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How to Install Windows 7

Oct 23, 2010 10:17 AM

Installing Windows 7 is a very simple thing and takes only 40 minutes but please make sure your sytem meets hese requirements:

  • 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

If your system meets these requirements please carry on.

Put in the CD/USB into the computer and boot from it

Boot the computer from your Windows 7 installation DVD.

NOTE:Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first in the boot order in your BIOS settings. Usually it is by default.

When prompted, press any key to boot from the installation DVD. (See screenshot below)

NOTE:You will only have about 8 seconds to press this key. If you miss it, you will have to restart the computer.

Boot menu prompt for CD booting.

Installation

Set up your language preferences and click on the Next button. (See screeshot below).

Windows 7 setup screen displaying language and keyboard options.

Click on the Install Now button to start the installation. (See screenshot below)

Windows 7 installation screen showing "Install now" button.

Check the I accept the license terms box and click on Next. (See screenshot below)

Text on a computer screen displaying Microsoft pre-release software license terms.

Custom Installation

Click on the Custom (advanced) option. (See screenshot below)

Installation types selection screen for Windows setup.

Select the hard drive or partition that you want to install Windows 7 on and click on the Drive Options (advanced) link. (See screenshot below)

NOTE:If the hard drive or partition that you have selected is unallocted, then you can just click on the Next button instead and go to step 9 since it is blank.

WARNING:You may not have the Drive options (advanced) option unless the installation is done at boot, and not running the installation from within your current OS

Window showing installation options for Windows, including disk partitions and sizes.

Select a hard drive or partiton that you want to do a clean install of Windows 7 on, then click on the Format option to format the it and click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)

NOTE:If you have your hard drives in a RAID setup, then connect your USB key with the RAID drivers on it, click on Load Driver, select the folder on the USB key that contains the RAID drivers to install them. Afterwards, your RAID drives will be available to select from to install Windows 7 on.

Windows installation interface showing disk partition options.

Installation Process

The installation of Windows 7 will now begin. (See screenshot below)

NOTE:During the installation process, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.

Installing Windows progress screen with status updates.
Windows installation progress screen with a loading bar.
Installing Windows progress screen with status updates.
Windows installation progress screen with a loading bar.

After the final restart, you will see this screen for a moment. (See screenshot below)

Setup is preparing your computer for first use.

Accounts

Type in any user name that you want for your default administrator account and any computer name, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)

Windows 7 Ultimate installation screen

Type in a password you want for your default administrator account. Type it in again to confirm it, then type in a hint for your password. Click on the Next button. (See screenshots below)

WARNING:The password will be case sensitive. The hint will be seen by all users on the computer, so do not type your password as the hint.

NOTE:If you do not want your your user account password protected at this time or do not want to have to type in a hint, then leave this blank and click on the Next button. You can create a password later for your user account in the Control Panel User Accounts after installing Windows 7 without having to type in a hint.

Activation

Type in your Windows 7 product key number. (See screenshot below)

Windows setup screen for entering product key.

Uncheck the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked, then click on the Next button.

NOTE:You can activate Windows 7 later after you make sure it is running properly.

If you chose to automatically activate Windows 7 online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows three days after you log on for the first time.

Windows Update settings

Click on Use recommended settings to allow automatic Windows Updates and proper security settings. (See screenshot below)

Windows security settings interface displaying protection options.

Time Zone

Select your time zone and set your time and date settings, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)

Date and time settings interface on a Windows operating system.

Network Location

Click on your computer's correct network location type location to select it and have the settings for that location automatically applied. (See screenshot below)

Network setup options in Windows user interface.
How to Install Windows 7
Network setup options in Windows user interface.
How to Install Windows 7

Preparing Desktop



Windows 7 will now prepare your desktop to startup. (See screenshot below)

Preparing desktop on Windows 7

Finalizing

Congratulations!! You now have a clean copy of windows 7. (Screenshot below)

Windows 7 desktop background with the default start menu.

Install all of your device drivers, then windows updates.

Windows Update screen showing the progress of checking for updates.

Activation



When done, all you will need to do is to activate Windows 7. (See screenshot below)

Computer system information window displaying basic details about the operating system and hardware.

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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