement HD I have installed a Full version of Windows 7 Home edition that was intended for my wife's laptop, whereas I had wanted to install an Upgrade version of Windows 7 Ultimate.

I was not aware of this post and have stupidly entered the product key and it has activated. I am now unable to upgrade with the genuine Ultimate disk.

Will the registry fix work for me? Thursday, December 24, PM. Seth, Its sorted. This time no messages that the key was in the wrong format. Sunday, December 27, AM.

This was unbelievably helpful. Neither worked and I was ready to revert to a previous backup before the upgrade. Thank you for posting this! Monday, December 28, AM. This is a slight variant to the above. I lost my password and had to re-install windows 7. I'm at a point where I need to re-install, how can I extract my product key from the Windows.

Tuesday, January 12, PM. Microsoft is up to some strange business. I've had an endless string of upgrade issues and let it go until 4 days prior to Win 7 expiring. I called MS for the phone activation and while online he instructed me to type my Product Key again and this time it worked! I'm a 25 year PC veteran and attempted that same thing on my own many times. I think the phone support person flipped some bit in a database which made my Product Key finally work.

This was part of the infamous HP Win7 Upgrade fiasco. Monday, February 8, PM. Monday, July 5, PM. Thursday, September 2, AM. If you got the disk from your computer manufacturer then it should be capable of a clean install - however, it's unlikely that it will contain all the extra software that was bundled in the original install. Thursday, September 2, PM. It depends on the manufacturer as to how the licensing system actually works, but AFAIK most are capable of a clean install of the OS without any ancillary software.

Saturday, December 25, AM. Can't thank you enough. The second easy solution worked spot on. You saved me a lot of time and trouble. Sunday, January 9, PM. Better call them for help with the key. Monday, January 17, AM.

Apart from attempting to garner points, what was the object of posting? Your post appears to do nothing other than confuse the issue.

Good Luck anyway with points! Monday, February 7, PM. They might charge a small shipping and handling fee. This will exempt the need to use the product key also. If the neither options 1 or 2 is possible, then you need to invest in a new retail full version license. Hi, I reinstalled my windows 7 and now the product key is "invalid". There is a sticker on the bottom of my laptop but is illegible as has been rubbed out.

The microsoft help says "use phone activation" but that just leads round in circles ending with "free upgrade to windows 10" But as my copy of windows 7 is not activated I can't reserve a free upgrade to windows But it also won't let me buy a new activation code for windows 7 as the somewhat annoying I've modified that wording a few times to keep moderators happy microsoft website just keeps sending my in circles back to "free upgrade to windows 10" I'm at my wits end, any one have any ideas?

This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread. I have the same question 7. Not an IT pro?

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