May 31

Upgrade keys/media sometimes make it difficult for you to perform clean installs of Windows Operating Systems. Clean Installs are often needed when recovering from hardware failure. There are a dozen workarounds, including the perfectly OK method of calling Microsoft during activation, Microsoft will have you run a remote-support tool which is activated with a special key-code provided over the phone.

Here are some of the other workarounds:

1. Modify the installation media (I remember reading this but I can’t find the link)
2. Fix the issue before you install
3. Fix the issue while you’re installing
4. Fix the issue after you install

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/21142-upgrade-key-on-clean-install-(pre-and-post-install-workaround)

http://lifehacker.com/you-can-also-just-call-microsoft-they-will-walk-you-t-465264191

http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-to-select-any-edition-or-version-sku-of-windows-7-to-install-from-single-edition-dvd-disc-media-or-iso/

http://forums.mydigitallife.info/threads/36314-Questions-about-adding-a-quot-ei-cfg-quot-file-to-Windows-8-ISOs