I think I've still got the option to put the old HDD in, install just Win7 and activate it,
Nope, I've given up on that option. old HDD is to bad, before removing the old HDD I had left it on slow format overnight, which completed eventually.
But after putting it back in, 4 attempts to re-install have failed, 1st 2 just after 'Extracting files' reaches 100% it's says there's files missing, I've checked the CD surface is perfect.
Reformatted, partitioned, tried bios HDD auto, legacy, performance. The old HDD fails the DST in the boot menu 'Diagnostics' of course.
Install now gets stuck at 'Install now' forever, so I think the old HDD is finished.
"I personally disconnect the internet during installation."
Yes everything is offline until I let it connect.
The "1 day until automatic activation" has changed to "Please activate within 27 days"
I've given up on a proper activation.