How to install Windows from a disk. How to install Windows directly from your hard drive using different methods

Hello dear readers of the blog helpcomputerblog!
Quite recently, I had to face the issue of reinstalling the operating system. I want to note. that sooner or later this question or this situation arises for all PC users.
So let's figure out how to change the operating system.
First, we need to prepare: acquire an image of the system that we will install (the image can be written either to a flash drive or to a disk) and written installation instructions.
We install a boot disk (the disk on which the image of our system is recorded) or a flash drive into the USB connector into the tray.
Press simultaneously ALT+CTRL+Delete, which will cause the system to reboot.
It should be noted that during the reboot we need to get into the BIOS of our PC (BIOS - set by the motherboard manufacturer), in most cases you can get into the BIOS through the following keys:

F1 – for Dell, IBM, Packard-Bell, HP computers;
F2 - Samsung, Asus, Acer;
F3 – Sony, Dell;
F10 – Compaq, Toshiba;
F12 – Lenovo;

The access buttons are indicated on the initial splash screen (by the motherboard manufacturer) when you turn on the computer. Let's say. that our access button is Delete, press it.
After clicking Delete. we go to the BIOS menu, in the name of the displayed menus we find the name Coms Setup Utility, if this inscription is present on the screen, then you are on the right track.
Next you need to find Boot Menu

and choose how to boot our PC, with CD/DVD-ROM or flash drive. By default, the first position is to boot from the hard drive, so we must set the CD/DVD drive in the boot list to first place, for this growth, select the first position and press Enter, then use the arrows to select CD/DVD and press Enter again. all is ready.

After all the manipulations, we need to restart our PC. To do this, go to the point Exit and press Enter, confirm, the computer reboots.

After rebooting, a message should appear at the top of the screen “press any key to boot trom CD or DVD”, to continue you must press any key, this operation is a confirmation of our intentions.

Select the language we need and click next.

Click install.

Let’s read and agree to the license terms, check the “I agree” box and click Next.

How to install Windows 7

Subject self-installation of Windows, one of the most popular among computer and laptop users.

Sooner or later, everyone is faced with the need to install or reinstall their operating system, and then the search begins for friends who can do this. It’s not uncommon for such acquaintances to provide this service for money, but there is demand in the market, which means you can make money on it.

Well, I suggest you learn to cope with this task yourself and no longer spend money on it. To install, we need a disk or flash drive with a Windows distribution. Articles that may be useful if you don’t know how to burn a disc and how to upload to a CD-ROM:

How to quickly burn a disk image
How to set disk boot in BIOS
How to set the BIOS to boot from a flash drive
How to extract files from an ISO image
How to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows

So, if you have everything ready, then you can start. I’ll give you one piece of advice: if you’re installing Windows on a laptop, write off the product key right away so you don’t turn it over during the installation process.

I will install Windows 7 from a flash drive, the settings in the BIOS are set, so immediately after restarting the computer, the installation begins. If you are installing from a CD, then at the very beginning, you may have to press any key on the keyboard to confirm the installation will start

At the very beginning, we are asked to select a language, I leave “Russian” and click “Next”

Everything is clear here, just one button “Install”

We accept the license terms

At this step we are asked to choose whether to update the existing Windows or perform a new (full) installation, I choose the second option

Be especially careful here, my hard drive is divided into two (C:) and (D:), and there is also a small system partition, 100 Mb in size. For proper installation, if you are reinstalling an existing system, I recommend formatting the system disk where Windows and this small partition are already installed. I transferred all the important data to disk (D:) in advance, I don’t touch it! Click on the link "Disk Settings"

Now I select the necessary disks one by one and click “Format” (Be careful, all data will be permanently deleted, save them in advance!)

