Comprehensive Guide to How to Install Windows 7

 

How to Install Windows 7 - Introduction

There are three main versions of Windows 7 and this guide covers how to install Windows 7 in any of these variants.Actually there is a fourth version, Windows 7 Starter, but this is only available pre-installed on netbooks etc and it is limited in its capabilities compared to the other versions on offer.If you are building a new PC then you can purchase an OEM version of Windows 7.You will find this a much cheaper alternative to the full retail version, the only difference being the lack of telephone or any technical support.
Mountains of support is available on the internet for any problem you are likely to come up against though and unless you really want to pay for this we would strongly recommend that you stick with the OEM version.
We would recommend the ‘Windows 7 Home Premium’ version as the most suitable for home users.The ‘Windows 7 Home Premium’ option gives the best features verses price trade off.
The other thing to consider is whether to opt for the 32 bit or 64 bit version. If you have a 64 bit processor installed in your PC then you will most likely want to purchase the 64 bit version to ensure you make full use of the extra performance available to you. A 64 bit processor and operating system will also allow you to access RAM above 4GB.
Do be aware though that some of your software may not be 64 bit compatible and it is worth checking this out before deciding.Ok, so you are probably going to opt for the OEM version but remember that the OEM version will not come with a pretty box or manual although you will save a truckload of money over the retail version.
If you are constructing a new PC then you will already be performing a clean installation but if you are simply upgrading we would still always recommend a clean installation of Windows 7 rather than an upgrade or re-install over your current Windows Vista installation.
Note that Windows XP users will only have the option to perform a ‘Clean’ install; the upgrade option is only available to Windows Vista users.
Any problems you may have with your current installation may still be there after you re-install / upgrade and some applications may not work correctly requiring you to re-install these anyway.
A clean installation will require that you back up all your files and folders as a clean install will wipe your hard drive of everything including your settings and programs.
You can make use of Windows Easy Transfer (available from the Microsoft site or on the Windows 7 installation DVD) to help you with this. Windows Easy Transfer will help you to copy your data together with your program settings, email, photos etc to an external hard drive, USB drive or on to a DVD.
Windows Easy Transfer can be used for migration of files and settings whether you are currently running Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Even with this facility available to you do please ensure that you have separately backed up any documents photos and music files etc that you simply cannot afford to lose to a safe medium that you are sure you can restore from. See our page on Data Backup to avoid any potential disasters.

How to Install Windows 7 – Installation

You can boot directly from your Windows 7 DVD. Insert the Windows 7 Installation DVD into your optical drive and the installation should begin.Note that you may need to enter your PC BIOS to change the order of boot devices if you are upgrading from Windows Vista or re-installing otherwise your PC may simply start up with your current version of Windows.
The BIOS can be accessed at start up by pressing the Del, F1, F2 or ESC key dependant upon your BIOS version and manufacturer. Once you are in the BIOS look for the ‘Boot Order’ sub menu which you will find listed under one of the main menus – probably listed as ‘Advanced’.
You will need to use the arrow keys and enter/return key to navigate around the BIOS instead of your mouse which will not work.
Now make the CD/DVD drive top of the boot order list by using the + and – keys to sort the boot order of the listed drives.The first screen you will see informs you that Windows is loading files – just sit and wait for Windows to finish, it doesn’t take long.

Windows has now loaded all the setup files into memory and you will now see the ‘Starting Windows’ screen.

When the ‘Starting Windows’ screen disappears you will be asked to select your ‘Language to install’, ‘Time and currency format’ and ‘Keyboard or input method’. Select and then click ‘Next’.

Once you’ve clicked on ‘Next’ you will be presented with a screen inviting you to ‘Install Now’.

Click the ‘Install now’ button and your Windows 7 installation will begin. You will now see a ‘Setup is starting’ screen.

Followed closely by the software license terms which you should read and then tick the ‘I accept the license terms’ box and then click ‘Next’.

Now you have an option of ‘Upgrade’ or ‘Custom (advanced)’. The ‘Upgrade’ option may be grayed out if you have bought an OEM installation disk that is for installation on a new PC only and which will perform a ‘Clean’ installation by default on your hard drive.

