Clean Install Windows 7

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    Clean Install Windows 7

    Clean Install Windows 7

    How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    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.

    Microsoft Software Recovery

    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.
    Clean Install Windows 7-step1.jpg
    3. Set up your language preferences, and click on the Next button. (See screeshot below).
    Clean Install Windows 7-step3.jpg
    4. Click on the Install Now button to start the installation. (See screenshot below)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step4.jpg
    5. Check the I accept the license terms box, and click on Next. (See screenshot below)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step5.jpg
    6. Click on the Custom (advanced) option. (See screenshot below)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step6.jpg
    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.
    Clean Install Windows 7-step7.jpg
    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.

    Clean Install Windows 7-step8.jpg
    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.
    Clean Install Windows 7-step9.jpg
    10. After the final restart, you will see this screen for a moment. (See screenshot below)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step10.jpg
    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)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step11.jpg
    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.
    Clean Install Windows 7-step12a.jpg

    Clean Install Windows 7-step12b.jpg
    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.
    Clean Install Windows 7-step13.jpg
    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.
    Clean Install Windows 7-step14.jpg
    16. Select your time zone and set your time and date settings, then click on the Next button. (See screenshot below)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step15.jpg
    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)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step16.jpg
    18. Windows 7 will now prepare your desktop to startup. (See screenshots below)
    Clean Install Windows 7-step17.jpg

    Clean Install Windows 7-desktop.jpg
    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)
    Clean Install Windows 7-activate.jpg
       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





  1. Posts : 8,476
    Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit)
       #1

    Thats great info. It seems similar to that of windows vista though. but i did not want to take a chance and mess up with my data on the other partitions. so your tutorial has helped me. Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 72,526
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    You're welcome Dinesh.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1
    Windows Vista
       #3

    Thank you very much.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 72,526
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    You're welcome Trongnghia, and welcome to Seven Forums. :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 38
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 OEM
       #5

    Does W7 RC require a signon id and password? Or can I simply by-pass the sign-on? I will be othe only one using my machine at my house...
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,797
    Windows 7 Ulti. x64
       #6

    yep just click on next and go on but why would you not want a password? You can always use( autologin ) so that you don't need to login everytime you start.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 38
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 OEM
       #7

    Good - I was hoping it wasn't a mandated thing. You ask why would I want to bypass? Well... I suppose I could turn that around. Why would I want to have a password protected system? This way, you turn it on and just get to work.
    Now if I was traveling with this beast of a machine, or if it was a laptop things would be different. But this will be sitting in the corner of my kitchen until it's demise more likely than not.
    So simply clicking on NEXT will bypass the whole sign in window and autologin? I am going to be installing the RC on a clean drive and am looking for simplicity
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,797
    Windows 7 Ulti. x64
       #8

    Tang said:
    Good - I was hoping it wasn't a mandated thing. You ask why would I want to bypass? Well... I suppose I could turn that around. Why would I want to have a password protected system? This way, you turn it on and just get to work.
    Now if I was traveling with this beast of a machine, or if it was a laptop things would be different. But this will be sitting in the corner of my kitchen until it's demise more likely than not.
    So simply clicking on NEXT will bypass the whole sign in window and autologin? I am going to be installing the RC on a clean drive and am looking for simplicity
    Right when it asks for a password just click next. however it is like a security thing for networks and sounds like you will be on a network there at home. So what I do is I download a program called autologin and run it it puts a reg edit in your reg and then it logs on for you. but say someone try to access your pc thru your wireless internet and didn't know your password just a little more secure is all.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 72,526
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Hell Tang,

    It best to have a password for better security to help prevent someone from being able to log on to your computer via a network. Instead of using a 3rd party program to automatcally log on to your computer when you have a password, you can set it within Windows 7 instead.

    Log On Automatically at Startup

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


 
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