Install Windows 7 on a new hard drive. Installing Windows on a new hard drive. Backup and find your product key
In this tutorial, we will perform a clean installation of Windows 7. This means installing on a new disk that does not have any information on it. This will simulate a situation where you purchased a new computer and want to install everything from scratch.
To install Windows 7, you will need an installation disk or flash drive, created in a special way so that you can install Windows by starting from it. We will talk about how to create such a flash drive in a separate lesson, but for now we will look at how to install Windows 7 from a disk.
Video tutorial:
Article:
So, we turned on the computer and during startup we see this picture:
In order to boot from the installation disk or flash drive, you need to set some parameters on the computer, namely in the BIOS.
In order to enter the BIOS, find something similar to this inscription: as in the picture:
In my case, to enter the BIOS you need to click "DEL", other options are possible - F1,F2,F12...
So, press "DEL" and get into the BIOS.
Using the arrows on the keyboard, navigate through the BIOS sections and select "Boot", which is responsible for loading.
We find ourselves in a menu where we can specify the order in which the computer boots, for example, in our case, first you need to specify DVD drive, in which there is a disk with the Windows 7 installation, and the second is the hard drive of the computer on which Windows will be installed.
In the picture, a USB drive is indicated as the first device from which the computer will boot.
In order to indicate the CDROM, which is now listed in third place, select the first device with arrows and click "Enter".
The CDROM is now listed as the first boot device, and the computer will boot from the Windows 7 DVD.
Since the hard drive (SATA:3M-ST3250820A) is listed in second place, if there is no DVD in the drive, loading will start from the second device - from hard drive.
What other parameter should you pay attention to before installing Windows 7?
Let's go to the section "Main" and let's shave "SATA Configuration":
In this menu you can set the operating mode of the SATA drive.
If you have installed IDE, then install AHCI. This is necessary to unlock all the advantages of SATA drives.
Now we exit the BIOS saving the changes made. To do this, go to the menu "Exit""Exit & Save Changes":
During the reboot, press F8 so that the following menu appears:
Other keys can be used to call the boot menu, for example: F10, F11, F12, Esc.
Boot menu- This is another way to select the device from which to boot the computer.
If you do not call it, the boot will be performed as specified in the BIOS, but sometimes the BIOS does not allow you to select a flash drive as the first boot device, so you can use this menu to install Windows 7 from a flash drive.
So, select CDROM and click "Enter". The boot starts from the Windows 7 installation disc.
Important! If you did not call up the boot menu, but specified CDROM in the BIOS, then when the computer starts, a message should appear "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD". When you see it, press any key to boot from the DVD.
So, the disk has loaded and a window appears in which we need to select the language, time format and keyboard layout:
Here you need to click “Install” to begin installing Windows. There is also a link below "System Restore"- use it in cases when you need to restore Windows 7 from an image or restore the ability to boot Windows when it does not boot.
Click "Install".
In the next step, accept the license agreement and click “Next”:
In the next step we select "type of instalation"- update or full installation. Since we are installing Windows 7 on a new disk, we choose the second option "Full installation (advanced options)":
In the new window we see the following picture - since we are installing on a new disk, there is still no section for selecting Windows installation. It needs to be created.
To do this, click "Disk Setup":
I specified the size as 50 GB. In megabytes this is 51200 MB.
Section size 100 MB - this is an additional partition for storing system files - do not pay attention to it.
Section size 49.9 GB - This is our section for installing Windows.
Section size 182.9 GB - the remaining disk space for an additional partition on which you can store all other files (photos, music, movies, etc.)
Choose partition size 49.9 GB to install Windows and click "Further".
After this, we observe the installation process of Windows 7:
After the next reboot, the following window will appear:
Here you need to indicate username for account Windows as well computer name to use it on the network. After entering, click "Further".
The next step will ask you to create a password for your account:
If you want to immediately protect your account with a password (which is recommended), then set a password.
But this procedure can be done later, at any time, so now you can click "Further" and go to the next step where you need to specify the product key:
At the next step, we select options for protecting Windows, namely, which Windows updates to use.
The first thing you need to do is create an additional partition on your hard drive, install drivers and programs.
If you don’t know how to create an additional partition from free disk space, then watch the video tutorial above - at the 17th minute it shows an example of creating a partition using Windows 7.
If you are interested in other options for installing Windows, such as installing 2 systems, installing Windows from a flash drive, and you also want to know how to properly configure your computer after installing Windows so that it can be quickly restored to working condition, then I recommend that you go through our video course "Confident PC User 2.0", which addresses all these and other issues on setting up and maintaining a PC.
Clean installation of Windows 7, detailed description
Installing a new Windows 7 operating system is possible in several ways.
The first method is the most common and correct, installing on a new or formatted hard drive - a “clean installation”.