The next screen asks you where you wish to install your copy of Windows 7. We only have one option as we have a brand new hard disk drive.Note that if you are installing on and old drive with data already on it you will get the option to install on one of the logical drives (maybe more than one logical drive if the drive has been partitioned). There will also be options available to allow you to format the drive thus erasing all of the data on it or to create, delete or expand partitions etc. Once again, do make sure you have backed up all of your data!
Select the unallocated drive and then click on ‘Next’ and wait while Windows 7 installs itself on your brand new drive.

By the way, to make a clean installation over an old one there is no need to delete or format the drive first. Windows will move the older version to a folder called Windows.old thus preserving your data for access later if you should wish. Note though that this version of Windows will then no longer be bootable.That’s it for now, you’re in for a bit of a wait while Windows gets on with installing itself on your hard drive. Time to get a coffee perhaps!

Your PC will restart itself several times during the installation and this is quite normal. After a long wait (may be an hour or longer depending upon your setup) you will be greeted with a ‘Welcome’ screen and ‘Windows is finalising your settings’ screen.

Windows will then invite you to ‘Choose a user name for your account’ and to ‘name your computer’. This name will be used for identifying the PC if it is connected to a network for instance.

There is a password option but if the PC is purely for family use you may not require this.

The next screen will ask you to enter your ‘Product Key’. Enter and tick the activate Windows automatically option if you want Windows to activate itself when you go online for the first time.

The next screen gives you three different security options. The choice is yours. Most people should go for option one and use recommended settings. We will choose option two and ‘Install important updates for Windows only’ as we will be installing our own Internet Security software and do not wish to report problems to Microsoft.

You now have the option to set date and time but you shouldn’t need to do this as you have probably already set this up in the BIOS.Tick the ‘Automatically adjust clock’

If your computer is connected to a network the Windows 7 installation program will detect this and ask you to select the type of network, Home, Work or Public.

Windows will now configure your settings for the network – sit back and relax for a few minutes.

You should now be greeted with a ‘Preparing your desktop’ screen and you’re almost all done!

Windows will now personalize your settings.

Voila! – You have now installed Windows 7!

If you have used Windows Easy Transfer to back up your data you can re-instate files by going ‘Start’ > ‘All programs’ > ‘Accessories’ > ‘System tools’.Now click on ‘Windows Easy Transfer’ to run the program and then click on ‘Next’.Click on the option ‘An external hard drive or USB flash drive’ and then click on ‘This is my new computer’ and you can now proceed to re-instate your backed up files, settings and folders from the backup file you created earlier.

How to Install Windows 7 – Setting up your New Computer

Your new computer is up and running but there is a number of things that you need to do before you can put your PC to good use.

How to Install Windows 7 – Drivers

First off we need to install the correct drivers for the motherboard, graphics card etc.Windows 7 will scan your system to see what hardware you have installed and then install the relevant drivers for these drivers. If it recognises your hardware correctly then this shouldn’t be a problem, but driver updates are pretty frequent and also depending upon what you have bought, you may not have the correct versions of drivers i.e. it may be a Windows 98 or XP driver that has been supplied on your disk and this will not work with Windows 7.
The best advice is to see if you can go to the motherboard, graphics card etc manufacturer web site and then search for your model number. When you get to the details for your device there should be an option to download the latest drivers for your particular operating system. Download these and burn to a disk or copy to a USB stick ready for installation on your new PC.
To confirm that all of your drivers have been installed correctly go to ‘Start’ > ‘Control Panel’ > ‘System and Security’ > ‘System’ > ‘Device Manager’.

You will now be shown a list of all of your installed hardware devices. Click on the ‘+’ sign next to each item of hardware to see full details and look for any yellow exclamation marks that would indicate if the driver is not installed or working correctly.If you find any exclamation marks then simply double click on the device and then select ‘Driver’ where you will be given the option to update the drivers for this device.

How to Install Windows 7 – Anti Virus Protection

Before you go anywhere on the Internet you will need to install some form of anti-virus software. The Internet is rife with Viruses, Trojans, Spyware etc and you would be surprised at how quickly your PC will become infected if you do not have any protection.We at PC Tips and Tricks use Norton Internet Security which is a package containing anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware and hacker protection all in one package.
There are other companies providing similar packages such as Kaspersky, Bit Defender, McAfee and Panda to name but a few.

How to Install Windows 7 – Firewall

It is a sad fact that the Internet is a haven for malicious individuals who would delight in causing havoc and damage to your PC if the opportunity arose.Windows 7 comes with its own firewall protection and if you do not have another product installed providing you with protection then you should ensure that the Windows Firewall is turned on. It should automatically be on by default but it is worth checking.

