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:
   1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE
4. In the right pane, change the value data for MediaBootInstall from 1 to 0.

1. Open an elevated command prompt as administrator.
2. Run the command below to reset Windows 7 activation status:
   1. slmgr -rearm

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