The second is an upgrade from a previous version of Windows (Windows XP or Vista).
Let's consider the first option of “Clean Installation”.
1.Turn on your computer. Enter Bios (press Delete or F2). Find the section in the BIOS that sets which device to boot from - Boot Device Priority. First you need to install a CD-DVD drive. Save your settings by pressing F10 and selecting Yes. The computer will reboot. After installing Windows 7, it is advisable to return the settings to their original settings.
2.Insert the Windows 7 CD into the drive.
3.The message Press any key to boot from CD/DVD should appear on the monitor screen. Press any key on the keyboard. If you don't do this, booting from disk will be skipped.
4.After this, the installation of Windows 7 will begin, you will have to wait some time until the initial menu with the choice of language appears. You will need to select the language used during installation, the interface and input language and click the Install Now button.
6.After this, a window will appear asking you to select the installation type. Select custom installation - Custom.
7.The window that opens will ask you to select a partition for installation. If the hard drive is new, you can create a partition.
Let's look at how to install Windows 7 on a partitioned disk. When installing Windows 7 on an already partitioned disk, it can be installed on any partition (for example, C, D or E). At the same time, you must understand that if you install on drive C, and some version of Windows has already been installed on it, then all your old files will be saved in the Windows.old folder. After this the installation will be carried out. When choosing a partition, it is important that there is enough space on it for the new Windows 7.
In the Drive options (advanced) menu, you can format, delete, or create a new partition; to do this, click on the corresponding button.
In this menu, when creating a new partition, you can also change its size. You also need to know that when creating a partition, Windows 7 can only format in the quick format. For complete formatting, you will have to use third-party programs.
If you want to install Windows 7 on an unpartitioned disk, for example, you bought a new hard drive and just installed it, then you first need to partition it into the partitions you need.
To create a new section, click on the corresponding button. After this, the following message will appear:
Don't be surprised if some new section appears that you don't understand. This section can be created by the system itself. This section is necessary for proper operation operating system.
8. If all operations with the hard drive are completed, click Next, after which the installation of Windows 7 will begin.
Do not be alarmed if during the installation of Windows 7 the computer restarts and the screen goes blank. This is normal.
9. The Windows 7 installation program, after copying the files, will test the computer hardware, configure the video adapter settings and start services for the correct operation of the OS. The time it takes to check depends on the configuration of the equipment and its power.
After the hardware setup is complete, the installer will prompt you to enter your username and computer name.
10. After the hardware setup is completed, the installer will prompt you to enter your username and computer name. Continue to the next page.
11. Now you need to enter the password for your account. The password must be entered in two fields. This is protected in case the password is entered incorrectly. You also need to enter a security question and answer. This is necessary in case you suddenly forget your password. You can leave these fields blank if you do not want to use a password to log in. Continue to the next page.
12. Now you need to enter the product license key that came with the purchased Windows 7 distribution. You can skip this step. You are given thirty days to enter this key. After entering the license key, you will need to activate Windows 7. If this is not done within the allotted time, the operating system will be blocked.
13. Now you will need to set your security settings. If you don’t want to configure anything now, you can accept the automatic settings or skip this step by selecting the option: Ask me later. The installer will also prompt you to enable automatic updates. If you have an unlimited Internet connection, I advise you to enable this option.
14. This is where you set the time and time zone. Here you can also enable automatic transition to summer time.
15. The final step is to configure the network security level. There are several security level options: home, enterprise network and public. Choose the one that suits you.
Installing Windows Seven takes approximately 20 minutes to one hour, provided that the computer components meet system requirements Windows Seven. But if the installation takes much longer, then I advise you to check the condition of the hard drive.
In this article I will talk about how to install an operating system yourself Windows system 7 from the disk to your computer or laptop.
I offer detailed and step by step instructions with a visual demonstration of screenshots of installing the Windows operating system.
If you think that installing an operating system is something complicated and incomprehensible that only a specialist can handle, then I will disappoint you: this is not true. Now you can see for yourself.
All you need to install Windows 7 (or Windows 8) is a computer or laptop, a disk with the operating system (since in this article we will install Windows from a disk), detailed instructions, which I will now provide you with, and, perhaps, attentiveness! Hopefully after installation you won't look like . 🙂
After installation, I recommend installing it immediately. You understand - in our time electronic payments this is very relevant. Also now (yet) nowhere without Adobe Flash Player. What's his name Right install read . You may also be very interested in not bad. If you store it on your computer private information, create a .
Important: Most everyone possible problems problems that arise when installing Windows 7 are due to an incorrectly prepared installation disk and (or) the quality of the “OS build” recorded on it. You can read the article on how to correctly burn an operating system image to disk.