The necessary disks have been formatted, proceed to installation, click the "Next" button

The process of installing data from the disk (flash drive) starts

At the end of the process, the system will automatically reboot, at this moment do not forget to set the default settings in the BIOS or remove the flash drive, otherwise this stage may be repeated :)

We see the familiar installation window, we sit and wait, don’t touch anything, the computer reboots itself

After the reboot, the equipment will be automatically checked and configured

The final stage of installation, here we need to enter a username and come up with a computer name, a username, as you guessed, you also need to come up with, you can write your own :)

You can immediately screw up your account, just to be on the safe side, write down your password somewhere; people often forget it later.

In this window you need to enter the same (license) product key that is located on the sticker on the bottom of the laptop or on the system unit. Click "Next"

Checking if the date and time are correct

Windows finishes applying settings

Done, the desktop appears, installation is complete!

Now all that remains is install drivers and necessary software. As you can see, everything is very simple, now you can earn money by installing only licensed software!

There are several options for installing this operating system, and all of them differ only in minor deviations from the installation process itself. Windows 7 can be installed, for example:

1 . To a new computer;
2 . On top of Windows XP;
3 . To have two systems: XP and “seven”;
4 . So that there are two “sevens”;
5 . Reinstall Windows 7.

During the installation process, you will understand that there is nothing complicated here. It’s scary the first time, but then everything is done with your eyes closed. We will focus on the most common option, this is when your operating system “crashes” or is damaged by viruses and no longer shows any signs of life.
So, let's get started.

1. Go to “BIOS”.

Insert the distribution disk Windows 7 into the DVD drive and send the computer to reboot. Immediately after the reboot, the motherboard welcome window will appear for 2–3 seconds, prompting you to press the “ DEL", and in laptops " F2».

Once the welcome window opens, press the "" button on your keyboard several times. DEL" or " F2" to get to " BIOS" If you do not have time in this short period of time, then the reboot procedure will have to be repeated again, since the computer will begin to boot from the hard drive.

So, we did everything right and got to " BIOS" to the section " Main».

Using the tips, and in different models of motherboards they can be slightly modified, move to the section “ Boot" (loading).
In my case, movement is done using the arrow buttons " up down" or " left-right" located on the keyboard, and for most laptops the navigation buttons will be F5 And F6.

While in the " Boot"go to the menu item" Boot Device Priority» by pressing the « button Enter».

A boot menu window opened in front of us, where it is indicated that the computer should boot from floppy disk, and if there is none, then the next device is HDD. Well, the last one on this list is CDROM.

Here, we choose to boot the computer from the DVD drive. Therefore, press the button " Enter"And another window opens in front of us, in which we need to select our drive.
Arrow keys " up down"go down to the line " CDROM:3S-Optiarc DVD RW AD-5260" and click " Enter" The name of your DVD drive will be different.
In the case of a laptop, the navigation buttons will be F5 And F6.

As you can see, the DVD drive is the first on the computer's boot list.

2. Install Windows 7 on your hard drive.

After the reboot, a window will appear for a short time, where in the upper left corner there will be a request line to start the installation from the DVD drive. Press any key. If the key is not pressed, the computer will start booting from the hard drive.

The Windows 7 setup program will launch, determine the minimum hardware required for installation, and copy the necessary installation files to your hard drive.

All. We have done the hardest part, and now all that remains is to follow the instructions of the installation program.
In this window, select the installation language.

Here we select the language of the operating system and click “ Further».

Press the button " Install» to start Windows installation.

In the next window you will need to select the version of Windows 7 that was previously installed on your computer. It is important to know here: a 32 or 64-bit operating system was installed on the computer, otherwise there will be problems with the operation of the hardware if it is not designed to work with a 64-bit system.
As a rule, if you have more than 3 GB of RAM, you can safely install the 64-bit version of the system. Once you have decided, click “ Further».

If you are installing the system on a laptop, then the system data can be taken from the sticker glued to the bottom of the laptop.

We agree to the License Agreement and click “ Further».

Select the full installation.

After some time, the installation program will automatically detect the partition in which it will offer to install the operating system. But you can also specify which partition you want to install Windows in. In our case, we leave everything by default and select “ Disk setup».

