Installing Windows 7 upgrade on a new hard drive?

I have a copy of windows 7 upgrade edition. I just bought a new SSD and want to reformat and transfer to my new hard drive. Can I do this with an upgrade edition, or do I have to buy another copy of Windows?

You better have an old copy of XP or Vista installed on it first. No need to activate either one. Then install Win 7 upgrade.

Otherwise, get an OEM version of Win 7 (the full version at $99.99 at newegg.com, not upgrade)

You can do a full install with the upgrade disk without an OS already installed.

Did it tons of time already

Moved this to a more appropriate board :)

You can but it's the key that matters.

If it's an upgrade key, after the install it will detect as a full install and not activate.

I have an upgrade key and never had a single problem this way

I only have an OEM version of windows xp. Will that work?

So long as the Windows 7 Upgrade disc detects an OS on the hard drive, you're fine.

I've installed Windows 7 upgrade without a CD key, then installed windows 7 upgrade over the windows 7 upgrade using a cd key and that's seemed to work.

Install an older OS on it such as XP and Vista, then install Windows 7 Upgrade edition. It will need to be able to detect an OS existing on the hard drive.

I used my upgrade disc and had no problems doing a full install on my SSD.

If it's Windows 7, MS probably relaxed the rules. They usually do when there's a newer Windows version. I'm still using my 2009 OEM Windows 7 on a PC with a new motherboard and CPU.