How to Install Windows 7 (Beginners)
Enter your computer's BIOS., Find your BIOS's boot options menu., Select the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device of your computer., Save the changes of the settings., Shut off your computer., Power on the PC and the insert the Windows 7 disc into...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: 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. -
Step 2: 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. , 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. , Press the button indicated on the screen or select the save option from the BIOS menu to save your configuration. , 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. ,, 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. , Once Windows Setup loads, you'll be presented with a window.
Select your preferred language, keyboard type, and time/currency format, then click Next. ,, Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,, 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. , Once you've decided on where to install Windows, select it and click Next.
Windows will begin installing. ,, The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your computer to see if you can upgrade it to Windows
7.
Download it here. , 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). ,, 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. ,, 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. , Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,,,, An ISO file is a disc image.
Note:
This download may take a while, depending on your internet speed.
A list of download links is available here.
If the link to the website does not work, click here to download a list of the links. ,,, On the Step 1 of 4:
Choose ISO file screen of the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, select the downloaded ISO file by clicking Browse, then click Next to continue. ,, If you receive an error that says Not Enough Free Space, click the Erase USB Device button, which will erase all of the files on the drive. , You may delete the ISO file now, as it is no longer required. ,, 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. , 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. , If your drive doesn't show up as a boot device, then your computer doesn't support it.
Although this method may vary among computers, the boot options menu is typically a menu of movable device names where you should set your drive as the first boot device.
It can also be a list of devices that you can set the order of their boot on individually.
Consult a manual or the internet for help if you're stuck. , Press the button indicated on the screen or select the save option from the BIOS menu to save your configuration. , 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. , Your computer should enter Windows Setup.
If your computer asks you if you want to boot from a CD by pressing any key, boot from it.
Windows Setup will load.
Important Information:
If you receive a CD/DVD device driver missing error during Setup at any point, simply click Cancel on the error message which will return you to the Welcome screen.
Once you reach the Welcome screen, un-plug the USB drive and plug in into another USB port on your computer, then continue with the installation. , Once Windows Setup loads, you'll be presented with a window.
Select your preferred language, keyboard type, and time/currency format, then click Next. ,, Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,, 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. , Once you've decided on where to install Windows, select it and click Next.
Windows will begin installing. , The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your computer to see if you can upgrade it to Windows
7.
Download it here. , 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). ,, Click Start →Computer, double click the USB drive that Windows 7 Setup was extracted to, and double-click setup.exe on the disc.
Allow Setup to start. ,, 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. , Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,,, If you don't want a password, leave the text boxes blank and then click Next. , Your product key is located on the case of your Windows 7 disc if you purchased the disc.
To skip entering your product key, just click Next, but Windows will run on a 30-day trial, and you'll have to enter a key once the 30 day trial time is up. , Use recommended settings automatically sets update and security settings recommended by Microsoft.
Install important updates only configures your computer only to install necessary updates.
Ask me later disables your security until you have made a decision. ,, If the computer is connected to your own personal network, choose Home network.
If you are connected to the network at your workplace, choose Work network.
If you're connected to a public network from places such as restaurants and shops, choose Public network. ,, You can format your USB drive back to its default settings and place your files back onto it by right clicking your USB drive in Start→Computer, clicking Format, clicking Restore Device Defaults in Format, then clicking Start, which permanently deletes any data off of the drive.
After the drive has formatted, you can move your files back onto it. , Also, to improve your security, run Windows Update to install the latest security updates. -
Step 3: Select the CD-ROM drive as the first boot device of your computer.
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Step 4: Save the changes of the settings.
-
Step 5: Shut off your computer.
-
Step 6: Power on the PC and the insert the Windows 7 disc into your CD/DVD drive.
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Step 7: Start your computer from the disc.
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Step 8: Choose your Windows Setup options.
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Step 9: Click the Install Now button.
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Step 10: Accept the License Terms.
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Step 11: Select the Custom installation.
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Step 12: Decide on which hard drive and partition you want to install Windows on.
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Step 13: Install Windows on your preferred hard drive and partition.
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Step 14: Start your computer normally into your current operating system.
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Step 15: Check to see if your computer is compatible with Windows 7.
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Step 16: Prepare your computer to install Windows.
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Step 17: Insert your Windows 7 installation disc into the computer at this point.
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Step 18: Start Windows Setup.
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Step 19: Click Install Now.
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Step 20: Decide whether to install updates for Windows Setup.
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Step 21: Accept the License Terms.
-
Step 22: Select the Upgrade installation.
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Step 23: Plug a drive with a minimum of 4 gigabytes of memory into a computer.
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Step 24: Move any personal files off of the drive.
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Step 25: Download the Windows 7 Setup ISO.
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Step 26: Download and install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from this link.
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Step 27: Once the ISO has finished downloading
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Step 28: open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
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Step 29: Select the ISO.
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Step 30: On the Step 2 of 4: Choose media type screen
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Step 31: choose USB device.
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Step 32: On the Step 3 of 4: Insert USB device screen
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Step 33: choose the drive you want to extract the Setup files to
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Step 34: then click Begin copying.
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Step 35: Once Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool has finished extracting the ISO to the flash drive
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Step 36: your drive is ready to install Windows.