How to Install Windows 7 – Recommended Protection

Again, as stated earlier, we at www.pc-tips-and-tricks.com use Norton Internet Security, which in its latest guise provides excellent all round protection.There are also a number of free anti-virus and firewall providers available and many people have found them to give extremely good performance. A very popular firewall protection program that can be obtained for free use is Zone Alarm.
For anti-virus protection you could look at AVG Anti-Virus.

How to Install Windows 7 – Before Connecting to the Internet

So, you have been warned! Do not connect to the internet without installing an anti-virus program and ensuring that you have a firewall set up to protect you from hackers and the like.

How to Install Windows 7 – Internet First Stop

When you do connect to the Internet, the first thing you must do is visit Microsoft Update. Here you need to download the latest patches and updates for your operating system, especially the security updates!You can access this easily from your Start menu. Go Start > All programs > Windows Update to be taken directed straight to the Windows Update webpage.
Here you will be invited to check your PC for the latest updates. You should set your PC to allow Automatic Updates so that you are automatically kept up to date with the latest software patches and security updates.

How to Install Windows 7 – Anti Spyware

Spyware programs install themselves silently on your PC without you realizing just by paying a visit to the right (or wrong!) website.These programs will monitor your browsing habits and history and other details and report back to their user. Some programs will install automatic pop-up adverts, which will become highly annoying and disruptive to your Internet usage.
We at PC Tips and Tricks recommend the use of Spyware and advert blocking / destroying software provided by the following two companies.

Create and Save Custom Views for Windows 7 Event Viewer

If you spend much time in Event Viewer or have a particularly troublesome program or device that sends you back to Event Viewer, creating ad-hoc filtering, grouping, and sorting criteria becomes tiresome. Custom views can be a huge help!
To create a custom view:
1. Open Event Viewer, click Action on the menu bar and select Create Custom View.
You’ll see a dialog box nearly identical to the Filter Current Log dialog box. One key difference here, however, is the Event Logs list is available, and you can specify any or all logs to include in your custom view.
2. Specify the filter criteria for your custom view, as you normally would.
3. After you specify filter criteria and click OK, you need to specify a name and location for your custom view. You can store your custom view in the Custom Views folder or any of its subfolders. (To create a subfolder, click New Folder.)
If you want any user on the computer to be able to view the custom view, select the All Users option. Clear this option if you want the view to appear only when you log onto the system.

You can now display your custom view by selecting its name in the console tree.

Best of all, you can apply sorting and grouping, and those changes will be stored as part of the custom view.
To modify the filter criteria, click Filter Current Log. To change the name or description for your custom view, click Action and select Properties.

Two Ways To Upgrade From Windows XP To Windows 7

Windows 7 is till now the best Windows operating system released till date, as per the user feedback, sales numbers and experience it has got some very positive comments.

All those user who are still using XP and may want to upgrade to windows 7 are out of luck, as Microsoft does not allow to upgrade from XP to windows 7 as both are vastly different OS in terms of feature and their structure.

However there are 2 ways with which you can partially upgrade from XP to windows 7, but both of these method will require some input from your side.

The first method is to install windows 7 in dual boot, after running the setup from Windows XP so it will get added to the boot loader. But it will result in wastage of disk space and it will require a different partition also to get installed this way.

Another method would be to backup all user data and settings with windows easy settings transfer and do a clean install after removing Windows XP completely, in this case you will be requiring to install the old software which you used to use again in the new Windows 7 OS.

We would suggest you to use Windows 7 upgrade advisor to check for issues and problems with devices and software that might occur after installing windows 7, so that you can come to know whether your system can run windows 7 smoothly or not.

Windows 7

Windows 7 is just a month old. Many users have shared the experiences in Windows 7.  Usually when a new Windows OS is released, many patches, drivers and other updates will follow in the following months after the release. So by right the review should be done only after a few months of the release. However here is a list of the good and not so good points in Windows 7 found in the first month of its use.

