Clean Install Windows 7

How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to do a clean installation with a retail Windows 7. A OEM Windows 7 may have a few different screens than below, but basically the same.

Yes, you can do a clean install from a upgrade Windows 7 version.
NOTE: See this tutorial for how: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

   Note

Do a Clean Installation if:

• Your computer has no operating system installed, or it’s running a version of Windows prior to Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 (including Windows XP).
• You do NOT want to preserve your data, programs, or system drivers.
• You want to delete your current operating system and replace it with Windows 7.
• You want to create a multiboot system by installing Windows 7 on a separate hard disk partition.

   Tip

• Sometimes you may have a problem with installing Windows 7 with more than 2 GB of RAM installed on some older motherboards. If you have this problem, then you should install Windows 7 with a maximum of 2GB of RAM installed and add the rest of the RAM after Windows 7 is fully installed. You may need to flash your motherboard BIOS with the latest version to support more RAM like this. (WARNING - DO NOT FLASH THE BIOS if you do not know what you are doing. Please ask for help instead. One mistake can kill your motherboard permanently.)
• Before doing this clean install, you should download and save all of your device drivers to a USB flash drive, DVD, another HDD, or some other media to have them handy to make setting Windows 7 up easier when finished installing Windows 7. For example, having the network driver available in case you cannot connect to the internet until it's installed.

   Warning

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements:

NOTE: For more information on this, see: Windows 7 system requirements

• 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor
• 1 GB RAM for 32-bit Windows 7 OR 2 GB RAM for 64-bit Windows 7
• 16 GB available hard disk space for 32-bit Windows 7 OR 20 GB for 64-bit Windows 7
• Graphics card or chip that supports DirectX 9 with 128 MB memory (to have Aero theme enabled)
• DVD-R/W drive, or bootable USB 2.0 port with Windows 7 USB flash drive
• Internet or phone access to activate Windows 7.

Here's How:1. Boot the computer from your Windows 7 installation DVD/USB.
NOTE: Make sure that the CD/DVD drive is selected first and your HDD second in the boot priority order in your BIOS settings. Usually it is by default.

   Warning

If you want to install Windows 7 using UEFI instead of BIOS, then see this below first.

How to Install Windows 7 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)

   Note

If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file at the links below.

:ar: Microsoft Software Recovery

:ar: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

You can use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the clean install with.

2. If using a DVD, then when prompted, press any key to boot from the installation DVD. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will only have about 8 seconds to press this key. If you miss it, you will have to restart the computer.
3. Set up your language preferences, and click on the Next button. (See screeshot below).
4. Click on the Install Now button to start the installation. (See screenshot below)
5. Check the I accept the license terms box, and click on Next. (See screenshot below)
6. Click on the Custom (advanced) option. (See screenshot below)
7. Select the hard drive or partition that you want to install Windows 7 on, and click on the Drive Options (advanced) link. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If the hard drive or partition that you have selected is unallocated, then you can just click on the Next button instead and go to step 9 since it is already empty.
WARNING: You may not have the Drive options (advanced) option unless the installation is done at boot, and not running the installation from within your current OS.
8. Select a hard drive or partition that you want to do a clean install of Windows 7 on, do what Drive options (advanced) you want if any, and click on the Next button when finished. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If you have your hard drives in a RAID setup, then connect your USB key with the RAID drivers on it, click on Load Driver, select the folder on the USB key that contains the RAID drivers to install them. Afterwards, your RAID drives will be available to select from to install Windows 7 on.

   Tip

Drive options (advanced)

• If you have more than one partition for a disk # (hard drive) and want to get rid of them to make that disk # one partition drive again, then select a partition with that disk # and click on the Delete option for each partition with the same disk # until there is only one "unallocated space" with that disk # left as in the screenshot below.
• To shrink an existing partition to create another partition to install Windows 7 on instead, select the partition you want shrink and click on the Extend option. Type in how much in MB (1 GB = 1024 MB) that you want to shrink it by. Now select the new extended partition.

   Note

The 100 MB System Reserved partition is used for the Boot Manager code, BCD (Boot Configuration Database), System Recovery Options (Windows RE), and start up files for BitLocker (if turned on).

• If you want to have the 100 MB System Reserved partition in addition to the Windows 7 C: partition on a HDD or SSD after installation, then you would need to make sure that all partitions on the drive have been deleted until it is only unallocated space. Next, select the unallocated drive to install Windows 7 on. If there are no partitions on the disk, you will get the 100 MB System Reserved.
• If you do not want to have the 100 MB System Reserved partition and only the Windows 7 C: partition on a HDD or SSD after installation, then select a formatted partition or drive to install Windows 7 on. If there are any partitions on the disk, you won't get the 100 MB System Reserved.

