Microsoft Windows 7 Install Guide

Written By: Frostedblue On: 02/09/2009Time(23:50:59)

This is a quick guide to get you started with Windows 7 when it is released in September/October 2009. This guide is aimed for new PC users and users that have less experience with installing and setting up operating systems.

First things first, before any install, you must cover the basics (when upgrading).

1, Backup all personal files and folders
2, Save all internet favourites
3, Backup iTunes folder (If you use iTunes as your music player) or, of course, any other music library software.
Tip! Purchasing a USB hard drive can be an easy way to do this. The cost can vary from £50 upwards and would be a useful addition for future backups.
4, Find out how to boot a PC from a CD/DVD first (Most PC’s will but some will be different) This involves watching your PC’s screen during boot up and looking out for “F12 Key For Boot Menu” or words to that effect
If you are installing Windows 7 on a new PC, step 4 should only apply.

So, make sure you have your Windows CD/DVD in the drive, your Windows 7 Serial Key, your backed up files on a USB HD and a spare 30-45 minutes.

Stage 1 - Getting Started

Turn on your PC and await your screen to flash up with information. Keep a look out for the following messages:
“Press Any Key To Boot From CD/DVD Drive”
“F12 For Boot Menu”

Do Not press any keys that suggest entering setup or BOIS (Binary Input Output System) as a change in your BOIS could result in minor issues that would need to be resolved by a technician.

If a “Press Any Key To Boot From CD/DVD Drive” message pops up first, do this then wait, an install window should appear. If a F12 message appears, a small boot menu should pop up. Select CD ROM Drive, hit enter and hopefully the “Press Any Key......” should then appear. Follow Instructions previously mentioned.

After a short while, a language selection window will appear. If none of these windows show up or your machine boots up in to an older copy of windows or you get a message concerning boot loaders etc. (New builds) then one of the steps above did not work. Simply shut down your PC, restart it making sure that your install disk is located in the drive and follow the steps under “Stage 1 - Getting Started”.

Now, choose your Language, Time/Currency Format & Keyboard Method. Ours listed is English and United Kingdom. Click Next.

Click Install Now (Self Explanatory Really).

Next up, The dreaded terms and conditions! WOOT
Read them if you want, then check “I Accept...” then click Next.

This next part may confuse some less technically inept but i would recommend this process as the best way to get a fresh, clean, fault free version of Windows 7. Running an upgrade may be a little easier (It often keeps software and personal files intact) but will break some applications and will cause headaches.

As you should always keep a backup of your files, reloading and reinstalling shouldn’t be to much trouble.

So, choose Custom (advanced)

Next, look at the list of partitions on your hard drive. On this example, we have a new install and a new “Unformatted” disk. Notice the total size and free space is identical.

Skip this process if you are installing on a previous version of operating system (OS).
Select the disk from the list that you wish to install Windows 7 on, then click New.

Another this worth noting is that some prebuilt PC’s from the likes of Dell & IBM have multiple partitions, meaning that your drive is split up into smaller drives. Look out for drives in this list that are small, around 2GB. Make sure that these are not selected to install your copy of Windows as they are too small. Work your way down the list until the first drive is over 12GB in total size and choose this one. This will have probably been your original C:\ Windows drive.

When clicking New, choose the size of your new partition, defaults to the largest setting, then click Apply

Now you can click Format. Please Note that this is a new build example, if you are installing on a previously used drive, you can skip the New Partition section and click Format, Once your install drive is selected.

Stage 2 - Installing

Let the install begin...

Reboot

Now, the final straight. Enter your new username. Enter your PC network name then click Next

Enter a Password (Twice) and a password hint (Hints are not optional like they used to be, fill this in)

Enter your CD/DVD Key, make sure you uncheck “Automatically Activate Win...”. You will want all the time in the world to configure your drivers and or software. It give you 30 days grace n the meantime.
Click Next

Use recommended settings.

Time and date should be correct, they usually are, but check anyway. Click Next.

Click Home Network.

Skip the homegroup section, we will be covering this in more detail in another blog post.

Almost there...

30 / 40 minutes later... Yippee

Here’s to Windows 7 and your new Windows experience.

Check out Frostedblue for an indepth review post plus user experiences from those that have been using this new windows Eco System since its Beta days.

Thanks for reading.