Remember: if this disc is not out of the box, that is, purchased in a store, then you need to use only original images from Microsoft MSDN. It is the original image, which is just as accessible on the Internet as various assemblies, that is the key to the successful installation of Windows and its normal functioning.
Do not use assemblies of unknown origin. All third party fixes, fixes, homemade assemblies you bet at your own risk. The consequences may be irreversible.
Before installing Windows 7:
Remember two basic things to do before installing Windows.
First- this is to decide in advance on which partition of the hard drive the system will be installed. As a rule, in most cases this is the C:\ drive. You should remember (or create) the volume label and size.
Remember, your desktop is entirely located on the C:\ drive, or rather, here: C:\Documents and Settings\ Username\Desktop. Think in advance about the integrity and safety of files that are important to you, copy them from your desktop, that is, from drive C, to another drive or flash drive.
All programs installed on the C:\ drive will also be deleted, but this is not a reason to drag the entire folder with programs to other drives. It is much easier to reinstall these programs on a clean system. Don't be lazy, it's not every day that you reinstall Windows.
Second moment - these are drivers for your computer or laptop. They need to be taken care of in advance. Most laptops come with them included, but if they are not available (or need to be updated), look for them on the manufacturer’s official website and download them in advance.
I recommend reading everything you need to know about installing drivers in the article “Installing Drivers or Five Iron Rules,” which is located.
If you skip this one important point, then after installing Windows, you may be left without the Internet, because it is not a fact that the Windows distribution will initially contain the drivers for your network card.
Installing Windows 7 from disk:
Insert the disk with the Windows operating system into the drive and restart the computer. By the way, if you don’t have a disk drive, then install operating system Windows can be done using regular .
Let's continue. Our task is to configure the computer to boot from a DVD. This can be done in 2 ways:
- 1. select the device (DVD) in the special boot menu;
- 2. change the boot priority in the BIOS (from HDD to DVD).
The first method, selecting a device in the boot menu, is simpler and more convenient. After installing Windows, there is no need to return booting from the HDD (hard drive). However, on older computers this function is not available and in this case you will have to go into the BIOS and change the boot priority.
Start - reboot, wait until the screen goes dark and at the first sign of the system waking up (the logo appears), press and hold the Delete key on the keyboard. Why the Delete key? These can be the keys F1, F2, F3 + F2, F10, Ctrl + Alt + Esc, Ctrl + Alt + S, Esc.
There is no universal button for entering the boot menu or entering the BIOS, and it all depends on the computer manufacturer (motherboard). The surest way is to read the instructions from the computer or motherboard. The table below shows clear example such keys.
The boot menu looks something like this:
Press F10, agree and confirm the exit with saving (Save and Exit) by selecting “Ok”.
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Let's consider the second interface option. To boot from disk, you need to change the priorities so that the first device is the DVD drive. Find the item “Advanced BIOS Features” and use the arrows to switch to the first device (First Boot Device), change to CDROM.
Press F10 and confirm Save and Exit.
If you have problems at this stage, I recommend watching this video.
Let's continue. If everything was done correctly, we will see the following window with the inscription: “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.”
Here you need to press any key, for example, spacebar. This is only done 1 time and only at this stage of installation. We see the following window with the inscription “Windows is loading files”.
The files are being extracted, after which we will see the message "Starting Windows" and the Windows 7 installation window itself. Windows installation has begun!!
Choose desired language and click “Install”.
Next, we need to select the edition of Windows 7. Select the one for which you have a key or which you are going to activate. On laptops, it is usually indicated on a piece of paper with a key located on the bottom of the laptop. Entering the serial number itself will be a little later; it has been moved to the end of the installation.
A few words about the possibility of installing a 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit version of Windows. If you have more than 4 GB of RAM (also known as RAM, Memory), then install 64-bit, if not, then 32-bit (x86).
Let's read and agree to the license terms. Next, we need to select the installation type - select “Full installation”.
Now you need to select the partition on which Windows will be installed.
If you have this partition reserved by the system (note, it is still in megabytes (MB), not gigabytes), for example, as in the following screenshot, then select Disk 0 Partition 2.
To avoid such excruciating pain when choosing a partition, before installing Windows, look at how many gigabytes your C drive occupies.
If you have one partition on your hard drive and it is larger than 250 GB, then it would be more correct to create two local disks. One section is specifically for Windows (usually about 50-100 GB), and the other is for storing your personal information (how much will remain, XXX GB).
Note: The partitions you create should be named Disk 0 Partition 1, 2, 3..., not “Unallocated Disk Space”. Otherwise, the operating system simply will not see sections with such names.
If necessary, create a section or sections and click “Apply”:
Attention: At this stage, problems may arise - when Windows 7 asks for a driver for further installation or when the system does not see your hard drive to continue installation.
Or install (if prepared) hard disk controller drivers. If you already have two or more partitions on your hard drive, then you can skip the above point. So, we have selected the “System” section, and now we need to start formatting.
