09. Installing Windows 7
Windows 7 is Microsoft's latest operating system, however, how
you install or re-install it is not much different from previous
versions. The most important thing is to make certain you have
everything to hand before actually make a start; you certainly don't
want to be searching around for SATA drivers and things like that at
a crucial part of the installation process.
Another important thing to remember is, if you have USB
peripherals attached to your PC, i.e., Printer, Webcam, Card
Reader, Modem etc, make sure that you disconnect them from the PC
prior to installing the operating system. The only USB peripheral
you do not need to remove is USB Mouse and Keyboard.
To install Windows 7 you should have the following:
- Windows 7 DVD
- Windows 7 Product Code Number
- Any relevant drivers; this is not always the case as
Windows Vista does have many drivers on the DVD. However, it
may be necessary to update the driver that Windows Vista
initially installs. be particularly aware of Modem drivers.
- Make sure that your PC is capable of booting from your
CD/DVD-ROM
1. Switch your Computer on.
2. As your system boots quickly open your
CD/DVD ROM and insert the Windows 7
DVD.
3. After a few second you should see a screen (see below) that
says 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.'
Fig: 9-1 Bios Screen
4. This screen is only available for around 5 or 6 seconds so
as soon as you see it, press Enter or 'any key.'
5. If you don't happen to be fast enough don't worry, simply
allow the operating system that is already loaded on your PC to
load then, once loaded Click the Start button and select the
Restart option.
6. Windows 7 will now start loading files into memory.
Fig: 9-2 Progress bar as Windows starts to load files
7. The progress bar shows you how the file loading is
progressing. Depending up the amount of system RAM you have and
your processor speed installation should take around 20 to 40
minutes (approximately).
Fig: 9-3 Starting Windows Logo beginning to merge
8. Upon completion of the files being loaded into memory the
'alien spaceships' will start to merge together on the screen to
form the Windows logo (see below).
Fig: 9-4 Completed Windows Logo Screen
9. The Windows logo screen now fully appears.
Fig: 9-5 Blue screen with dove logo
10. The screen now changes to a blue screen with a dove (see
above) indicating that Windows is about to begin starting the
installation process.
Fig: 9-6 Windows 7 Language set up screen
11. The language window appears next. Select your appropriate
country language and then, click the Next button.
Fig: 9-7 Install Now screen
12. The next screen is the Install screen. To install Windows
7, Click the Install Now button.
Fig: 9-8 Setup is now starting
13. Windows 7 set up is now starting.
Fig: 9-9 Read the Windows License Agreement
14. The EULA (End User Licence Agreement) will now appear.
Before you can continue you must accept the licence terms by
clicking the box next to the 'I accept the licence terms' option.
Fig: 9-10 For a Clean Install, Click the Custom (Advanced) option
15. You are now ready to install Windows 7 so Click on the
Custom (Advanced) button to install a clean installation of
Windows 7.
Fig: 9-11 Select the Drive/Partition where you want to install
Windows
16. You now need to select which drive/partition you want to
install Windows 7 on. Once you have chosen the drive/partition
press the Next button. From the partition you create Windows 7 may
split this into two two separate partitions, one of around 100MB
which it uses for system and boot up files and the remainder for
installing the operating system proper. This is perfectly normal
and there is no need for concern. If you need to Create a
partition, Format a partition then Click on the Drive options
(advanced) link
Fig: 9-12 If you need to create a new partition, Click the New option
17. When you click the Drive Options another menu appears that
gives you the option to Delete, Create, Format or Extend a
partition. Once you have made any alterations, Click the Next
button.
Fig: 9-13 Windows is now starting to copy files to memory
18. Windows will now start copying files to your hard drive.
Fig: 9-14 As each installation option is completed a green tick
will appear
19. As the installation progress Windows will expand files,
install features and install any necessary updates (assuming you
have an Internet connection, of course)
Fig: 9-15 Windows will now restart your computer
20. After the above process has finished Windows will Restart
you machine.
Fig: 9-16 As your computer restarts the BIOS screen will re-appear
21. On restart you will again see the 'press any key to boot
from CD or DVD' screen. Now this is important. Do Not press any
key when you see this particular screen. If you do the the
installation will start all over again. Just leave Windows to boot
for itself and the installation will continue.
Fig: 9-17 The blue screen with the dove logo re-appears
22. The blue screen with dove appears again.
Fig: 9-18 Setup will now start to update the Windows registry
23. Setup now starts updating your registry.
Fig: 9-19 Windows is now starting the required services
24. Once the registry has been updated setup starts all the
necessary services.
Fig: 9-20 The installation now begins to continue
25. Windows now continues with the installation of files.
Fig: 9-21 Your computer needs to restart again
26. Setup needs to restart your PC again before being able to
continue with the installation.
Fig: 9-22 Computer BIOS Screen
27. The Press any key to boot from CD or DVD screen appears
again. Once again Do Not press any key just leave
windows to start normally.
Fig: 9-23 The Starting Windows Icon is reminiscent of converging
alien space-craft
28. Those alien spaceships appear again
Fig: 9-24 Windows Logo appears
29. The alien spaceships now merge into the Windows logo.
Fig: 9-25 Windows now starts to prepare your computer for first
time use
30. Setup now starts preparing your computer for its first use.
Fig: 9-26 Setup checks your video card performance
31. Windows now starts checking various parts of your hardware
as part of the Windows Experience Index calculations.
Fig: 9-27 Type in your User name
32. After the Windows Experience Index has been calculated you
are next asked to type a User name for your PC.
Fig: 9-28 Your User name now gets appended with the word PC
33. Once you have inserted your name, Press the Next key.
Fig: 9-29 Type in your password and a password hint
34. Next you are asked to supply your Password.
Fig: 9-30 A Password hint helps you remember your password if you forget it
35. Type in your password and then type it in again in the next
box as confirmation. Finally add a hint in the hint box just in
case you forget your password at some time. After you have
inserted these details, Press the Next button.
Fig: 9-31 Enter your Windows Product key number
36. In the next screen you need to insert the Windows Product
key number before pressing the Next button. You will also see that
the option to Activate Windows is set automatically to activate
when you go online. I personally disable this option to allow me a
few days ( anything from a week to a fortnight) to see that
everything is working correctly before activation. The choice
whether to leave it enabled or disabled is left up to you.
Fig: 9-32 Use the Recommended setting for Windows updates; you can
always change the setting later if you wish
37. In the next screen you need to select how you want Windows
Update to work. The easiest is to select the Recommend Setting at
present because you can easily change it after Windows 7 has
fully installed.
Fig: 9-33 Check your Time zone and time settings and make any
necessary adjustments
38. Now check that your time zone is correct. If it is, Click
the Next button. If it is not then change your zone by clicking on
the arrow to the right of the Time Zone. The full list of time
zones will now appear and you can make your revised selection.
Once you have done this, Press the Next button.
Fig: 9-34 Select your current network location
39. The next screen allows you to select your current network
location. If you have a Home Network then click on the Home
Network option; if you are connected to your work network, then
Click Work Network. If you aren't on a network at all then Click
Public Network.
Fig: 9-35 Windows will now finalize your installation
40. Windows 7 now starts to finalize.
Fig: 9-36 The Windows Welcome screen will now appear
41. You are now nearing the end of the installation as the
Welcome screen now appears.
Fig: 9-37 Windows will now prepare your desktop
42. Just a little bit longer as Windows prepares your desktop.
Fig: 9-38 At the Log On screen type in your Password
43. Next you need to log in to Windows 7.
Fig: 9-39 Installation is now complete
44. Finally your desktop appears and installation is complete.