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Are you installing Windows 7? You don’t need to be a tech expert or rely on confusing manuals to get the job done. Just follow this guide, and you’ll have Windows 7 installed on your computer in no time!
Steps
Installing Windows Using a DVD
Fresh Installation
This method is ideal for users who want to install a completely new operating system on their computer (by erasing all data on the hard drive and installing Windows) or for computers without an existing operating system.
Access the BIOS. Turn off the computer where you want to install the operating system and restart it. When the BIOS screen appears, press the Del, Esc, F2, F10, or F9 key (depending on your computer's motherboard) to access the BIOS system. The BIOS access key is usually displayed on the screen.
Locate the boot options menu. The BIOS boot options menu may vary in position, name, or icon, but you will still be able to find it.
- If you can't locate the boot options menu, search online for the BIOS name (usually found in the BIOS menu) for more information.
Set the CD-ROM drive as the primary boot device.
- Although each computer model is different, the boot options menu typically lists removable devices, where you can configure the CD-ROM drive to boot first. You will see a list of devices in boot order. Refer to the manual or search online if you can't find the boot options menu.
Save the changes. Press the designated button on the screen and select the save option in the BIOS menu to save the configuration.
Shut down the computer. You can power it off by selecting the shutdown option in the current operating system or by holding the power button until the computer turns off.
Turn on the computer and insert the Windows 7 disc into the CD/DVD drive.
Boot the computer from the disc drive. After inserting the disc, start the computer. When the computer boots, press the key if prompted to boot from the disc drive. Once confirmed, the system will load Windows Setup.
- If you are not prompted to boot from the disc, you may have missed a step. Revisit the previous steps to resolve the issue.
Select Windows Setup. After loading Windows Setup, a window will appear. Choose your language, keyboard type, and time format, then click Next.
Click the Install Now button.
Accept the terms. Read the Microsoft Software License Terms, check the box for I accept the license terms, and then click Next.
Choose the Custom installation option.
Select the hard drive and partition for Windows installation. The hard drive is the computer's hardware where data is stored; partitions "divide" the hard drive into separate sections.
- If the hard drive contains data, delete all data or format it.
- Select the hard drive from the displayed list.
- Click on Drive options (advanced).
- Click Format in Drive options.
- If the computer has no partitions, create one to install Windows on.
- Choose the hard drive from the list.
- Click on Drive options (advanced).
- Select New in Drive options.
- Choose the size and click OK.
Install Windows on the selected hard drive and partition. After deciding the installation location, select and click Next. Windows will begin the installation process.
Upgrade
The Upgrade installation allows you to upgrade from an older version of Windows to the latest version (e.g., from Windows Vista to Windows 7).
Start your computer and log into the operating system as usual.
Check if your computer is compatible with Windows 7. Use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to scan your computer and determine if it can be upgraded to Windows 7. Download it here.
Prepare your computer for Windows installation.
- Scan your computer for malware. Malware can prevent Windows from installing correctly.
- Disable or uninstall antivirus software as it may interfere with the installation process.
- Remove unnecessary programs to speed up the upgrade process. You can reinstall them after Windows 7 is installed.
- Update Windows using Windows Update.
- Delete unnecessary files to speed up the upgrade process.
- Back up your hard drive in case the installation fails and data is lost (optional).
Insert the Windows 7 installation disc into your computer at this stage.
Launch Windows Setup. Once the disc is loaded, click Start → Computer, double-click the drive containing the Windows 7 installation disc, and then double-click the setup.exe file on the disc. Allow the system to proceed with the installation.
Click on Install Now.
Decide whether to install updates for Windows Setup. Updates patch known issues in Windows Setup, ensuring a smoother and more stable installation process. To install updates, click Go Online to get the latest updates for installation (recommended). To skip updates, click Do not get the latest updates for installation.
Accept the license terms. Read through the Microsoft Software License Terms, check the box for I accept the license terms, and click Next.
Select the Upgrade installation option.
Installation via USB or External Hard Drive
Install Windows Setup on USB or External Hard Drive
You need to install the Windows Setup files onto another device before proceeding.
Connect a USB or external hard drive with at least 4GB of storage to your computer.
Move personal data off the hard drive.
Download the Windows 7 Setup ISO. An ISO file is a disk image. Note: The download time for the ISO file depends on your internet speed.
Download and install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from this link.
After downloading the ISO file, open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
Select the ISO. In the Step 1 of 4: Choose ISO file screen of the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, select the downloaded ISO file by clicking Browse, then click Next to continue.
On the Step 2 of 4 screen: Choose media type, select USB device.
On the Step 3 of 4 screen: Insert USB device, select the device you want to copy the Setup files to, then click Begin copying.
- If you receive an Not Enough Free Space error, click the Erase USB Device button. This option will delete all data on the device.
Once the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool finishes copying the ISO file, the USB or external hard drive is ready for Windows installation.
- You can now delete the ISO file from your computer as it is no longer needed.
Fresh Installation
This method is for users who want to install a completely new operating system on their computer (by erasing all data on the hard drive and installing Windows) or for computers without an existing operating system. (Note: Older computers may not support installing a new Windows version via external storage devices).
Connect the device containing Windows 7 Setup to your computer.
Access the BIOS. Turn off the computer where you want to install Windows, then turn it back on. When the BIOS screen appears or when prompted, press the Del, Esc, F2, F10, or F9 key (depending on your computer's motherboard) to access the BIOS. The key to access the BIOS is usually displayed on the screen.
