Page 1 By: Calvin Xia

Installing Windows 7
A step-by-step guide with screenshots

Page 2 There are many reasons to install a new copy of the Windows 7 operating system (OS) onto your computer. You may wish to reinstall Windows 7 if your current system is a bogged down with too many programs and you want a clean start. Maybe you caught a nasty virus that you just can't get rid of. Reinstalling Windows 7 can solve these problems. With a little preparation, you can even keep most of your files, like photos and music, as well. If you just got a new hard drive and you would like to install Windows 7 onto it for the first time, the process is the mostly the same. This guide can help you get through everything you need to install Windows 7, one screen at a time.

WARNING: If you are installing Windows 7 onto your current and only working computer, it is

recommended you read this entire guide and double check you have everything you need. Once you start the process, you may not be able to return to your old operating system. If you are installing Windows 7 on top of an existing operating system, it is recommended you back up all of your data before hand. Depending on the scenario, you may have to wipe your current hard drive clean before installing Windows 7.

Page 3 Table of Contents: What you need Step 1: Insert the disc Step 2: Loading Windows 7 Installation files Step 3: Choosing your language Step 4: Begin the installation Step 5: Starting the setup Step 6: Windows 7 license terms Step 7: Choosing the type of installation Step 8: Choosing the Drive Step 9: Deleting your hard drive Step 10: Installing Windows 7 Step 11: Restarting your computer Step 12: Completing the setup Step 13: Preparing for first use Step 14: Naming your computer Step 15: Choosing a password Step 16: Entering the product key Step 17: Choosing how Windows 7 updates Step 18: Setting the time Step 19: Choosing a network location Step 20: Finishing the installation Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page10 Page11 Page12 Page13 Page14 Page15 Page16 Page17 Page18 Page19 Page20 Page21 Page22 Page23 Page24

Page 4 What you need: To get started, you obviously need a computer. The previous operating system doesn't matter. The computer will need a working disc drive, and there are some minimum system 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 drive

The difference between a 32-bit and a 64-bit version of Windows is how the processor handles information. If your computer has 4GB of RAM or more, the 64-bit version of will be slightly faster for you. However, not all processors can support the 64-bit version of Windows. Note: While you can install Windows without a disc drive, this guide covers how to install Windows from a disc. For more information on how to install Windows without a disc, search online for "How to install Windows from USB."

The second thing you will need is the Windows installation disc itself. You can buy a Windows 7 package from any electronics retailer. The Windows 7 package comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit installation discs. If you purchased Windows 7 online, you will most likely download and burn a copy of Windows 7 onto your own disc. Make sure you checked that you have the correct version of Windows if you downloaded a copy online.

The last thing you need is a Windows 7 product key. The product key is a 25 digit alphanumeric code that you use to authenticate your copy of Windows 7. The product key can be found inside the Windows 7 package. If you got your copy online, you should be able to find the product key along with the download. Before you start, you should write down this 25 digit code. If you are reinstalling Windows 7, there should be a green sticker on your computer with the product code on it. Once you start the installation process, you will not be able to access your current files.

Page 5 Step 1: Insert the disc

The first step to starting the process for installing windows is to insert the correct installation disc into the disc drive. Once the disc is in, you will need to turn your computer off and then back on. WARNING: This will be the last time you can access your current operating system, make sure you have everything you need backed up.

Once you turn your computer back on, you should see something like this:

You must press a key within a few seconds here or your computer will proceed to your old operating system as normal. Note: If you get an error message "No Operating System Found" or "NTLDR is Missing" instead of the above screen, your BIOS is most likely not set up to boot the disc drive first. If your computer proceeded to your old operating system normally, you may have a similar problem. You can search online for "How to configure BIOS" for tips on how to make your computer boot from the disc drive first.

Page 6 Step 2: Loading Windows 7 Installation files

Once you get past the previous screen, it means your computer is ready to begin installing Windows 7. You will most likely see a screen like this:

There isn't anything to do here but wait for your computer to finish loading the files. Once the files are finished, you will see the Windows splash screen:

This means you are now ready to start installing Windows 7.