9. The installation of Windows 7 will now begin. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: During the installation process, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.
10. After the final restart, you will see this screen for a moment. (See screenshot below)
11. Type in any user name that you want for your default administrator account and any computer name, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
12. Type in a password you want for your default administrator account. Type it in again to confirm it, then type in a hint for your password. Click on the Next button. (See screenshots below)
WARNING: The password will be case sensitive. The hint will be seen by all users on the computer, so do not type your password as the hint.
NOTE: If you do not want your your user account password protected at this time or do not want to have to type in a hint, then leave this blank and click on the Next button. You can create a password later for your user account in the Control Panel User Accounts after installing Windows 7 without having to type in a hint.


13. Type in your Windows 7 product key number. (See screenshot below step 14)

14. Uncheck the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can activate Windows 7 later after you make sure it is running properly. (See step 21 below)
If you chose to automatically activate Windows 7 online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows three days after you log on for the first time.
15. Click on Use recommended settings to allow automatic Windows Updates and proper security settings. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For more information about these recommended settings, click on the Learn more about each option link in this window.
16. Select your time zone and set your time and date settings, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
17. Click on your computer's correct network location type location to select it and have the settings for that location automatically applied. (See screenshot below)
18. Windows 7 will now prepare your desktop to startup. (See screenshots below)


19. When it's finished and you are at your desktop, you can now remove or disconnect your installation DVD/USB from step 1 above.

20. Install all of your device drivers, then Windows Updates.

21. Refresh your Windows Experience Index (WEI) score.

22. When finished, all you will need to do is to activate Windows 7. (See screenshot below)

   Tip

If you are dual booting with another OS (ex: Vista), then that OS partition may not show up in Computer with a driver letter in Windows 7. You will need to add a drive letter to the OS (ex: Vista) partition in Windows 7 Disk Management for it to show up in Computer with a driver letter.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Downgrade Windows 8 to Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
• How to Use Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
• How to Do a Upgrade Installation with Windows 7
• How to Setup Windows 7 to Boot from a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)
• How to Create a Windows 7 VHD at Boot to Start with from Boot
• How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7
• How to Activate Windows 7 Online
• How to Extend the Windows 7 Activation Trial Period Up to 120 Days
• How to Change the Default Operating System to Start in Windows 7
• How to Change Time to Display Operating Systems at Boot in Windows 7
• How to Delete an Operating System Listed in Windows Boot Manager
• How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key
• How to Install Windows 7 from USB Pen Drive Using Grub4Dos
• How to Create a New Partition or Volume in Windows 7
• How to Fix Missing Vista Hard Disk Partition Letter in Windows 7
• How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Setup a Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP
• How to Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB Device
• Install Windows 7 Without Using Any External Device
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Partition the Hard Drive in a Windows 7 Install
• How to Install Windows 7 on Computer with Less than 512MB RAM
• Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 and Updates to Create a Bootable USB, Installation DVD, or ISO File
• How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 7 from the Windows 7 Desktop
• How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 7 from the Windows XP Desktop
• How to Install Windows 7 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Clean Reinstall a Factory OEM Windows 7
• New Installation: How to Create a General System Image in Audit Mode
• How to Clean Install Windows on a MSATA (SSD) Drive

 

[ssteve]

Great tutorial. Thank you so much.

I have one question though. regarding step 8

My computer came with 3 partitions. 1 C drive and the other 2 are Utilities and recovery backups. I've made a recovery discs already and want to get rid of these 2 drives and have just one C drive with windows 7.

At step 8 do I just highlight those drives and click delete and that space will transfer over to my C drive? Or do I press Format? What does the Extend button do?

I have a vista 32 bit doing a clean install using windows 7 upgrade disc.

thanks for the help and tutorial.

 

[Brink]

Hello Steve, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Correct, you would select each partition on the C: disk and click on delete to have one unallocated space at the end.

 

[ssteve]

Hello Steve, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Correct, you would select each partition on the C: disk and click on delete to have one unallocated space at the end.

thanks Brink, appreciate the welcome and the effort you put into making these tutorials.

can't wait to start windows7

edit: sorry forgot to ask. after i delete the unwanted partitions, i highlight my C drive to install it, but do i first click format then "next".
sorry about such basic questions, never installed an OS before.

 

[Brink]

It's fine to just leave it selected for the unallocated disk, and click Next.

 

[gpzbc]

Is it normal that the Win7 Clean Install required me to create a 100MB System Reserved partition prior to installing Win7?

This happened right after I deleted all of my old partitions and reformatted.
Thanks!

 

[Brink]

Is it normal that the Win7 Clean Install required me to create a 100MB System Reserved partition prior to installing Win7?

This happened right after I deleted all of my old partitions and reformatted.
Thanks!

Yes, it's perfectly normal. This is Windows 7 System Reserved partition used for BitLocker and for recovery options.

 

[gpzbc]

Ah yes, Thank you! And thanks so much for this tutorial. It was right by my side throughout my fresh install of Win7 64-bit.
And the whole process was a success.... and painless!!
Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

It's fine to just leave it selected for the unallocated disk, and click Next.

Does Win7 format unallocated space by default? Just askin.

