Are There Bad (Early/Outdated) Versions of W-7 Pro?

There are no outdated Windows install media in the sense you apparently mean. Media made before Service Pack 1 does not include as many Windows updates and bringing it up to date after installation needs some more time, but the core Windows is the same whether installed from a DVD made back in 2009 when Windows 7 was published or one from yesterday.

If you boot from the install media (DVD or USB) you always get the drive formatting and partitioning tools selecting Custom Install. However, if you launch Windows setup from desktop of an existing Windows installation, the Custom Install does not show drive tools.

Setup by booting from install media:

Setup by launching it from existing Windows installation:

A recommended way is a normal clean install: Clean Install Windows 7

Kari

You could download a legal copy of Windows 7 with SP1 already incorporated, burn a DVD or create a USB flash drive to install from.

If you do not have a Windows 7 installation DVD, or it's not up to the Service Pack level currently installed, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Windows 7 Direct Download Links

Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file. Just be careful during the install not to accidentally install some of the bundled junk that comes with it. Always take The Custom Install option.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID KEY TO INSTALL THIS .ISO.
The one on the COA sticker on your computer will work.

If you are just using the Recovery Console you do not need a key.

You can also create a bootable USB Flash drive (4GB or larger) to install Windows 7 from.

1. Download and run Universal USB Installer Easy as 1 2 3[/*]
2. Select Windows 7 from the first drop down list, all the way to the bottom[/*]
3. Select the downloaded Windows 7 iso file[/*]
4. Select your USB flash drive[/*]
5. Click Create[/*]

For techies or folks who work on computers:

Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.

This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

Chaim613 said:

Hi,
I bought a W-7 Pro DVD on eBay and installed it to remedy my original W-7 Pro O/S which was very slow. Since then the new O/S has been a disappointment.

My question is did I purchase an outdated/early version of W-7 Pro? or did I install it wrong?

Before I try the obnoxious task of re-installing the O/S, I'd like some experienced opinion about whether there might be something wrong with the O/S DVD.

In my recent O/S re-installation, I didn't see an opportunity to re-format the Hard Disk, which makes me suspicious the O/S wasn't installed correctly.

The DVD is marked SKU-FCC-00129, it doesn't give a mfg. date.

My machine is a Levono ThinkCentre M-Series desktop.

The problems that disappoint me are:
1. Improper Homegroup creation (I'm not able to share a printer, or share files despite numerous creations of a network. The old O/S shared things just fine)
2. Slowness (especially at the end of the day)

I've seen the recommended way to install the W-7 Pro O/S, and it's obvious there is a right way to install and a wrong way. I probably didn't do the job properly. Before I spend the day re-installing, I'd like to have some reassurance I'm on the right track. :)

Thank you, this is a great forum,

First thing.......did you install the Windows updates? Many problems can be solved just by updating.