In this window we select formatting section. The program will immediately warn you that you will lose all unsaved data in this section. And since we have no choice - Windows still won’t load, we definitely click “ Further».

By formatting a hard drive partition, we plow it, as it were, creating favorable “soil” for files and folders of the new operating system.
Now all you have to do is wait until Windows is installed on your computer.

Once the installation of files is complete, the computer will reboot.

After the next reboot and in the future, while the system is being installed, you will see a window with a request to start the installation.

Don't click anything, because the necessary files are already downloaded to your hard drive, and there is no need to download them again from the installation disk.

3. Completing the installation of WINDOWS 7.

Windows now prompts you to enter some more information to complete the installation. In the window that opens, enter the computer user name and click “ Further" You can enter your name.

This window prompts you to enter a password for your account. You may or may not enter it. I usually don't enter a password. Click " Further».

The next window prompts you to enter your product key. Click " Further».
You don’t have to enter it, but use this operating system for 30 days. But after this period, you will need to activate Windows by entering the key.

We check the set date, time and time zone.

We are waiting for the settings to be applied.

All. Now you can be congratulated on self-installation Windows 7 operating system.

4. Add some shine.

Let's add a couple more necessary touches.
As you noticed, the screen resolution is a little high, and the elements " Desktop"look large.
Right-click on “ Desktop" and in the context menu that appears, select " Screen resolution».

As you can see, the default screen resolution is 800x600 pixels. It changes with a slider located in the window that opens with permission options. Select the one you need and click “ Apply", And " OK».

And the second thing that must be done is to restart the computer and enter “ BIOS" to change the download option.

We also go to the section “ Boot" and from the menu item " Boot Device Priority» by pressing the « button Enter"We get to the boot menu. Here we choose to have the computer boot from default hard drive.

If you have a desktop PC, then it will be enough to install the latest drivers for the webcam, if you have a camera.

For laptop owners, you will have to install a little more drivers: for a video card, webcam, touchpad, Wi-Fi, and possibly for some other device. They can all be downloaded from the laptop manufacturer’s website.

Now you can use the computer.

And if you have any questions about installing Windows 7, be sure to watch this video.

Turn off your computer and start it again. During the boot process, press the Delete, F2, F10 or other key (depending on the type of motherboard). This will take you to your computer's BIOS settings. Go to the Boot section and select Boot Device Priority. You will see a list that determines the order in which your computer will boot. In the 1st Boot Device line, select the CDROM device, this way you indicate that the computer should first try to boot from a CD or DVD. When finished with the settings, press the F10 key and confirm saving the changes by pressing the Ok button. Wait until your computer restarts.

Start installation

Insert the Windows 7 OS disc into the drive and restart your computer again. The Install Windows operating system installation program window will appear on the screen. Select Language to install, Time and currency format, and Keyboard or input method. Click Next.

Selecting OS type

Select the type of operating system you want to install. It depends on the architecture of your computer (x86 or x64). This step is not always present during installation; its presence depends on the build of the Windows 7 installation disk.

Terms of use and installation method

In the Please read the license terms window, you can familiarize yourself with the terms of use of the Windows 7 operating system. After reading them, check the I accept license terms box and click Next. Next, you need to choose how to install the system. The Upgrade item provides for updating an already installed OS to a new version. The second item – Custom (advanced) is intended for installing a new system on your computer. Choose the second item. Please note that before installing a new operating system, it is recommended that you back up all data on your hard drive.

Installation process

Select the hard drive partition where you want to install the operating system and click Next. Next, the automatic system installation process will begin, during which the computer may be rebooted several times. This concludes the main part of the system installation.

