Hello Erik,
I am not sure. Product Key from Upgrade version of Windows will only work in a Windows install that was 'Upgraded" from another copy of Windows. There are two types of installs, Upgrade and Custom (clean install). I know that doing the Upgrade method will work for your Upgrade key, but I don't know if there is a way for do a custom install in such a way that the Upgrade key will work. There are things that suggest that it can work if done right, but I don't know how to do it.
Purely speaking, install methods are off topic for the support I do, but I'm starting to think I need to learn some more about it since it can sometimes have an affect on if a Product Key will work (and if a Product Key doesn't work for a specific type of install, it usually results in a Non-Genuine message which usually results in the person coming to me for help)
I recommend posting in the 'Install, Upgrade and Activate' section of the Windows 7 Answers Forum. If there is away to do what you ask, they would know how to do it. Just be sure to explain, in detail, what you are trying to do and why. EDIT: Here is the Answers Forum URL
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windows7 sorry I forgot to post it orginally.
Sorry I couldn't be more help,
Darin MS
activation needed after reinstallation of Windows 7 ?