The installer warns that all our data will be deleted. This is what we need, because we are interested in a clean installation of Windows. We agree and wait. Usually the whole process takes a matter of seconds. After formatting, we see that there is more free space, calmly click “Next”.
And here is the beginning of the installation, the process has started. You can already exhale).
We're waiting... Usually it takes 15–25 minutes. When our system is installed, it will prompt you to enter your username and computer name. Let's enter.
If you wish, you can enter a password and a hint. Next, Windows will prompt you to enter your serial number. Enter (if available). If not, then skip this step and uncheck the “Automatically activate when connected to the Internet” checkbox.
In this article we will look at how to install the Windows 7 operating system from a disk. The instructions were prepared as clearly as possible and accessible even for beginners.
The entire process of installing the “seven” will consist of the following steps:
Setting up the BIOS to boot the computer from a boot disk;
Recommendations for partitioning a hard drive;
Definition of the system partition;
Windows 7 installation and initial setup.
Step 1: Set up the BIOS to boot your computer from a boot disk
If you don’t know how to boot from disk, then by following the link you will learn how to do it:
Step 2. Start installation
After exiting the BIOS and having previously saved the settings made, the computer will reboot and if any operating system was previously installed on it, then after a while the message “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” will appear on the screen. boot from a CD/DVD) which is what you should do.
Be careful as you will only have five seconds to enter the system installation. If the current operating system starts loading, it means that the opportunity to start the installation was missed and you should restart the computer again for the next attempt.
If you are installing the system on a new computer or a blank hard drive, you will not see the previous window, Windows 7 installation will start automatically.
So, if the computer starts booting from the installation disk, then the system installation start window will appear on the screen, in which you can see the process of downloading the initially necessary files.
If this window does not appear, but the old operating system starts loading (if it was installed) or messages appear that the boot disk was not found (if installed on a new computer or hard drive), then this means that your computer was unable to boot from the disk and you should return to the previous step for setting up the BIOS.
After downloading the main files, you should see a window for setting up language settings, date and time format, as well as keyboard layout, in which the default settings for Russia will be set.
System Restore may be useful to you in the future if problems arise with installed system, for example, due to damage, deletion or unauthorized modification of its system files. As a rule, this leads to Windows 7 becoming unstable or refusing to boot at all. In this case, you can restore the original system files from the installation disk using the above point.
In general, the “System Restore” section in Windows 7 is a fairly powerful tool for fixing various kinds of problems that arise during its operation, and we will definitely devote a separate publication to it, and within the framework of this article, click the “Install” button to proceed directly to installation.
In a few minutes, a window with a license agreement will appear in front of you, the terms of which must be accepted by checking the appropriate box and clicking the “Next” button.
In the next window you will have to select the installation type:
As you can see, here we can choose two options: update and full installation. The “Update” item can be used if you want to update your old operating system to Windows 7, while maintaining all installed programs and settings. True, for this, the installation of the “seven” must be launched directly from your already installed OS. It should also be remembered that this is only possible from Windows Vista, and the update is not applicable to operating systems of older generations, including Windows XP. In general, this type of installation is not the best solution. The point is that in new Windows Not only the settings of the previous system will migrate, but also all its problems, brakes and glitches. And in general, stable operation of the system before installed programs in this case are not guaranteed. Therefore, the preferred type is the full installation, which is what you should choose.
At the next stage of installation, we have to select a partition on the hard drive to install Windows 7. Here, I would like to make a small digression and give some useful recommendations on dividing the hard drive into system partitions:
Don't allocate all of your hard drive space to one single partition. This can cause you a lot of trouble in the future.
Modern hard drives have quite large capacities for storing data and therefore it is advisable to divide them into several thematic sections.
It is recommended to set aside a separate section for installing the operating system and necessary software and not fill it with your personal data.
You should choose the size of the system partition with a margin, taking into account that for correct Windows operation, 15% of the space in this section should be left free.
Don't create too many sections. This will complicate navigation and reduce the efficiency of distributing large files and folders
Step 4. Identifying the system partition
Now, let's get back to the installation. From this point on, the installation can proceed in two ways:
Option 1: You have a new computer and the hard drive has never been allocated. In this case, a window with the following content will appear in front of you:
To partition the hard drive into partitions, you must select the item: “Disk Settings”. In the additional options that appear, select “Create” and enter the required partition size in the window next to it. Please remember that you must specify the size in megabytes. Calculate it based on the fact that 1 gigabyte = 1024 megabytes. As a rule, for Windows7 and related software, 60–100 GB is enough, but you have the right to make it larger if necessary.
Having specified the required size of the future system partition, click the “Apply” button. Next, to use all its capabilities, Windows will ask you to create an additional partition for it. Don't be alarmed, it will only take up 100 MB of free disk space and will be invisible to you.
