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

 

[Nixion]

hey if i don t have a product key what should i do?

Purchase one

well thats OBVIOUS

at the time of installation if i dont have a key can i purchase one later and enter it in?

 

[Brink]

Yes.

If you didn't check the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box (step 14) during installation, then you will have a 30 day grace period before needing to purchase and enter a key.

If you did check it, then you will only have 3 days.

 

[Vista32toWin7]

Hey:

I found this paragraph on the Microsoft Community: Can I do an Upgrade Install on a Clean/Empty Hard Disk?

A. You cannot install an upgrade version of Windows 7 on a blank hard drive. The installation procedure does not ask you to insert a Windows disc in the drive for verification, the actual qualifying operating system must be installed.

I am replacing my Vista 32 bit OS and failing HDD with a new one. Based on the above it appears I can't do a custom/clean install using a "upgrade version" of Win 7 on a new blank HDD. Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

Thanks, Vista32toWin7.

 

[Brink]

Hello Vista32toWin7,

That would be incorrect. You can do a clean install with an upgrade copy of Windows 7. We do it all the time as per the instructions in the tutorial below. You just need to own a qualifying version of Windows to legally (as per the EULA) qualify for the upgrade instead of full copy. Since you have Vista, you do.

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

 

[Vista32toWin7]

Thanks for the reply.

I did read that tutorial, I was under the impression you could do a clean install using the upgrade version if going from Vista 32 bit to Win 7/64 bit. Whether an old or new HDD?

The clean install process wipes the old HDD clean and is blank before installing the new OS, correct?

Wonder what that MS tech was referring to?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

You would only need to do a clean install with the upgrade copy as usual on a blank hard drive without activating, then do an in-place upgrade with the same upgrade copy and activate. (Option Four in tutorial above)

The MS tech is most likely referring to the normal upgrade method of installing the upgrade copy of Windows 7 from Vista instead of the workaround method above for on a blank hard drive.

 

[Vista32toWin7]

Thanks again Brink for your answers/links.

The Clean Install Windows 7 link above also has a tip:tip:at the beginning that I am concerned about. That tip partially states: "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."

My laptop is a 2009 Vista 32 bit OS, which came with 3GB. About a month ago, I switched out the two original 3GB ram sticks with Crucial replacements, and now have 4GB of memory. The above tip suggests to me I should put the two original memory sticks back in until the new Win 7 is installed. Then after the new OS install is complete, replace the original 3GB memory sticks with the Crucial 4GB sticks.

Would doing this be necessary?

This is assuming having one [1] extra GB ram would/could actually cause a install problem? As suggested in the above tip.



Thanks again, Vista

 

[Brink]

Vista,

That's mostly for older motherboards, so I would recommend to try to install Windows first and see if you have any issues or not. If so, then you could try the tip.

 

[leuce]

FWIW, I was unable to create a bootable USB drive using Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool, despite having installed WindowsXP-KB932716-v2-x86-ENU.exe when prompted. I used it on Windows XP. It told me that all my DVDs were broken (I doubt it) and when I tried to create a USB disk, it copied all the files successfully but at the end stated that it could not make it bootable. I googled a bit and found and tried Rufus to create the bootable USB disk, which worked as advertised.

 

[jaytheman]

Hi brink,

Great guide. Is it possible to do this if you already have windows 7 installed? I'm looking to basically format my harddrive and reinstall windows 7 but dont have those recovery disks.

thanks!

 

[Britton30]

Hi brink,

Great guide. Is it possible to do this if you already have windows 7 installed? I'm looking to basically format my harddrive and reinstall windows 7 but dont have those recovery disks.

thanks!

Hello Jay, look under Here's How and see the links in the TIP box. You can download a w7 iso file for your current version and make a disk or Bootable USB flash drive.

Note by using this tutorial you will lose all your programs and personal data. You may want to do http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html instead.

 

[jaytheman]

I'll have a look! thanks britton.

Yeah i want to lose everything haha. Too much junk on my computer and all that. dont feel comfortable just deleting everything and doing system cleans and virus checks etc. I want it totally fresh

thanks again

 

[Britton30]

You're welcome, fresh is the best way to go.

 

[jaytheman]

I'm still a little confused sorry (Total newbie )

I cant just boot with the disc in and wipe/reinstall windows no? What is this ISO file exactly? I thought you would use the install disc? Sorry to be a pain!

Thanks

 

[Britton30]

A iso file is one that is highly compressed, think zipped, and the w7 iso has all the install files included. When you use the Windows USB/DVD tool it decompresses, or expands, all the files in the iso and make the media, DVD or USB drive, bootable.
During the install you will be shown where w7 can be installed. Since you have a Windows installed now it will ask if you want to format the partition.
this will effectively "wipe" the hard drive.

 

[jaytheman]

So, i download the iso file and stick it onto a USB drive right? Do i still boot from the windows 7 installation disc? I'm assuming you will be promted to use this ISO file during the install?

Thanks

 

[Britton30]

You can use either a bootable USB stick OR a DVD you use the tool to make bootable. If you can boot from a USB stick it does the same job as a DVD install disk, but a bit faster, you won't need a disk at all.

The tool will create a disk, if you wish, that will be the same as one you would buy. You will still have to use your current activation key to activate the new install.

I skip the part during install where the option is given to Activate When I'm Online, you can do it afterwards and make sure the install works well.

 

[jaytheman]

Okay, im download the x64 SP1 U iso file at the moment. I think im getting you now! Last thing. So how do i get this started? Cause i was assuming i'd boot with the windows disc in and it would come up with options to re-install etc?

i'll be having the iso file on a usb drive yes!

Thanks!

 

[Britton30]

After you have created the bootable flash drive, reboot to that drive and it will start automatically. Before you start it is a good idea to have only the drive you are installing w7 to, to be connected. Also disconnect everything except your mouse and keyboard.

If you can, print this tutorial so you can follow it along.

 

[jaytheman]

I have a laptop too so i can follow along on that

Is the x64 SP1 U home edition iso file the right one?

im using 64 bit win 7 HE obviously myself.. i also saw x64 SP (old)

do i need to change the bios order to boot from USB also?

Thanks