Microsoft is now communicating (in an official Dutch Press Release) their method of doing a clean install using upgrade media of Windows 7. It is the same method that worked with Vista and involves installing it twice:

• Do a clean install of Windows 7 using an upgrade installation media (DVD/USB)
  
• When installation is done, do not activate it, as it will not accept your product key.
  
• Within 30 days (or before activating is required) do an upgrade installation again of using Windows 7 upgrade media (DVD/USB).
• Now you will be able to activate Windows 7 using your product key

Microsoft does not recommend doing the “upgrade hack” first mentioned by Paul Thurrott last week and which caused quite a stir, because a Microsoft blogger indirectly accused Paul of promoting piracy, which in its turn was probably caused by sites re-printing Paul's article with titles like “Windows 7 install trick saves up to $100” Read Paul’s reply on that: Enough, Microsoft. No One Is Endorsing Piracy. Obviously. - SuperSite Blog.

The press release only mentions Vista and XP as legitable upgrade OSes. I wonder why a Windows 2000 machine would not be supported (if it has the required hardware)

The Dutch press release is not available online yet

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