By clicking “OK” we will return to the screen for selecting a partition for installing Windows.
As you can see, there have been changes here. Now we have a partition reserved by the system for its own needs, a newly created partition and the remaining unallocated area. From the unallocated space on the disk, in the same window you can create additional partitions in the same way that we used above, or you can postpone this action until later and finally partition your drive in Windows.
Having made the necessary decision, select the part of the disk on which we plan to install the operating system and click “Next”.
Option 2 - If your computer already has an operating system installed. Then your hard drive is already divided into logical areas, and you will see a window listing all found partitions on it, for example:
Attention! All further manipulations with the found partitions may lead to the loss of your data, so be very careful in your actions.
If the current partition of the hard drive does not suit you, then you can delete existing partitions in whole or in part by selecting the appropriate part of the disk, and then the “Delete” option. You have the right to split the unallocated space on the disk that appears after this at your discretion using the above method, discussed in option 1.
If you are completely satisfied with the current disk layout, then you need to decide in which of the existing partitions you will install Windows 7 and whether you want to save the information available there. In that case, before moving on, let's first take a look at possible options installation, after which you can make an informed decision without pointing your finger at the sky.
You have selected the partition on which your old operating system is currently installed, and you plan to save the data stored on it. In this case, after clicking the “Next” button, before starting the installation, you will see a warning window that the previous copy of Windows with all its files and folders will be moved to the “Windows.old” folder. The rest of the information will be untouched. Clicking "OK" in the warning window will begin the installation process.
There is one significant drawback to this setup. As a rule, after using the operating system for a long time, the partition on which it was installed becomes very littered and contains a lot of unnecessary files. Adding to all this a new operating system with the accompanying software, you will encounter, at a minimum, irrational use of hard disk space, file defragmentation, and even possible overflow, which will undoubtedly lead to a decrease in system speed.
If you have selected a hard disk segment that does not contain Windows as the future system partition and want to save all the stored information on it, then the installation will begin immediately after clicking the “Next” button.
If you plan to install Windows 7 on a blank partition (the preferred option of all) and you have either already saved the information on it in another place, or you do not need it, then you should format it before starting the installation. To do this, select “Format”. The installer will issue a warning that this partition may contain data that is important to you and it will be destroyed.
After clicking the “OK” button, the selected part of the disk will be completely cleared of the information stored there and to begin the installation, all you have to do is select “Next”.
Step 5. Installation and initial setup of Windows 7
So, after selecting the system partition, the system installation process will begin, during which files will be copied and unpacked, components and updates will be installed.
During installation, your computer will automatically restart several times, and the entire procedure may take from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on its power.
Finally, after the installation is completed and the computer is rebooted again, the first Windows initial setup window will appear in front of you, in which you will have to enter the user name (the name of your account in the system) and the computer (the name under which it will be visible to other users on the network).
On the next screen, you can create a password for your account or postpone this action by leaving the fields blank and clicking the “Next” button.
The next step will be the ability to select settings for automatic Windows updates, designed to regularly check via the Internet for the availability of all kinds of system security patches, critical updates and service packs on the official technical support website. Enabling automatic updates is desirable, but not required at this stage, since you can configure this setting more flexibly after installation from the control panel.
After selecting your security options, Windows Initial Setup will prompt you to check your date and time settings. If everything is correct, click “Next”.
If network card drivers were installed during the installation process, you will see a network settings window in which you will need to select the location of your computer.
After you make your selection, a window will appear to connect to the network and apply settings.
At this point, the initial setup of the system can be considered complete. After the final application of the settings, a welcome window will appear in front of you, then the system will prepare the desktop, the appearance of which will mark the completion of the installation of Windows 7.
Immediately after completing the Windows installation, you should install all the necessary drivers for the connected devices.
Remember! After installing Windows 7, you need to enter the BIOS again and return booting from the hard drive.
In contact with
We use the easiest way to download - using the “Boot Menu”. To call the “Boot Menu” on different motherboards and laptops, the “F8”, “F9”, “F10”, “F11”, “F12” or “Esc” keys can be used. Often this key is indicated in the prompts that appear when you turn on the computer.
Immediately after turning on the computer, press and hold the “Boot Menu” key until the boot device selection menu appears.
Use the down and up arrows to navigate to the DVD drive or flash drive and press Enter.
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If the call key is not indicated in the prompts on initial stage booting the computer, then you can find out this information from the instructions, on the website of the motherboard or laptop manufacturer, by searching on the Internet or at random.
The first thing you should see after the BIOS messages is a line like “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...” or “Press any key to boot from USB...” (“Press any button to boot from USB...”) if you are booting from a flash drive.