Page 7 Step 3: Choosing your language

Once your computer is finished loading, you will see the following screen:

You can choose your preferences for language as well as your time and currency format. You can change this later once you are done installing Windows 7, but for now, this serves as the default language for the rest of the installation. The keyboard or input method will remain "US" for the most part, unless you use a special keyboard (a Chinese keyboard, for example). Click "Next" when you are ready to continue.

Page 8 Step 4: Begin the installation

Once you have selected your preferences, you will be taken to the following screen:

If you wish to learn more about what you need to know before installing Windows, you can click on that link. Most of the information there will be covered in this guide. Note: If you are reinstalling windows because of viruses or some problems with your old Windows 7 operating system, you may try to click "Repair your computer." It may save you from having to completely reinstall Windows 7 and it will allow you to keep all of your current files. If you are ready to continue, click "Install now."

Page 9 Step 5: Starting the setup

Once you get past the previous screen, you will be shown the following:

There isn't anything to do here, simply wait for the setup to finish loading.

Page 10 Step 6: Windows 7 license terms

Once setup is finished loading, we are ready to finally begin installing Windows 7. You will be taken to this screen:

You should read through the license terms before checking the box "I accept the license terms" and clicking "Next." Note: You will see a progress bar at the bottom of the screen for the rest of the installation. This bar is a good estimate for how close you are to being finished with installing Windows 7.

Page 11 Step 7: Choosing the type of installation

Once you are done with the license terms, you will move onto the following screen:

The "Upgrade" feature is used for users that are currently using some kind of Windows based operating system. Though it may help save your files, it is generally better to select "Custom" and start anew. You should have already backed up all of your important files before beginning this installation. This guide will follow the "Custom" option. Click it when you are ready to continue.

Page 12 Step 8: Choosing the Drive

Once you have selected "Custom," you will be prompted to select where you want to install Windows with a screen like the following one:

This window shows you all of the hard drives that Windows 7 recognizes. You may choose to install Windows in one of the existing hard drives (disks) or partitions (parts of hard drive). You may click "Next" once you selected where you want to install Windows 7. This guide, however, will show you "Drive options." You can use the Windows 7 installer to manage your existing hard drives and partitions and it is generally recommended install Windows 7 on a clean disc, without partitions. Click "Drive options" if you want to delete your hard drives now. Then proceed to the next step. If you are opting out of this option, skip to step 10. Note: If you are using a brand new hard drive, you will need to format it instead. Follow the instructions for step 9, but select "Format" instead of "Delete."

Page 13 Step 9: Deleting your hard drive

If you choose to format your hard drives and clicked "Drive options," you will be shown the following screen:

Select the drives or partitions you wish to delete, and click "Delete." You will be shown a warning and you must confirm choice. Repeat for all hard drives or partitions you wish to delete. WARNING: Deleting hard drives or partitions deletes all the data that was stored on them. There is no way to recover deleted data. If your computer has multiple hard drives, they will all show up here. For drives or partitions you are not installing Windows on, you don't need to delete the data. Note: Older Windows OSs tend to install small partitions during installation. Here you see there is a small 100MB partition of Disk 0 being used. You can delete them so the space can be returned to the main hard drive for general use. Select a drive and click "Next" once you are satisfied with your drive and ready to install Windows 7.

Page 14 Step 10: Installing Windows 7

Once you have chosen a destination and started the installation, you will be shown the following screen:

You don't do anything here and should leave your computer alone while Windows 7 is installing. You can track the progress of the installation through the bar at the bottom. This is the most time consuming part of the installation, and can take 5 - 45 minutes, depending on your computer. You may leave your computer unattended at this time, as it will automatically move onto the next screen when this step is done.

