![windows xp professional product key windows xp professional product key](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81eaQw2tt8L.jpg)
With Windows 7 running insert the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade disc.
Windows xp professional product key install#
I figured the install program would just ask for the user to insert their previous Windows XP/Vista installation disk to verify the user is upgrading. This was very annoying to me. In the manual that came with my Windows 7 Professional Upgrade it says on page 6 in a footnote at the bottom of the page that it can be installed even if you have no operating system installed. It also listed some hex error code which I can not remember.
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It said my key was only valid for upgrade installations and not valid for clean installations. I tried entering my key here and it gave me a more detailed error message. NOTE: If you try to activate Windows 7 Professional Upgrade after it is installed it will ask you for your Product Key once again. With the product key is empty Windows 7 Professional Upgrade will continue and will finish installing succesfully. If you were to enter your key at this step it would say it is invalid (same thing happens to me). Leave the product key blank (this was mentioned above by someone above). Install Windows 7 using the clean install. Thom, I am having the same problem as you. Just type activation in help and it will direct you to the proper screen for activation. you can then activate Windows 7 (I forget where the Windows Activation thing is buried in Windows 7). After installaion is finsihed for the second time. When you enter the key it should work this time. Windows 7 will ask you for the product key again.
![windows xp professional product key windows xp professional product key](https://img.appnee.com/appnee.com/Windows-XP-All-Editions-Universal-Product-Keys-collection-2.png)
You are basically upgrading Windows 7 over itself. This is a big pain since you have to wait through another installation. It will then ask you if you want to Upgrade or do a Clean Install.