Additional settings

Upon completion of the installation of the operating system, you will be asked to make additional settings: user credentials and passwords, a key to activate the license of the installed copy of the system, the method of protecting the system, the time and time zone, the type of computer network used, etc. All these settings are carried out sequentially, following the simple instructions displayed on the

The article is suitable for beginners who want to do everything correctly and efficiently. I didn't limit myself to simple instructions, so it turned out to be something like a mini-tutorial - this will provide an understanding of the process itself and give the necessary knowledge to novice users.

Although we are talking about installation Windows 7, my advice is suitable for Windows 8 and thrown to the sidelines of history Windows Vista.

Selecting Windows 7 version

Assembly or original distribution?

So-called “Windows builds” are very popular on the Internet. Why are they good and why do many experts advise against installing them? To answer this question, as well as help with choosing a distribution (installation disk), you should first explain what an assembly is.

Assembly in this case means a modified version of Windows. Some advanced users with “skillful hands” change the settings and composition of installed components, the contents of system files, add various programs - this is how the next build of Windows is obtained. All assemblies are de facto pirated, but the advantages and disadvantages of unlicensed software will be discussed in the corresponding chapter.

Pros of assemblies:

The user receives an externally “beautiful” and functional system with installed programs, which saves the user from routine installation and configuration work.
Drivers integrated into the assembly eliminate the need to search for and install them manually.
Windows updates integrated into some builds eliminate the need to manually update the operating system (OS).
The installed assembly often loads faster due to the supposedly “unnecessary” components being disabled.
No need to waste time entering the license key and activation.

Due to modified system files (for the sake of decoration, for example), system file protection does not work correctly. I mean not only the “System Protection and Restore” function, but also other software mechanisms hidden from the user’s eyes. Alas, many authors of builds believe that everything needs to be turned off; as a result, a system is installed on the computer that is practically helpless in matters of recovery after failures. By the way, on the Microsoft website there is a good one with the correct argumentation of why the “protection” cannot be disabled.
Tweaks are all kinds of settings changes designed to “speed up the system.” In assemblies, tweaks are used in mass quantities. I don’t argue that some registry edits and disabling services can make the system more responsive on slow, old computers. But by disabling services and tampering with system settings, we doom Windows to crashes. What is more important to you: launching a program 0.1 second faster and constant glitches in operation, or stable operation without crashes and errors? Moreover, tweaks have virtually no positive effect on real performance in computing tasks.
Drivers. For Windows XP, driver integration is useful, as it allows you to install the operating system on laptops with SATA interfaces. This has been well written about. I have no objections here. For Windows Vista and later systems, driver integration has become meaningless because the necessary drivers are already present in the standard distribution. Drivers for video cards, sound cards, etc. are also integrated into the assemblies, and they are often stripped down (there may be missing files somewhere). As a result, the user receives a system with installed drivers that work anyhow (no sound, the microphone does not work, the touchpad on the laptop is glitchy, etc.). The problem also manifests itself in another scenario: a person installs a modern toy and finds out that it slows down on a seemingly modern computer! What's the matter? The casket simply opens up: new versions of drivers, optimized and improved, are released for all modern games. The user, when installing a Windows build, does not think about the fact that the drivers need to be updated - after all, everything works anyway. As a result, the computer does not use its power at 100%. But it was enough to follow the link and download a normal driver (I will give these links later, in the chapter on installing drivers).
Once again about drivers. Builders also like to remove drivers for older devices. As a result, having connected an old but working printer, the user has to scour the Internet in search of a suitable driver. That is, on the one hand, it seems like there is a driver, but it doesn’t seem to be there.
An unlicensed OS (Windows builds, I emphasize - always pirated) imposes restrictions (more on this a little later) when working with the system. Even by entering the license key, the situation cannot be corrected - the files have been changed, everything has been shoveled, activation will work anyhow, plus this is still a violation of the license agreement.
A large set of installed software confuses beginners. In this case, they make a reasonable and, to some extent, correct decision - they simply ignore the strange icons located on the Desktop. However, programs can and do run without the user's knowledge, causing many tray icons to appear (near the clock), which again confuses the user who is not familiar with these programs. And if a curious person starts launching everything and pressing buttons, then there is a high chance of getting a buggy system or even “killing” it. The fact that each running program takes up some part of the computer’s resources is not worth mentioning - this disadvantage is obvious.