When you see this message, you should press any key on your keyboard within a few seconds, I usually press Spacebar. If you miss this moment, the Windows installation will not begin and you will have to restart the computer again from the old operating system using the “Ctrl-Alt-Del” key combination or the “Reset” button on the system unit.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that during the Windows installation process, the computer reboots several times and each time such a message may appear, but pressing “any key” on the keyboard is no longer necessary, otherwise you will simply start reinstalling Windows from the beginning many times and you will never finish it!
Sometimes a message like the one in the screenshot below may also appear.
In this case, you just need to press the “Enter” key on your keyboard. And by switching with the “Tab” key to the “Windows Memory Diagnostic” item, you can check the computer’s RAM for serviceability.
Wait for the blue “Install Windows” window to appear.
Installing Windows 7 begins with choosing languages.
3.1. Language selection
At this stage you are asked to select languages.
“Installed language” is the language in which all messages will be displayed in the operating system. If the version of Windows is multilingual, then you will have a choice. Most editions of Windows have only one operating system language and it is advisable that you understand it well.
“Time and Currency Format” – defines the names of months, days of the week, main currency, digital separators accepted in your country (period or comma), etc. What does it mean? Well, for example, if you select “Ukrainian”, then in programs for typing and tables, days of the week, months and monetary units will be automatically entered in Ukrainian, regardless of the language of the entire document. Therefore, choosing a national format only makes sense if the majority of your documents will be in the national language. However, this can be easily changed in Windows at any time.
“Keyboard Layout” is simply the default input language that will be used when starting Windows and all programs. It makes sense to install the one on which you communicate and write. If you will use the computer primarily for programming, it may be more convenient to select the “US” (English) layout. After installing Windows, you can add and set any language as default.
For Russian-speaking residents of the CIS, I recommend leaving “Russian” everywhere, since when installing some programs that have a multilingual interface, they may not be in Russian, but in the language that you specified in one of the fields when installing the system.
To continue the installation, click the “Next” button.
3.2. Starting the installation
In the next window, click the “Install” button under the “Windows 7” logo.
3.3. License agreement
Check the box “I accept the license terms” and click “Next”.
4. Windows 7 installation type
We offer two types of installation.
“Update” – allows you to update the previous Windows version(Vista) to the new Windows 7, saving files, programs and settings. Windows XP cannot be updated this way. In any case, I do not recommend using this installation method, since it inherits the problems of the previous operating system and it is likely that the computer will slow down and malfunction.
“Full installation” - installs a new copy of Windows on a new or existing hard drive partition. When installing on a new computer, partitions are created on the hard drive, and when installing on an old computer, the partitions are either deleted and created again, or a partition is selected that has enough space for installation. With this type of installation, you can also install Windows 7 as a second operating system, for example, alongside your existing Windows XP. In this case, when you turn on the computer, you will be asked which operating system you want to load.
We select “Full installation” and a window for selecting a disk for installing Windows 7 will open in front of us.
5. Disk configuration
Disk configuration is the process of creating, deleting, formatting hard disk partitions for installing Windows on it.
5.1. Disk configuration on an old computer
If you are reinstalling Windows on an old computer, then it already has one (“C”) or several partitions (“C”, “D”…). I hope that you have not forgotten from the "C" drive to the external drive, since in the process of reinstalling Windows disk"C" will be cleared.
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If your disk has only one partition, then it is better to delete it and create two new ones - one of small size for the operating system and programs, the second for all the remaining space for your files. This disk configuration will be more convenient and reliable in terms of backing up and restoring the operating system and your files.
If your disk has several partitions, then the first one, on which Windows is installed, can be deleted and a new one created in its place, and the second one with your files can be left as is.
5.2. Disk configuration on a new computer
When installed on a new computer, your disk is completely empty and has no partitions. The best option will create two partitions - one of small size for the operating system and programs, the second for all the remaining space for your files. This disk configuration will be more convenient and reliable in terms of backup and recovery of the operating system and your files.
5.3. Dual drive configuration
If you have two hard drives, or one SSD and one regular drive, then it is advisable to create one partition on each of them and install Windows 7 on the one that is faster (SSD) or smaller in volume, and the second one is completely dedicated to storing your files .
If both disks are large, then you can create two partitions on the first one - one small for the system, one for storing your files. On the second disk, you can create a partition for the entire volume and use it to install programs and games, or you can also create two partitions - the first for programs and games, the second for files. This configuration will ensure maximum loading speed for programs and games, since Windows and the page file will be on one drive, and programs and games on another.
6. Disk setup for Windows 7
The screenshot below shows a computer with a 500 GB disk.
Don't be surprised that the real size is 465.7 GB. Manufacturers round up hard drive sizes to the nearest round number. A table with actual hard drive sizes can be downloaded at the end of the article in the “” section.