Locate the BIOS boot options. The boot options menu may vary in position, name, or icon, but you can still find it.
- If you can't find it, search online for your BIOS name (usually found in the BIOS menu) for more details.
Set the external hard drive as the primary boot device.
- If the hard drive doesn't appear in the boot device list, your computer may not support this feature.
- Although each computer is different, the boot options are usually listed under removable devices, where you can set the primary boot device. It might be a list of devices in boot order. Refer to the manual or search online if you encounter issues.
Save the changes. Press the designated button on the screen or select the save option in the BIOS menu to save the configuration.
Turn off the computer. You can shut it down normally or hold the power button.
Turn on the computer. The system will now access Windows Setup.
- If the computer prompts you to press any key to boot from the CD, agree. The computer will load Windows Setup.
- Important note: If you encounter the CD/DVD device driver missing error at this stage, simply click Cancel to return to the Welcome screen. At this point, remove the USB and plug it into a different port, then proceed with the installation.
Select Windows Setup. After loading Windows Setup, a window will appear. Choose your language, keyboard type, and time format, then click Next.
Click the Install Now button.
Accept the license terms. Read through the Microsoft Software License Terms, check the box for I accept the license terms, and click Next.
Click on the Custom installation option.
Select the hard drive and partition for Windows installation. The hard drive is the computer's hardware where data is stored; partitions "divide" the hard drive into separate sections.
- If the hard drive contains data, delete the data or format it.
- Select the hard drive from the list.
- Click on Drive options (advanced).
- Click Format in Drive options.
- If the computer's hard drive is not partitioned, create a partition to install Windows.
- Choose the hard drive from the list.
- Click on Drive options (advanced).
- Select New in Drive options.
- Choose the size and click OK.
Install Windows on the selected hard drive and partition. After deciding the installation location, select and click Next. Windows will begin the installation process.
Upgrade
The Upgrade installation will upgrade the operating system from an older version of Windows to a newer one, for example, from Windows Vista to Windows 7.
Check if your computer is compatible with Windows 7. Scan your computer using the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to determine if it can be upgraded to Windows 7. Download it here.
Prepare your computer for Windows installation.
- Scan for malware. Malicious software can cause inaccurate Windows installations.
- Disable or uninstall antivirus software as it may interfere with the Windows installation process.
- Remove unnecessary programs to speed up the upgrade process. You can reinstall them after completion.
- Update Windows using Windows Update.
- Delete unnecessary files to accelerate the upgrade process.
- Back up your hard drive in case of installation errors and data loss (optional).
Remember to connect the device containing Windows Setup to your computer.
Launch Windows Setup. Click on Start → Computer, double-click on the USB containing Windows 7 Setup, and then double-click on the setup.exe file on the disk. Allow the Setup to start.
Click on Install Now.
Decide whether to install updates for Windows Setup. Updates are used to fix bugs, and installing them ensures a smoother and more stable Windows 7 Setup. To update, click on Go Online to get the latest updates for installation (recommended). If you want to skip updates, click on Do not get the latest updates for installation.
Accept the license terms. Review the Microsoft Software License Terms, check the box for I accept the license terms, and click on Next.
Select the Upgrade installation option.
Post-Installation
These are the steps to follow after the installation is complete and the computer has booted into the Windows 7 operating system.
Enter your username and computer name, then click on Next.
Enter your password and click on Next. If you prefer not to set a password, leave the field blank and proceed by clicking Next.
Input the product key and click Next. The product key is located on the Windows 7 disc case if you purchased a physical copy. To skip this step, click Next, but note that Windows will only be usable for a 30-day trial period, after which the key must be entered.
Configure Windows Update settings.
- Selecting Use recommended settings will automatically apply updates and security measures recommended by Microsoft.
- Choosing Install important updates only will set up your computer to install only critical updates.
- Opting for Ask me later will temporarily disable security updates until you make a final decision.
Set the time and time zone.
Choose the network type.
- If your computer is connected to a private network, select Home network.
- For workplace connections, choose Work network.
- When connected to a public network, such as in cafes or stores, select Public network.
Your computer is now fully set up!
Once your computer is ready, format the USB drive to its default settings (if you chose the Install from USB or external hard drive method). You can restore the USB to its original state by right-clicking in Start→Computer, selecting Format > Restore Device Defaults, then clicking Start. Note that this will permanently erase all data on the USB or hard drive. After formatting, you can copy your files back onto the device.
Don’t forget to reinstall the software you removed, install device drivers, and reactivate your security software. Additionally, enhance your system’s security by installing updates through Windows Update.
What You’ll Need
Windows 7 System Requirements
- A 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM for 32-bit systems or 2 GB RAM for 64-bit systems
- 16 GB of free hard drive space for 32-bit systems or 20 GB for 64-bit systems
- A DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or a higher driver
Essential Items
Installation via Disc
- Windows 7 installation disc
- Disc drive
- Compatible computer
Installation via USB Fresh Install
- A USB drive with a minimum capacity of 4 GB.
- An active internet connection (for downloading ISO files and software to transfer to the USB).
- A computer to transfer files to the USB drive.
- A USB port.
- A compatible computer.
Upgrade Installation
- A computer with a pre-installed Windows operating system (Windows XP or Vista).
- A USB drive with a minimum capacity of 4 GB.
- An active internet connection (for downloading ISO files and software to transfer to the USB).
- A computer to transfer files to the USB drive.
- A USB port.
- A compatible computer.
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