How to Install Windows 7 (Beginners)

Clean Install

A clean install is intended for users who want to freshly install Windows on their computer (by deleting all of the data on the hard disk and then installing Windows) or computers that do not have an operating system yet.

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   Enter your computer's BIOS. Turn off the computer that you want to install Windows on then turn it back on. When the BIOS screen appears or you are prompted to do so, press Del, Esc, F2, F10, or F9 (depending on your computer’s motherboard) to enter the system BIOS. The key to enter the BIOS is usually shown on the screen.
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   Find your BIOS's boot options menu. The boot options menu of your BIOS may vary in location or name from the illustration, but you may eventually find it if you search around.

   • If you can't find the boot options menu, search the name of your BIOS (most likely located in the BIOS menu) online for help.
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   Select the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device of your computer.

   • Although this method may vary among computers, the boot options menu is typically a menu of movable device names where you should set your CD-ROM drive as the first boot device. It can also be a list of devices that you can set the order of their boot on. Consult a manual or the internet for help if you're stuck.
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   Save the changes of the settings. Press the button indicated on the screen or select the save option from the BIOS menu to save your configuration.
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   Shut off your computer. Either turn off the computer by choosing the shut-down option in your current operating system, or hold the power button until the computer powers off.
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   Power on the PC and the insert the Windows 7 disc into your CD/DVD drive.
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   Start your computer from the disc. After you have placed the disc into the disc drive, start your computer. When the computer starts, press a key if you are asked if you would like to boot from the disc by pressing any key. After you choose to start from the disc, Windows Setup will begin loading.

   • If you are not asked to boot from the disc, you may have done something wrong. Retry the previous steps to solve the problem.
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   Choose your Windows Setup options. Once Windows Setup loads, you'll be presented with a window. Select your preferred language, keyboard type, and time/currency format, then click Next.
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   Click the Install Now button.
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    Accept the License Terms. Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next.
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    Select the Custom installation.
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    Decide on which hard drive and partition you want to install Windows on. A hard drive is a physical part of your computer that stores data, and partitions "divide" hard drives into separate parts.

    • If the hard drive has data on it, delete the data off of it, or format it.
      • Select the hard drive from the list of hard drives.
      • Click Drive options (advanced).
      • Click Format from Drive options.
    • If your computer doesn't have any partitions yet, create one to install Windows on it.
      • Select the hard drive from the list of hard drives.
      • Click Drive options (advanced).
      • Select New from Drive options.
      • Select the size, and click OK.
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    Install Windows on your preferred hard drive and partition. Once you've decided on where to install Windows, select it and click Next. Windows will begin installing.

Upgrade

An Upgrade installation upgrades an older version of Windows on your computer (E.G. Windows Vista to Windows 7.)

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   Start your computer normally into your current operating system.
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   Check to see if your computer is compatible with Windows 7. The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your computer to see if you can upgrade it to Windows 7. Download it here.
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   Prepare your computer to install Windows.

   • Scan your computer for malware. Malware can prevent Windows from installing correctly.
   • Disable or uninstall any antivirus software because they may interfere with the Windows installation.
   • Uninstall some unnecessary programs to speed up the upgrade. You can install them after Windows 7 has finished.
   • Update Windows with Windows Update.
   • Delete some unnecessary files to speed up the upgrade.
   • Back up your hard drive in case the installation fails and you lose your files. (optional).
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   Insert your Windows 7 installation disc into the computer at this point.
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   Start Windows Setup. After the disc has loaded, click Start →Computer, double click the disc drive that Windows 7 Setup was placed in, and double-click setup.exe on the disc. Allow Setup to start.
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   Click Install Now.
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   Decide whether to install updates for Windows Setup. The updates are intended to fix known problems with Windows Setup and installing updates makes your installation smoother and more stable. To get updates, click Go Online to get the latest updates for installation (recommended). To skip updates, click Do not get the latest updates for installation.
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   Accept the License Terms. Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next.
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