It is better not to divide the SSD disk into several partitions, but to allocate it entirely to the “C” drive for installing Windows, programs and games. Then you will get unrivaled computer speed!
Hard drive A-Data Ultimate SU650 120GBClick on “Disk Setup” and additional buttons will appear.
The optimal size of the system partition is 10-20% of the total hard drive volume. For Windows 7, I recommend a partition size of at least 40 and no more than 200 GB.
I usually take 10% of the declared disk capacity, that is, 50 GB from a 500 GB disk and 100 GB from a 1000 GB disk. Since this is enough to install basic programs, it is better to install games on the second partition along with other files, since they take up a large amount of space and make it difficult to backup and restore the system, which we will talk about later.
But if you like to experiment and plan to install a lot of serious programs and games, then it is better to make the system partition larger, about 20% of the disk capacity or 100-200 GB in physical terms. Since some of the data still ends up on the system partition and in the future there may be a lack of space on it.
Let's make everything sure, create a system partition of 100 GB in size. To do this, click the “Create” button and enter the size in megabytes.
Please note that 1 GB = 1024 MB. In addition, Windows 7 takes 100 MB of this volume to create a hidden boot partition.
I like everything to be beautiful and the system to display a 100 GB disk, not 97.6 GB, so I calculate the volume in megabytes as follows:
100 GB x 1024 + 100 MB = 102,500 MB
This number must be entered in the “Size” field and click the “Apply” button.
Here is the result of the performed operation.
As you can see, two sections have been created. “Partition 1”, only 100 MB in size, is used for the operating system bootloader and we will not see it in Windows. “Partition 2” has a size of exactly 100 GB and we will install Windows 7 on it.
There is still “Unallocated space…” with a volume of 365.6 GB, on which we will create another partition for storing user files.
By default, all remaining space is allocated for it. It can be divided into several more sections if you know what you need it for. But we will leave everything as it is by simply clicking the “Apply” button.
As a result, we get “Section 3”, which took up all the remaining space. Now you need to click the “Format” button and confirm this action.
You can create this partition after installing Windows, but you will have to perform more steps and possibly change the drive letters. We will also consider this option after installing Windows.
7. Nuances of marking and large-volume disks
A 100 MB hidden boot partition is created when a new partition is created. If you install Windows 7 on an existing partition, the bootloader files will be located on it and a separate partition will not be created.
This configuration will occur if Windows installer 7 will partition the disk in old system MBR. If Windows Installer partitions the disk in new system GPT, then several service partitions can be created.
MBR is an older partition type that supports disks up to 2 TB. GPT is a new type of partition that supports disks larger than 2 TB and requires support from the motherboard.
There are usually fewer problems with disks marked in MBR, but this is not essential. If you install Windows 7 on a disk with a capacity of 3 TB or more, then you need it to have GPT partitioning, otherwise not all of its capacity (about 2.3 TB) will be used.
The problem is that the Windows 7 installer does not always partition large drives in GPT partitioning, even with support from the motherboard. In this case, check that BIOS settings of your motherboard or laptop in the “Boot” section, UEFI boot devices are prioritized.
In a modern motherboard Setup GUI, it might look like this.
Write this folder onto a USB flash drive and insert it before turning on the computer to install Windows. In this case, the Windows 7 distribution can be located either on the installation DVD or on this flash drive.
When you reach the hard drive selection window, in which it is not displayed, click on the “Download” button and specify the location of the driver files (folder on the flash drive).
If the driver is suitable, the installer should detect your hard drive and it will appear in the window for selecting a disk for installation. After this, you can create partitions on the disk and install Windows on them.
9. Copying and unpacking files
Now select “Partition 2” of 100 GB in size, on which we install Windows 7 and click “Next”.
Copying and unpacking of files begins, which will take some time.
Sometimes this process may stop at 0% or any other place for a while, and then quickly end. Please be patient and do not touch your computer. You may need to wait 15-30 minutes. If after 30 minutes of waiting nothing happens, then most likely the computer has frozen or the installation disk is hard to read. You'll have to start all over again and if it freezes again, perhaps replace the installation disk. The problem may also be caused by a malfunction of the hard drive, RAM, or motherboard.
After copying and unpacking the files, the computer will restart several times and the installation process will continue, requiring user interaction.
Let me remind you that when the message “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD...” appears, there is NO NEED to press anything.
10. Configuring Windows 7 settings
Setting up Windows 7 settings begins with entering your username.
10.1. Entering your username and computer
In the next window, you need to enter the name of the main user, who will be the computer administrator, and the name of the computer on the network.
I recommend entering a name in English letters without spaces, since the user profile folder will have the same name, into which program and game settings can be saved. And some, even modern, programs and games cannot save files to folders with Russian names.
Names can have capital letters and numbers, and the input language can be switched using the Alt-Shift key combination.