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Step 37: Make sure the drive that Windows 7 Setup was extracted onto is plugged into the computer.
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Step 38: Enter your computer's BIOS.
-
Step 39: Find your BIOS's boot options menu.
-
Step 40: Select the drive as the first boot device of your computer.
-
Step 41: Save the changes of the settings.
-
Step 42: Shut off your computer.
-
Step 43: Turn your computer back on.
-
Step 44: Choose your Windows Setup options.
-
Step 45: Click the Install Now button.
-
Step 46: Accept the License Terms.
-
Step 47: Select the Custom installation.
-
Step 48: Decide on which hard drive and partition you want to install Windows on.
-
Step 49: Install Windows on your preferred hard drive and partition.
-
Step 50: Check to see if your computer is compatible with Windows 7.
-
Step 51: Prepare your computer to install Windows.
-
Step 52: Make sure the drive that Windows Setup was extracted onto is plugged into your computer.
-
Step 53: Start Windows Setup.
-
Step 54: Click Install Now.
-
Step 55: Decide whether to install updates for Windows Setup.
-
Step 56: Accept the License Terms.
-
Step 57: Select the Upgrade installation.
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Step 58: Type your username and computer's name and click Next.
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Step 59: Type your password and click Next.
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Step 60: Enter your product key then click Next.
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Step 61: Choose your Windows Update settings.
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Step 62: Set your time and time zone.
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Step 63: Set your network type.
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Step 64: Your computer is now set up!
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Step 65: Once your computer is ready
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Step 66: format your USB drive back to its default settings (if you chose the Installing Using a Flash Drive or External Drive method).
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Step 67: Be sure to reinstall any software you uninstalled
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Step 68: install any device drivers
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Step 69: and re-enable your security software.
Detailed Guide
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.
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. , 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. , Press the button indicated on the screen or select the save option from the BIOS menu to save your configuration. , 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. ,, 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. , Once Windows Setup loads, you'll be presented with a window.
Select your preferred language, keyboard type, and time/currency format, then click Next. ,, Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,, 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. , Once you've decided on where to install Windows, select it and click Next.
Windows will begin installing. ,, The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your computer to see if you can upgrade it to Windows
7.
Download it here. , 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). ,, 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. ,, 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. , Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,,,, An ISO file is a disc image.
Note:
This download may take a while, depending on your internet speed.
A list of download links is available here.
If the link to the website does not work, click here to download a list of the links. ,,, On the Step 1 of 4:
Choose ISO file screen of the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, select the downloaded ISO file by clicking Browse, then click Next to continue. ,, If you receive an error that says Not Enough Free Space, click the Erase USB Device button, which will erase all of the files on the drive. , You may delete the ISO file now, as it is no longer required. ,, 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. , 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. , If your drive doesn't show up as a boot device, then your computer doesn't support it.
Although this method may vary among computers, the boot options menu is typically a menu of movable device names where you should set your drive as the first boot device.
It can also be a list of devices that you can set the order of their boot on individually.
Consult a manual or the internet for help if you're stuck. , Press the button indicated on the screen or select the save option from the BIOS menu to save your configuration. , 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. , Your computer should enter Windows Setup.
If your computer asks you if you want to boot from a CD by pressing any key, boot from it.
Windows Setup will load.
Important Information:
If you receive a CD/DVD device driver missing error during Setup at any point, simply click Cancel on the error message which will return you to the Welcome screen.
Once you reach the Welcome screen, un-plug the USB drive and plug in into another USB port on your computer, then continue with the installation. , Once Windows Setup loads, you'll be presented with a window.
Select your preferred language, keyboard type, and time/currency format, then click Next. ,, Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,, 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. , Once you've decided on where to install Windows, select it and click Next.
Windows will begin installing. , The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scans your computer to see if you can upgrade it to Windows
7.
Download it here. , 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). ,, Click Start →Computer, double click the USB drive that Windows 7 Setup was extracted to, and double-click setup.exe on the disc.
Allow Setup to start. ,, 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. , Read over the Microsoft Software License Terms, check I accept the license terms, and click Next. ,,, If you don't want a password, leave the text boxes blank and then click Next. , Your product key is located on the case of your Windows 7 disc if you purchased the disc.
To skip entering your product key, just click Next, but Windows will run on a 30-day trial, and you'll have to enter a key once the 30 day trial time is up. , Use recommended settings automatically sets update and security settings recommended by Microsoft.
Install important updates only configures your computer only to install necessary updates.
Ask me later disables your security until you have made a decision. ,, If the computer is connected to your own personal network, choose Home network.
If you are connected to the network at your workplace, choose Work network.
If you're connected to a public network from places such as restaurants and shops, choose Public network. ,, You can format your USB drive back to its default settings and place your files back onto it by right clicking your USB drive in Start→Computer, clicking Format, clicking Restore Device Defaults in Format, then clicking Start, which permanently deletes any data off of the drive.
After the drive has formatted, you can move your files back onto it. , Also, to improve your security, run Windows Update to install the latest security updates.
About the Author
Alexander Palmer
A passionate writer with expertise in organization topics. Loves sharing practical knowledge.
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