 

[Brink]

Ah yes, Thank you! And thanks so much for this tutorial. It was right by my side throughout my fresh install of Win7 64-bit.
And the whole process was a success.... and painless!!
Thanks.

You're welcome Gpzbc.

 

[Brink]

It's fine to just leave it selected for the unallocated disk, and click Next.

Does Win7 format unallocated space by default? Just askin.

Hi Greg,

Yep, during a clean or custom installation Windows 7 will automatically format a unallocated space during the installation process if it was selected to install Windows 7 on.

 

[TRehman]

Brink,

Thanks so much for posting this tutorial. I plan on following it when I upgrade to W7.

However, I have one small silly question that I hope you can help with. I keep reading that Windows7 Upgrade requires a previously-installed OS, so I had assumed that all the installation methods on the Upgrade DVD required an OS verification. However, your tutorial states that the clean install works on a blank hard drive -- therefore, does this mean that the clean install will work without an OS reglardless of what media you use to perform the clean install?

I know the answer may be obvious but I just want to confirm that a clean install doesn't require an OS even if it's performed by an upgrade DVD.

Thanks a lot,
T.

 

[Brink]

Hello T. Rehman, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Correct, you can install a retail Upgrade on a blank system without another OS installed, but you need to own a qualifying copy of Vista for it to be legal and meet the EULA.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[TRehman]

Shawn,

Thank you for your reply, it's really appreciated.

Yes, I do own a copy of Vista but I was just trying to figure out what my options are. I had read that the old OS is deactivated after the upgrade so I was worried about having to reinstall W7 in the future without an activated version of Vista. But I think I will create a backup image of W7 for the future, as recommended by gregrocker in another thread.

Thanks again, Shawn!!!!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome. You will have no problem doing a clean install with only the upgrade then.

 

[boiclelayn]

brink, some correction needed in the reg process!

brother, OS action says that its optional which is not true, either make it mandatory or remove 'option'.
anyways, let me congrats u on ur initiative on starting this forum 4 ppl like us. its very simple n helpful, not to mention the screenshots. may god bless u... another thing, i had win xp pro on my laptop with a good processor but only with 512 mb ram. this OS started goofing up so i tried another XP in parallel with the old xp... for some reason i cudn't able to install the latter xp. now d situation is that my laptop doesn't even start. on the OS choice screen, it says 1, ms xp 2, ms xp setup. on choosing either of the two it doesn't get me anywhere n i tried even with the xp installation disk in the drive but still no success. the laptop just restarts by itself on choosing either one of them. ok leave this thing aside, out of curiosity, plz lemme know that if i get win 7 installation disk n put it in the drive, will my laptop be able to start the installation process n successfully able to install win 7... i am sure all my hardware is just fine? going back in the discussion, let me tell u that i have multiple xp installation disks for xp and i tried with all of them and my laptop still hangs in after choosing the OS, so dont be of the view dat my disks might have gone bad.
ur help will be appreciated, btw, i am from india and my name is navjot singh.
again, u AND UR FORUM ROCKS. CAN U CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL COZ I MAY LOOSE THE URL FOR UR FORUM, there r just so may forums like this, but dis one is amonst d top.
take care man!

 

[Brink]

Hello Navjot Singh, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It sounds like it could bea bad hard drive if you can't get that many XP installation discs to install on it.

Windows 7 requires a minimum of 1GB of RAM and 16GB (plus what you want to install) of free hard drive space to be able to be installed. If you only have 512MB of RAM, Windows 7 may not be able to install on it.

 

[sukh23]

i have a weird question about the clean install but lets say I have windows 7 home premium because i upgraded from vista. i was wondering if i could now do a clean install instead because i want to have my system free of any errors. i have already entered my product key for when i upgraded, would i have any problems with it if i was to now do a clean install?

 

[Nosmo]

Yes you can, but you must be careful that you format with the Win 7 disc at the time of your re install.
The win installer will see you present legal version and set a flag in RAM. It knows you are entitled to upgrade, and 'remembers' even after you format the partition in preparation for your new clean install.

Re enter your 25 digit Win 7 key when asked, and all should be well.

Note: Go NOT switch off your computer during the process at any time or the validation flag will be lost.

 

[Techymike]

I just read the entire section. If you create a back up of files from the back up wizard in Vista 64 bit and then do a clean install with the upgrade of windows 7 home premium, can you then install the restore of the back up disk to have Vista as it was but a cleaned and fresh HD install of windows 7? I can do the simple upgrade as I have a valid Vista 64 version but I think a fresh install might be better to clean up what ever is lingering on the HD.

 

[Brink]

Hello Mike,

You could do a Custom install (without formating) from Vista to Windows 7 to have all files from Vista placed into the C:\Windows.old folder in Windows 7 when installation is complete. You can then copy any files from this folder back into Windows 7. When done copying files, you can delete the Windows.old folder to have a clean install of Windows 7 left with whatever files of Vista you copied over.

Hope this helps,
Shawn