Installation of Windows 7

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This information was extracted from the Windows 7 Ultimate Guide.

Welcome to my series of Windows 7 tutorials.

Some of the things that I will cover are:

Hardware - What Microsoft recommends.
What you can expect for your money.
What you can or can not do with Windows 7

So lets look at the hardware - MS says:

Here’s what you need to have:

A PC with these minimum recommended specifications:
- 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor or higher
- 1 GB of system memory or more
- 16 GB of available disk space
- Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aero theme)
- DVD-R/W Drive
Please note these specifications could change. And, some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of "touch," may require advanced or additional hardware

So you have the hardware, now do you have the Operating System?

Preparation -

You need to consider your resources, do you have a computer to load it on by itself or will you be doing a Dual Boot, or maybe in a emulation such as Virtual Machine by VM Ware?

Your first step is make sure the minimum hardware requirements are met.

At first Microsoft was saying that Windows 7 (Win 7) would need a platform (processor) that was at least 2 GHz and two gigs of memory. As you can see from the list above 1 GHz processor and 1 Gig of ram will do. I have installed this on my T-30 Laptop, it has a P4 2.5GHz processor and 1.5 Gig of ram. It will run but the computer struggles until the Operating System is optimized.

The screen shots are from a fresh install on a VM Ware emulator, the VM (Virtual Machine) has two 2.4 GHz processors and 1 Gig of ram, 16 Gig of hard drive space, network, and sound card.

Then you start the computer (system) with the DVD in the drive.

You will see -

The first screen of the Windows 7 install.

Pick you Language, time, currency, and location -

Pick your language, regional currency, and region.

Then press the install button.

Press the Install Button to get the show under way!

And away we go... My install on a SSD and in to a VM (Virtual Machine) took about 20 minutes, a lot better than the previous versions of Windows when installing.

Next the EULA, you have to agree to or the install will just sit at this screen.

Next pick you installation either normal or custom, I have done both and the actual install time was close to the same, 20 or so minutes.

Pick the type of installation you want to do.

Next pick you drive and set the partition size, this install was

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on a VM and I had set the drive size to 16 Gig - which is the minimum install size, I would recommend that the actual partition be at least 30 gig, if you have the room 45 would be better.

Set the size of your Operating System partition, 30 to 45 gig should suffice.

Then the install program starts the file transfer and decompression...

The installation begins, note the progress bar.

Moving along, if you notice there are 22 screen shots, this is about one item per minute.

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Just about complete, notice the green bar, about 75% done. You will also notice the screen flash a couple of times while the installation process tests different video drivers. I had my speakers off and didn't notice any sound, next time I will turn them on.

After about seventeen minutes the installation is about 75% complete.

First of two restarts, long ways from the Win 98 days of multiple restarts! (More tips and techniques in the Windows 7 Ultimate Guide.)

About ninteen minutes and at the first restart.

Getting close to being done.

Setting up the services.

Windows 7 has about twice the number of services that XP had, increased security is the better part of these services.

Continuing the installation.

Almost done with the installation a few more items to take care of.

Enter the name of the primary user and name your computer.

Enter the primary user id and name your computer.

Enter a password and a hint.

Enter you password and hint. The hint is new for Microsoft.

Enter the Product key.

The product key, normally on the DVD jewel case.

Select your level of protection provided by Microsoft.

Pick your level of secutiy and protection.

Set you time zone, adjust the time and date if needed.

Set your time zone, don't for get to set the correct time and date.

Select your type of network, Home, Work, or Public.

Pick your network type, home, work, or public network.

Second restart.

Read to use.

The Windows 7 default desktop background. Very nice.

As I said the install took a little over 20 minutes from the DVD start to the last screen you see. As I work through the OS customizing and tweaking the way I like the desk top look and the underlying functions to work the way I am used to you can follow along.

After upgrading my T-30 IBM Laptop (see How to upgrade your Laptop) I decided to retry the Dual Boot for XP and Windows 7. The Win 7 OS is very responsive and fast. Not bad for a six year old laptop.

You will find more information in the Windows 7 Ultimate Guide.

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