This is new to probably no one but since I recently had to re-install Windows 7 to a laptop I figured I’d like to do it clean vice installing Vista then upgrading to Windows 7.

1. Install Windows 7 using the upgrade CD. Boot from the CD. Do not enter the product key during this phase!
2. Install all 10 million updates.
3. Open the registry editor and navigate to:HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE
4. Change MediaBootInstall to “0“.
5. Close regedit.
6. Open up an admin command prompt (cmd) and type:slmgr /rearm
7. Close the cmd prompt windows and then use the Activate Windows utility to continue.