help, custom install won't accept upgrade disk key?

[syrahnose]

I've just done a custom install on new hard drive for my x200 using my upgrade windows 7 disk. I cloned over my original drive's Vista. The new drive takes windows 7, has upgraded drivers but won't accept the key off the upgrade disk?

Any ideas why or a work around?

I don't want to reclone the hard drive and start over if I end up with same result.

[billp117]

You can install Windows 7 a second time and it should work...

or

Follow these steps:

Workaround 3: Clean Install and Activate Windows 7 with MediaBootInstall Registry Mod

1. After booting up, ensure that no Windows Updates pending task which requires a system reboot to finish installing.
Tip: Normally, an orange-colored shield icon will be displayed next to Shutdown button in the Start Menu Power Button or at notification tray area if a restart is required.
If reboot is required, restart the computer to allow any pending updates is installed.

2. Run Registry Editor (RegEdit).

3. Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\OOBE

4. In the right pane, change the value data for MediaBootInstall from 1 to 0.

Alternatively, just download and execute MediaBootInstall.reg to merge the value into registry.

5. Open an elevated command prompt as administrator.

6. Run the command below to reset Windows 7 activation status:
slmgr -rearm

7. Reboot the computer.

8. Run the Activate Windows utility (accessible from bottom section of Control Panel -> System and Security -> System, or type Activate Windows into Start Search), type in the upgrade product key and activate Windows.

Note: I was given these steps on a phone call with Microsoft support. If the MOD has an issue it is OK to delete this post. Steps one through four work just fine...don't forget to type exit twice.

[syrahnose]

thanks, I'll try redoing win 7 first, then the other option.