The best way to install Windows 7 is to do a clean install. It is not difficult to perform a clean installation. Before you start the installation process I recommend that you check Windows 7 System Requirements list to ensure that your hardware is supported by Windows 7. If you don't have Windows 7 drivers for all your hardware, it is a good idea to download all the drivers from the hardware manufacturers website and save all the necessary drivers on a CD-R or a USB drive before you start the installation.
Windows 7 DVD is bootable. In order to boot from the DVD you need to set the boot sequence. Look for the boot sequence under your BIOS setup and make sure that the first boot device is set to CD-ROM/DVD-ROM.
Step 1 - Place Windows 7 DVD in your dvd-rom drive and start your PC. Windows 7 will start to boot up and you will get the following progress bar.
Step 2 - The next screen allows you to setup your language, time and currency format, keyboard or input method. Choose your required settings and click next to continue.
Step 3 - The next screen allows you to install or repair Windows 7. Since we are doing a clean install we will click on "install now".
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Step 4 - Read the license terms and tick I accept license terms. Then click next to continue.
Step 5 - You will now be presented with two options. Upgrade or Custom (Advanced). Since we are doing a clean install we will select Custom (Advanced).
Step 6 - Choose where you would like to install Windows 7. If you have one hard drive you will get a similar option to the image below. You can click next to continue. If you have more that one drive or partition then you need to select the appropriate drive and click next. If you need to format or partition a drive then click Drive options (advance) before clicking next.
Step 7 - Windows 7 starts the installation process and starts copying all the necessary files to your hard drive as shown on the image below.
Step 8 - It will go through various stages of the setup and will reboot your system few times.
Step 9 - When your PC reboots it attempts to boot from DVD as its the first boot device. Do not press any key during the boot prompt so Windows 7 will continue with the installation by booting from the hard drive.
Step 10 - After the reboot your computer will be prepared for first use.
Step 11 - At this stage you need to choose a user name and computer name. Click next to continue. The user account you create here is the Administrator account which is the main account for your Windows 7 that has all the privileges.
Step 12 - Choose your password and password hint just incase you forget your password and need to jog your memory.
Step 14 - Help protect your computer and improve Windows automatically. Choose Use recommended settings.
Step 15 - Review your time and date settings. Select your time zone, correct the date and time and click next to continue.
