Windows 7 Pro student upgrade question

[OVerLoRDI]

I did some googling and found out that the Windows 7 Pro student upgrade you can buy here:

http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/software/windows.aspx

will not do a clean install, that there has to be an an already installed operating system for it to read the Vista/XP cd key from. I also read this saying I could get around it:

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/...t-key-on-formatted-or-empty-blank-hard-drive/

Can anyone confirm these hacks still working? I have lots of Vista/XP cd keys that would work for the upgrade, I just would love to avoid having to install an old OS and then installing a new one. Also I want to do a clean install, upgrading an in place windows OS feels like never a good idea.

Thanks

 

[jlchoi]

The double install method will still work, but I've read that many people have been able to use the keys on a clean install without having to double install.

 

[Emulex]

yah its the media choice. some media like technet you install with no key - then put in the key maybe using a command line command. and activate.

that is how i would do it.

 

[Binky]

I just activated one of those $29 copies yesterday. I did a clean install and then the registry change. Reboot and rearm, then activate. Worked perfectly.

The registry change is documented here (with pics!)
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

 

[RebateMonger]

My recollection is that, several months ago, folks who left those Registry changes in place were getting "Not Genuine" messages. The latest WGA (or whatever it's called these days) at that time was detecting the Registry change as an Activation hack.

 

[phoenix79]

I got this deal when they first started it, but I ordered the DVD. From the DVD it let me input the CD Key at install and didn't give me any problems at all.

 

[Zargon]

My recollection is that, several months ago, folks who left those Registry changes in place were getting "Not Genuine" messages. The latest WGA (or whatever it's called these days) at that time was detecting the Registry change as an Activation hack.

The ones I did like is fine. the one XP install was old and worthless so I really didnt want to 'upgrade'

the vista upgrade worked great till a hardware crash, and I wasnt about to install vista just to upgrade it to windows 7 though.