How to do a Windows 7 Clean Install with an Upgrade Key

Clean Install and Activate Windows 7 with MediaBootInstall Registry Hack

  1. Initially install Windows with a full version key (you can get this off of the bottom of any windows 7 machine with a sticker), don't activate right away and once you get to windows 
  2. After booting up, run Registry Editor (RegEdit).
  3. Navigate to the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE

  4. In the right pane, change the value data for MediaBootInstall from 1 to 0.

    MediaBootInstall Registry

  5. Open an elevated command prompt as administrator.
  6. Run the command below to reset Windows 7 activation status:

    slmgr -rearm

    Rearm Windows

  7. Reboot the computer.
  8. Run the Activate Windows utility (type Activate Windows into Start Search), type in the upgrade product key and activate Windows.
Comments