Page 15 Step 11: Restarting your computer

Once the installation is finished, your computer will restart. You will be shown the following screen:

It is possible to miss this step, but it doesn't hinder your installation of Windows 7. Your computer will automatically restart after 10 seconds, but you can click "Restart now" if you wish continue immediately.

Page 16 Step 12: Completing the setup

Once your computer restarts, you will be taken back to the Windows splash screen. The screen will look exactly like it did in the second screen in step 2. Setup will also update registry settings and start services, and you will be shown the following screens:

Once this is completely finished, you will be taken back to the screen in step 10:

There is no need for input here either, and much like the previous step, this step is also completely automatic. During this step, your computer will restart a second time to finalize the changes. If you leave your computer unattended, the installation will proceed automatically. WARNING: During this step, you may see the same screen as in step 1. However, during this step, you do NOT want to press any keys if you encounter this screen. Doing so will disturb the automatic process and you will be asked to install another copy of Windows 7 on top of this copy.

Page 17 Step 13: Preparing for first use

Once your computer has restarted twice, you may see the following screens:

Your computer is preparing all the necessary drivers and double checking the setup to make sure everything installed correctly. Your computer will also check video performance and adjust settings accordingly. This step is also automatic and requires no user input.

Page 18 Step 14: Naming your computer

Once the setup is complete, you will be shown the following screen:

Here, you can create a username and name your computer. The username will be the name of the account you log in under Windows 7. You can always change your username, as well as add more users through the Control Panel once the installation is finished. The computer name is what other computers will see when they try to connect to yours. Generally, a good idea is to use "username-PC". Note: If you have multiple computers in your house within the same network, it may be useful to name your computer something like username-room to help identify which computer you are accessing from the network. Click "Next" once you typed in a username and a computer name.

Page 19 Step 15: Choosing a password

Once you have chosen a username, you may also choose a password from the screen below:

It is good practice to use passwords for all your accounts. This ensures that if anyone has physical access to your computer, your data will be harder to steal. You can also provide a hint that will display when you forget your password. Note: While this step is purely optional, it is highly recommended you choose a password. Once you have decided on a password, type it into the fields and click "Next."

Page 20 Step 16: Entering the product key

Once you have chosen a password, you will be asked for your product key:

This guide asked you to write down your product key, and now is the time to type it into the installer. Generally you should leave the checkbox checked for "Automatically activate Windows." Note: Activating windows will unlock certain features and allow Windows 7 to update itself automatically when connected to the internet. It is a good idea to keep Windows up-to-date because these updates often contain security patches to help combat viruses. These updates will also sometimes contain new features as well. Click "Next" once you've entered your product key.

Page 21 Step 17: Choosing how Windows 7 updates

Once you've entered your product key, Windows will ask you how often you want Windows to update:

You can pick what kind of updates Windows 7 will apply and how Windows 7 will improve itself. You can always change these options later in the Control Panel. Once you've made your choice, click the appropriate option.

Page 22 Step 18: Setting the time

Once you've selected how Windows 7 will update, you will select your current time:

You can set your time zone here, as well as the current time and date. As long as you selected the right time zone, Windows will automatically try to correct your clock if you are connected to the internet. Note: If you check "Automatically adjust clock for Daylight Saving Time", Windows will automatically adjust your clock for DST. Once you have set the time, click "Next."

Page 23 Step 19: Choosing a network location

Once you've set the time and if you are connected to a network, you will be asked to choose a network location:

These options will give Windows an idea as to how much security to put on the network. You can manage your network later through the Control Panel. Choose the appropriate network location to continue. Note: If your computer isn't connected to any networks during the installation, this step will be skipped.

Page 24 Step 20: Finishing the installation

Once you have chosen all of your settings, Windows will finish the installation and prepare your new desktop:

Congratulations, you have just properly installed Windows 7. From here, you have full access to everything Windows 7 has to offer. If you are connected to a network with internet access, you can browse the web right away. You may also want to check for updates, as there probably have been many updates to Windows 7 since this guide was written.