How to Install Windows 7 (part1)




This step-by-step guide demonstrates how to install Windows 7 Ultimate. The guide is similar for other versions of Windows 7 such as Home Premium.
The best way to install Windows 7 is to do a clean install. It is not difficult to perform a clean installation. Before you start the installation process I recommend that you check Windows 7 System Requirements list to ensure that your hardware is supported by Windows 7. If you don't have Windows 7 drivers for all your hardware, it is a good idea to download all the drivers from the hardware manufacturers website and save all the necessary drivers on a CD-R or a USB drive before you start the installation.
Windows 7 DVD is bootable. In order to boot from the DVD you need to set the boot sequence. Look for the boot sequence under your BIOS setup and make sure that the first boot device is set to CD-ROM/DVD-ROM.
Step 1 - Place Windows 7 DVD in your dvd-rom drive and start your PC. Windows 7 will start to boot up and you will get the following progress bar.
Windows 7 pic1 - Click to enlarge
Step 2 - The next screen allows you to setup your language, time and currency format, keyboard or input method. Choose your required settings and click next to continue.
Windows 7 pic2 - Click to enlarge
Step 3 - The next screen allows you to install or repair Windows 7. Since we are doing a clean install we will click on "install now".
Windows 7 pic3 - Click to enlarge
Step 4 - Read the license terms and tick I accept license terms. Then click next to continue.
Windows 7 pic4 - Click to enlarge
Step 5 - You will now be presented with two options. Upgrade or Custom (Advanced). Since we are doing a clean install we will select Custom (Advanced).
Windows 7 pic5 - Click to enlarge
Step 6 - Choose where you would like to install Windows 7. If you have one hard drive you will get a similar option to the image below. You can click next to continue. If you have more that one drive or partition then you need to select the appropriate drive and click next. If you need to format or partition a drive then click Drive options (advance) before clicking next.
Windows 7 pic6 - Click to enlarge

Step 7 - Windows 7 starts the installation process and starts copying all the necessary files to your hard drive as shown on the image below.
Windows 7 pic1 - Click to enlarge
Step 8 - It will go through various stages of the setup and will reboot your system few times.
Windows 7 pic2 - Click to enlarge
Step 9 - When your PC reboots it attempts to boot from DVD as its the first boot device. Do not press any key during the boot prompt so Windows 7 will continue with the installation by booting from the hard drive.
Windows 7 pic3 - Click to enlarge
Step 10 - After the reboot your computer will be prepared for first use.
Windows 7 pic4 - Click to enlarge
Step 11 - At this stage you need to choose a user name and computer name. Click next to continue. The user account you create here is the Administrator account which is the main account for your Windows 7 that has all the privileges.
Windows 7 pic5 - Click to enlarge
Step 12 - Choose your password and password hint just incase you forget your password and need to jog your memory.
Windows 7 pic6 - Click to enlarge 

Step 13 - You can now type the product key that came with Windows 7 and click next. If you do not enter the product key you can still proceed to the next stage. However Windows 7 will run in trial mode for 30 days. You must therefore activate Windows within 30 days otherwise you can not access your computer after 30 days.
Windows 7 pic1 - Click to enlarge
Step 14 - Help protect your computer and improve Windows automatically. Choose Use recommended settings.
Windows 7 pic2 - Click to enlarge
Step 15 - Review your time and date settings. Select your time zone, correct the date and time and click next to continue.
Windows 7 pic3 - Click to enlarge