1. Upgrade process
Many of the Windows 7 users are usually upgraded from Windows XP. More than  70% users are from Windows XP while 18% are from Windows Vista. Some 6% upgraded from both and a fraction of users got it from new systems. Most of the users found the upgrade was smooth except for a few users who saw blue screen and the computers hang. This could have been due to the fact that the system was a bit too old and required some special drivers etc. So overall the upgrade seems to be smooth in most cases.
2. New features in Windows 7

• Taskbar, System tray, Windows Dialing, Desktop aerobic show are some of the enhancements in Windows 7. Most users have pointed out these. Out of these, the new Task bar seems to be the most liked feature.
• The most disliked feature in Windows 7 was the Internet explorer 8 version that comes with Windows 7.
• The other disliked features were Home group and media players.
• The Windows user account control that was not so popular in Vista system has been changed in Window 7 and is a welcome surprise.
• windows 7 does not have Windows Messenger, Movie maker and live mail.
• Many drivers for old printers and other equipments are also missing in Windows 7
• Moreover for security reasons windows 7 expects digital signatures in these drivers and hence some old drivers do not work any more.
• Jump list, One click, Home group, device stage are some of the users interfaces that are new in Windows 7 and there is a learning curve for old windows users.
• Some security analysts say that Windows 7 is not entirely free from virus attacks as one would expect.
• Windows 7 does not include anti virus software
• Most of the users complained about the price of Windows 7 as well. The price may come down in the coming months.

Windows 7 Shortcut Keys

Here are some useful shortcut keys for Windows 7 users.
Windows key + Up Arrow = Active window will be maximized
Windows key + Down Arrow = Active window will be minimized
Windows key + Left Arrow = Active window will be moved to the left
Windows key + Right Arrow = Active window will be moved to the right
Windows key + Home Key = All windows will be minimized. If already minimized they will be opened.
Windows key + T = The first application in task bar will be given focus. If you press T continuously the focus will be switched to other applications in that order.
Windows key + Space bar = If you keep pressed, Windows Startup will be shown.
Windows key +  1-9 any number key = The respective application in the task bar will be given focus.
Windows key +  Plus key = Window will be zoomed in
Windows key + Minus key = Window will be zoomed out.

Adjusting Windows Task bar size: In Windows 7

In Windows 7, the usual size of the Windows Taskbar is a bit larger than usual. This takes some extra space at the bottom of the computer screen. This makes selecting the applications easier as the buttons are bigger. However for those who are using smaller screens this may be a bit annoying as it takes more space on the screen. If you want you can make the size of the taskbar smaller by following the steps below.

1. In a blank space in the taskbar right click and select properties.
2. You will see the ‘Taskbar and Start Menu Properties’ dialog box with many tabs.
3. Here click ‘Use small icons’ and select it.
4. Now click OK and close the dialog box.

Now the task bar will occupy smaller space. If you want you can also hide the task bar when not required. If you want to hide the task bar, in step 2 above, select the ‘Taskbar’tab, and in ‘Taskbar appearance’, select ‘Autohide the taskbar’. If you choose this, if you bring the mouse to the bottom of the screen the taskbar will appear and if you move away from the task bar, it will be hidden.

Windows 7 – Eight Reasons You Will Want It

Windows 7 is here and there are plenty of new and useful aspects to Microsoft’s latest version from its computer operating system family. While Windows 7 is not a revolutionary step, it is an impressive evolutionary step. It provides a significant number of reasons to upgrade your current Windows computer or, if your budget permits, to retire that five or six year old computer and make the leap to a new system with Windows 7 installed at the factory. Here is my initial list of eight reasons why you will want Windows 7.

1. “Windows 7 Runs Faster” – Much improved performance

Just about any discussion about the improvements in Windows 7 begins with performance. My vote for the #1 benefit of migrating a computer to Windows 7 is that it just performs better. Whether you are currently dealing with Vista’s sluggishness or have been avoiding Vista due what you have heard and read about Vista’s performance, Windows 7 lays those concerns to rest.

While there are various tests, benchmarks and metrics for a computer’s performance many of them don’t correlate with the average person’s day-to-day experience. Systems running Windows 7 just “feel” faster. Start-up and restart times are quicker, resuming from sleep mode occurs briskly and correctly and there are far fewer of the lags and delays that are typical with Vista.

2. “Windows 7 Works Better” – Solid compatibility with hardware and software

This could also be phrased as “It’s not Vista! And it won’t be. Ever” The launch of Vista was seriously impacted by incompatibility problems with software programs and hardware drivers for numerous devices. When Vista shipped and for a prolonged period afterwards there were significant problems with manufacturer’s drivers either being unavailable, incomplete or buggy. (Drivers are those small pieces of software that allow hardware devices such as printers, scanners and video display card to talk to the operating system).