My opinion is: Windows builds are evil. Install a clean, unmodified Windows distribution if you want the operating system and programs to be as stable as possible. If you do not agree with me, I advise you not to be indignant and not to prove to me the advantages of certain “proven” assemblies, but to go here or here and ask there - people with extensive experience and relevant knowledge will answer you. Or they won’t answer, because for many it is obvious that assemblies are evil.

There are also assemblies for automatic installation of Windows, where the installation script is written and the bare minimum is integrated, for example, updates. There are no complaints about such assemblies, because their purpose is specific, their creators clearly know the purpose of such an assembly. Most often, such distributions are made using Windows AIK.

About Windows 7 editions

Windows 7 has several publications(options, versions - called differently). Editions differ in their set of functions and system requirements. For example, the publication " Home basic" works quite well on older computers with 512 MB of RAM, while " Maximum"The publication will noticeably slow down on such a computer due to the presence of such a resource-intensive component as the interface" Aero"(that same translucent window design).

The functionality of your computer depends on the choice of edition.

Performance, as I mentioned above, also varies, but this is only noticeable on slow PCs. With more than 2 GB of RAM and a processor with at least two 2 GHz cores, the difference between the editions in performance and responsiveness is almost unnoticeable. You should not choose a publication with “reserve” functions. It is better to install on your computer the version that exactly meets your requirements. Features you don't need will only get in the way and waste your hard drive and RAM space. In the future, you can always change the edition without completely reinstalling Windows.

Types of editions of Windows 7

Although I'm talking about editions of Windows 7, the situation is similar with Windows Vista and the not yet released Windows 8. True, there is no point in installing Windows Vista due to the fact that it is already a “last generation” operating system, and Windows 8 currently exists only in a beta version, unstable and unfinished. I repeat once again: do not rush and run to the store for Windows 7 Ultimate. First, you should know what editions of Windows exist.

Windows 7 has six editions: Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate Ultimate). Let’s put the “corporate” edition aside, because it is intended for work in organizations. In terms of functions, this edition duplicates “Maximum”, but has a different license. Let’s also forget about “Elementary”, because this edition is only available in an installed form on cheap netbooks, and its functions are limited as much as possible. This means that we have a choice of four editions of Windows 7 available to home users: Windows 7 home Basic(Home Basic), Windows 7 Home extended(Home Premium), Windows 7 Professional(Professional), Windows 7 Maximum(Ultimate).

Aero theme support- a very nice and beautiful thing, but it eats up a lot of resources. This is especially noticeable on laptops - turning on Aero shortens battery life. Windows 7 Home Basic is different in that Aero support is disabled. You can enable Aero by cleverly manipulating files and the registry; there are many instructions on this topic. Perhaps the only interesting feature of the seemingly unattractive Home Basic version is its lower system requirements. If you have an old computer with 512 MB of RAM, you can install Windows 7 Home Basic instead of the outdated Windows XP. Games will run more slowly, since Windows 7 itself requires more resources, but the Home Basic version is quite unpretentious in terms of resources due to its “lightness” in terms of components, requiring less RAM for its operation. And if you plug a fast flash drive into USB and turn on ReadyBoost on it, the “old horse” will get a second wind! This will be especially noticeable with a slow hard drive. Aero is supported by all editions except Home Basic.

Windows Media Center- a good thing, its functionality goes far beyond the scope of a regular video player. True, I don’t use Media Center, PotPlayer is enough for me. But you may like this program. All editions of Windows support it except Home Basic.

Home Group Support- a useful feature that allows you to use shared folders and files, as well as printers and other devices. It differs from the usual “File and Folder Sharing”, familiar to users of Windows XP and Vista, in its simplicity of settings. See the settings in the Network and Sharing Center. A good article talking about Windows 7 Homegroups is here. All editions of Windows support this useful technology, except for the deprived Home Basic.