As for the computer name, my recommendations are the same, but you can use a hyphen (minus sign) in the name. For example, for the main home computer, you can name it PC-1, PK-1 or Home-1, for a second computer - PC-2, PK-2 or Home-2, for a laptop - HP, ACER, Samsung, etc. If you have several laptops at home, you can add a username to the computer name, for example, Notebook-Vera or Misha-PC. This will make it easier for you to navigate later, but in principle it doesn’t really matter and you can always change the computer name. Please also note that the username and computer name must not be the same.
10.2. Entering your password
The next window prompts you to enter the password for the user whose name was entered in the previous window, as well as a hint for this password in case you forget it.
I recommend not entering a password at this step, since during the process of setting up the computer it will reboot more than once and you will simply get tired of entering it. It is better to do this after completely setting up the computer and creating a backup copy of the system. In principle, if no one will use the computer except you, you have nothing to hide and you do not plan to exchange files via local network, then you don’t have to use a password at all. In other cases, using a password is highly desirable and we will talk about this in one of the articles about setting up Windows. For now, just click Next.
10.3. Entering the key and activating Windows 7
The next window asks you to enter your Windows 7 license key.
If you have officially purchased the operating system and are sure that this key has not been used on another computer, then enter the 25-digit code indicated on the disk or certificate sticker. In this case, you can leave the “Automatically activate Windows when you connect to the Internet” checkbox and click “Next”. Activation will occur 3 days after the first login.
If you do not yet have a license key or are installing Windows 7 for evaluation purposes, then do not enter anything. In this case, you need to uncheck the automatic activation checkbox and click the “Next” button. After installation, you will have a 30-day trial period. In the future, you can extend it 3 times, thereby increasing the time of familiarization with the operating system to 120 days.
10.4. Setting up Windows 7 updates
In the next window you need to select one of three installation modes Windows updates.
“Use recommended settings” – all important and recommended updates will be installed automatically. Important ones include security updates and bug fixes. Recommended ones include updating drivers, software components and much more. Most experts advise using this mode.
“Install only the most important updates” – only security updates and bug fixes will be installed automatically.
“Delay decision” – do not include automatic update, and configure it later in the operating system.
On a personal note, I want to say that if the protection of your data is important to you and you don’t know how to protect yourself from security threats on the Internet, then important updates need to be installed. On the other hand, multiple updates eventually lead to a slowdown of the computer, and along with the recommended updates, a large number of unnecessary components. If you use your computer mainly for games, your security is well set up, you have a backup copy of the system and all your personal files, then in principle you can do without updates and your computer will work as quickly as possible. But I still recommend installing at least the most important updates.
10.5. Setting the date and time
The next step asks you to select your time zone, date and time.
There is nothing complicated about this and although it can be configured after installing the system, it is better to do it right away. First you need to set the time zone, and only after that the time. If your settlement is not in the list of time zones, then choose any other one that is in the same time zone with you, for example, for Kyiv the time zone is UTC +02:00 as in Athens.
If you live in Russia, then uncheck the “Automatic change to daylight saving time and back” checkbox, since time change is canceled in Russia. In other cases, follow the accepted regulations in your country. For example, in Ukraine, the time change is still in effect and the checkbox must be left. The computer clock will be automatically adjusted to the correct time and day. Click "Next".
10.6. Computer location
If your computer is connected to a network and during Windows installation you were able to install required driver for a network card, the “Select the current location of the computer” window will appear.
“Home network” - select this item if your computer or laptop is currently at your home, connected to the Internet via a router, and you want to exchange files with other home computers.
“Work network” - select this item if your computer or laptop is currently at work, where there is a computer network for exchanging files with other work computers.
“Public network” – select this item if your computer or laptop is connected to the Internet directly by cable. In this case, it will be used additional protection from attacks from the Internet.
10.7. Home group
This functionality was introduced in Windows 7 to simplify file sharing between home computers, but in principle it is not necessary. You need to check the boxes for the folders with which types of data you want to provide access to. You can also enable sharing of the printer connected to this computer. You can check all the boxes, it won't harm you.
If a computer with Windows 7 or higher was detected on the network, you will be prompted to enter the homegroup password, which can be viewed on that computer. After entering your password, click Next. If you don’t have a lot of time, you can skip entering the password and click the “Skip” button, and enter the password later.
If a homegroup was not detected, it will be created on this computer and you will be given a random password. You can record it, and you can watch it later in Windows at any time. But it’s better to write it down or take a photo and click the “Next” button.
11. Login
After this, the user should automatically log in and display the main Windows screen, called the “Desktop”. This completes the installation of Windows 7.
12. Links
Hard drive A-Data Ultimate SU650 240GB
Hard drive Transcend StoreJet 25M3 1 TB
Sandisk Cruzer