The compatibility problems of Vista are not being repeated with Windows 7. A huge public beta test program and numerous tests and reviews have shown Windows 7 to be stable and functional with an enormous number of computers, devices and software programs. If you are upgrading from Windows XP you may need to update some of your device drivers, but Windows 7 has made the process of identifying, acquiring and upgrading needed drivers dramatically easier.

3. “Windows 7 Looks Better” – Improved interface over Vista and XP

The User Interface in Windows 7 provides improvements and enhancements to Vista’s interface and a significant leap forward from Windows XP. Imbedded in the better looking interface is very useful functionality including a much more flexible and dynamic Taskbar, enhanced window tools such as Aero Peek, Aero Snap and Aero Shake, and significant improvements in the network management interface. Here are a few of the more commonly used enhancements:

• New Taskbar provides thumbnail previews of each open document or tab, allows for easily pinning items to the taskbar and the ability to rearrange the position of items on taskbar
• Aero Snap allows you to expand a window to full-screen size by just dragging it to the top of the screen, or to half-screen size by dragging it to the right or left edge of the screen
• Aero Shake allows you to make all other open windows disappear (minimize) by simply grabbing the title bar of the window you are working on with the mouse and shaking it several times. Shake the window again and all the minimized windows reappear.
• Aero Peek provides a quick look at the Desktop. Peek is accessed by a small button on the Taskbar to the right of the date and time. Hover over the button and all open windows become transparent with only thin outlines. Click on the Peek button and all open Windows will minimize.

4. “Windows 7 Uses Less Computer” – Doesn’t require a huge hardware upgrade

One of the real surprises with Windows 7 is its ability to run smoothly and efficiently without a huge hardware investment. This is another big change from Vista.  Windows 7 reverses the longstanding trend to make Windows bigger and require more resources. While running in a more lean and mean mode Windows 7 in the 64-bit version it can address significantly more RAM and use it more efficiently.

5. “Windows No Longer Annoys Me” – A more restrained and configurable UAC

The User Account Control (UAC) experience under Vista was perhaps the single most confusing and annoying aspect of the operating system. Under Windows 7 the UAC is more restrained and limits its prompts to a narrower set of specific actions. Another positive aspect of the improved UAC in Windows 7 is the fact that users can customize the level of warnings they receive, allowing them fine tune the UAC to best suit their needs. Instead of pop-up screens alerts are now displayed in an Action Center thereby minimizing interruptions.

6. “Windows 7 Can Make Use of Lots of RAM” – Effectively addresses and uses up to 192GB

A common rule in computer performance has been that more memory (RAM) means better performance. Windows 7 64-bit cranks memory usage up several notches by addressing huge amounts of memory and using it more effectively than Windows XP or Vista. Windows XP is a 32-bit operating system and can only effectively use 3GB – 3.5GB of RAM.

Windows 7 can address up to 16 GB of RAM in the 64-bit Home Premium version. The 64-bit Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Windows 7 can address up to 192GB. Greater amounts of RAM can provide performance benefits when using large programs such as Photoshop, editing video files, editing large photos or having a large number of programs open and active at the same time.

7. “Windows 7 Is Stable and Usable Now” – No need to wait for SP1

The last several versions of Microsoft Windows had set an expectation that the operating system wasn’t really stable and bug-free until after the first Service Pack was available. Microsoft effectively breaks that tradition with Windows 7. Through a more effective development process, a huge beta testing program, and lots of real world feedback from beta users and testers Microsoft has been able to deliver a version of Windows that is ready to install and use right from the initial release.

8. “Windows 7 Pricing Is Reasonable” – Especially with the 3-Pack

Microsoft Windows 7 is a significant release. Upgrade versions are priced reasonably and when the software is sold on a new computer the cost is insignificant. The upgrade for Windows 7 Home Premium, which is ideal for most home and small business users, can also be purchased in a Home Premium 3-pack for $149. So even if you are only going to use it on 2 computers it is still less expensive ($74.50) than paying $119 each for 2 licenses ($238). Paying $75 to make a very significant upgrade from an eight year old operating system such as XP is not particularly onerous. Especially since the version of Windows that came pre-installed on your computer when you bought it probably only added $35 to the cost of the new computer. Even for a 2 year old computer running Vista $75 is not a huge cost. In reality how many people running Windows XP on a five year old computer with 512MB of RAM are really going to be upgrading to Windows 7 anyway?

How to Install Windows 7