Getting a bit technical, but from what I understand you must have had a Validated Copy of the previous OS installed. If you format, I understand, that there are still markers that MS recognizes to know you DID have a validated copy at one time. The OP, unless I am mistaken, never had a validated copy.
Actually, with Seven, you choose a clean install the format is automatic, but Big Brother still knows.
Bottom line, due to my understanding, I would be very reluctant to tell the OP to buy an upgrade version, since I fully believe that it would not validate.

In addition, to the above. Seven and Vista can be upgraded a bit differently, due to a slight change in the upgrade verification. Seven stipulates, the upgrade must be on a Validated copy.

All I've read about the upgrades is that there is definitely a different product key applied than the original. Microsoft wants you to upgrade a full retail copy and does certain things to help ensure it, but they didn't put in very restrictive controls.

Bottom line, regardless of whether or not you have a full retail version already installed, you will have the same (upgrade) product key at the end of the installation with the upgrade discs. Is it fully legal to do this? Well, not really, if you go by the legalese outlined in Microsoft's license agreement. However, if you owned a legitimate full retail version but have lost the discs, it's in essence not an illegal thing you are doing. To Microsoft, a valid product key is what interfaces with their activation service and so in the end there's no harm done.

As far as I know all the CDs are the same, it is the product key number that determines if you are full retail or upgrade and what edition you have (Pro etc)
If you have a qualifiying OS installed you qualify for the cheaper upgrade version. If you do not you must buy the full retail.
You have up to 30 days to test the OS before you use the product key number. It will be at that point that it will be accepted or rejected.

BTW Nice post on the zip.

Originally Posted by richc46

BTW Nice post on the zip.

Thanks! And I appreciate the reps you've been giving.