An Old School Geek’s approach to Installing & Setting Up a Windows PC

[mtring]

And that will work the same for Windows 7? Thanks for the info. I think I'll carry on with a fresh install using your excellent tutorial as a guide. I have a SSD that I intend to use for the system drive and use the enitre thing, having all the data on a seperate HDD. Do you recommend using DISKPART to do a clean all on this SSD, and then use the installer to install to the entire "unallocated" partition?

 

[Kari]

Diskpart is IMO the best tool available for HD partitioning.

 

[mtring]

So should I use that to create and align SSD partitiions before install or let the installer handle it? The SSD for the OS will use the entire drive.

 

[Kari]

If the entire disk will be used for a single Windows system partition (apart of course possible partitions created by system like System Reserved, Recovery and such) then I see nothing against letting the installer to do the partitioning.

This, of course, is just my personal opinion. Other geeks might give you another opinion

 

[mtring]

Thanks. Excellent tutorial, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Kari]

This one is more a collection of guidelines for a successful setup. If you are interested in more in-depth approach, check this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/319903-windows-7-image-customize-audit-mode-sysprep.html

 

[RoWin7]

This thread is a few years old, but it still demonstrates that your computer can be infinitely configurable and personalized. Yet, outside of the users I know online, the people I know use it right out of the box with no changes.

 

[Kari]

This thread is a few years old, but it still demonstrates that your computer can be is infinitely configurable and personalized. Yet, outside of the users I know online, the people I know use it right out of the box with no changes.

Yes, new computers sold with pre-installed Windows do not require the user to install operating system. The main purpose of the instructions is to show how a clean install can be done, when required, be it a PC you have assembled by yourself, or you for any reason want to wipe disk clean and start from scratch.

Kari

 

[RoWin7]

You're still here, Kari

People I know outside of my forums just throw them out or send them to a recycler when they need a new OS. And they usually toss all their data out with the machine. Even in my computer club, I know only maybe 5 people who know how to install/change an OS. And these are all hobbyists.

I mentioned to several friends that 10 is a nightmare, so I'm staying with 7, and the answer is always "I haven't had any problems with 10."

I might need your help setting up my next machine within this month.

 

[Dimitris B]

Put the DVD in, boot to Windows installation, enter the product key and get coffee while Windows installs. When ready install your favorite game and start playing. Later on maybe a user account or two, some other day also some other software.

Yeah, but how will we play our games anytime soon if we have log in in a stupid service or have to install six hundred Redistributables, or Download them without software such as say a torrent client, a web browser, Steam?