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

 

[zap9x]

hi , its already on , and i tried to run it manually , no problem or update were needed , so i guess everything is totally fine
TY

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum Shawn the more I look at this the more nauseated I get - thinking of having to do the updates is enough but the drivers and security etc etc

I have no idea how to save the drivers apart from scouring through the system looking for them and to think I might have to do half a days work adjusting the new monitor's settings is just spinning me out.

I did ask in the other tutorial can I just copy / paste the data and programs stuff afterwards from the image on the external?

Edit do you reckon I should clean all the SSD or just use the tutorial by WHS on SSD's to clean it up first.

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

Yeah, you would need the drivers installation files from their manufacturer to install them with. I like to keep mine saved to a secondary data drive to have handy, and updated them as needed.

There's no need to clean the SSD. You could just delete it to all be unallocated like in this tutorial, then select the unallocated space to start installing Windows on.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply Shawn - have not been that well and just picking up now.

I thought that is what I would have to do and as you say I am going to download the lot onto a stick using my laptop - programs drivers etc so I can just go install - install - install

That way I reason that the old machine cannot corrupt in any way the downloads and I am not going to be able to reinstall for a while now as I am living away from home again.

Sorry if I was tad grumpy the other day but not being well and trying to sort the machine for most of the day eventually got to me. I didn't mean to be a nuisance

 

[Brink]

No worries John. I didn't take it that way at all.

I hope the install goes smoothly.

 

[ThrashZone]

Boy you just got to love a clean install when it works

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Shawn mate have had to concede defeat and have a spare EVO SSD that I have installed - disconnecting the problem one first.

Now I know it is a tall ask but if I use the ISO from Greg's tutorial instead of the OEM disk I bought and originally installed would it be likely to avoid a lot of the updates that follow - that is the worst bit for me personally as it is never ending. I was just thinking maybe the ISO would be updated already or at least more than my 18 month old OEM disk??

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

Using the ISO from Greg's tutorial will give you a more up to date initial installation. While not having as many Windows Updates, you will still unfortunately have quite a few to install.

Of course, be sure to have all the latest drivers for your PC downloaded and saved somewhere not affected by the clean install to have available to install after the clean install.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate well it was a battle to get the drive ready and after much mucking around the thing got installed - just as well I have the other machines here as the drivers couldn't be loaded as the USB ports would not respond. Still I did get the LAN one in and have security set up.

Right now am installing the NVidia drivers and then going to try and get the 27" screen put right as it needs a driver the disk that came with it only had a manual on it and the monitor has a nice 2" black border all round.

But the troubles don't end there the new laptop I might have to go back to the slow 8.1 as I cannot flash the BIOS because the drivers for the USB's need the BIOS flashed for the 7 drivers and to do that you need to plug a USB in with the BIOS update and I am having little to no luck with support from Asus or the forum they run for ROG - all I all a horror day

 

[Berkey]

I have nothing on my extra SSD that i plan to clean install 7 with, so would a simple diskpart 'clean' at the cmd window pre installation give me a clean slate since I'm not transferring anything or should I use the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html tutorial?

 

[Brink]

Hello Berkey,

There's no need to use the "Clean" command unless you were unable to delete all partitions on the drive until it shows as "unallocated" as per the tutorial.

Using the tutorial as is will give you a clean state since it's a clean install.

 

[Berkey]

Hello Berkey,

There's no need to use the "Clean" command unless you were unable to delete all partitions on the drive until it shows as "unallocated" as per the tutorial.

Using the tutorial as is will give you a clean state since it's a clean install.

Great. Thanks for your help as usual Brink and Merry Christmas

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Berkey, and Merry Christmas to you as well.

 

[Kaktussoft]

The ISO's as listed in Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links are not downloadable anymore! Where to find the ISO's?

 

[Yard Dog]

Hi.. are you looking at this by Greg ? : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[Brink]

The ISO's as listed in Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links are not downloadable anymore! Where to find the ISO's?

You might give the link below to download a retail copy directly from Microsoft a try to see how it works for you.

Microsoft Software Recovery

 

[Supportacus]

Laughing out loud...The "hint" is your hint. So...Your password must be password! Muahaha :haha:
Better than linking to other sites we have this Tutorial...Good job.

 

[Layback Bear]

Supportacus I'm not understanding your post #536.
Could you please explain.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello Shawn is there any light at the end of the tunnel re those ISO's as coming by copies of 7 is getting hard unless one buys a machine with 8 and downgrade rights.

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

None from any official sources so far.