Windows XP Mode support- an indispensable thing for those who use old programs that do not work in Windows 7. Windows XP Mode is Windows XP installed in a virtual machine. All programs launched in this mode actually run in a virtual computer running Windows XP, so the window of such a program will be framed by the recognizable blue frame of the Windows XP theme. Owners of the Professional and Maximum editions can download and install this component from the Microsoft website at any time. So if they tell you that some program does not work in Windows 7 and you need to install Windows XP, educate this person about Windows XP Mode. Two disadvantages of this technology:

3D games do not work in this virtual machine. - Windows 7 Home Basic and Home Premium editions do not support Windows XP Mode.

Installing programs in this virtual machine requires unnecessary movements - it will be a bit difficult for a novice user.

Plus: the issue of compatibility with Windows XP disappears - the programs will run in real Windows XP, and not Windows 7. Moreover, all documents, files - everything opens normally in programs running in virtual Windows XP. From the user's point of view, everything works as it should, only the window is framed by the blue frame of the Windows XP interface.

Domain support- the ability to connect a computer to a domain, which is of little use for a home user. Read more about domains. Works in Professional and Maximum editions. Relevant for those who use their personal laptop for work, connecting to a network with domains.

Drive encryption with BitLocker- for conspirators and those who store Very Important information on the computer. The job description is located. Works only in the Ultimate edition. Fortunately, this is not the only solution for disk encryption; there are also free ones. For example, TrueCrypt.

It seems to me that for most users it will be enough Home extended editions of Windows 7. There is little point in installing the Maximum or, God forbid, the Corporate edition. Besides the price...

Windows 7 system requirements

Which computer is suitable for installing Windows 7 is written in detail on the Microsoft website. I will limit myself to a brief retelling with an explanation:

The processor frequency must be 1 GHz or higher. Of course, comfortable work is impossible on such a slow computer, but it will work. Windows 7, unlike the outdated Windows XP, effectively uses multi-core processors, but will also work on a single-core processor.
RAM must be 1 gigabyte or higher for a 32-bit system, 2 gigabytes for a 64-bit system. Read more about this in the next chapter, I’ll just say one thing - It is quite possible to run both 32- and 64-bit Windows 7 on a computer with 512 MB of RAM. Windows itself will work quite quickly, but if you run any program, there will be brakes due to lack of RAM. Conclusion: it will be possible to work on a computer with 512 MB of RAM, but you will have to be patient (I advise you to change the window design to the classic one, like in Windows 2000, in order to save fifty or even more megabytes of RAM). On computers with 1 GB of RAM, comfortable work is possible, with the exception of games - any modern game requires 2 or more GB of RAM and this does not depend much on the version of Windows.
The video card must support DirectX 9 at a minimum. In fact, Windows 7 will work on an older video card, as long as there is a compatible driver. Also, with an old video card that does not support at least DirectX 9, the beautiful Aero interface (translucent window design) will not be available. I talked more about DirectX in the article.
16 gigabytes of free hard disk space for 32-bit Windows 7, 20 GB for 64-bit. Please note - this is the bare minimum; there will not be enough space for programs and games.
Internet is also very desirable- to receive updates, new antivirus databases, and so on.

To find out what kind of computer you have, you can download and run the program - it is easy to use and the information it gives about the computer hardware is understandable to novice users. Also further in the text there will be other tips on the topic of determining the contents of the computer.

Which system to choose - 32 bit or 64?

There are endless debates about what bit capacity the system should be. It is unlikely that I will be able to put an end to this issue. At least I’ll tell you in simple words about the current situation with the bit capacity of systems.

System capacity can be 32 bat and 64 . It is more correct to denote the bit depth as x86 And x64, but this confuses beginners (I’ve come across opuses like “which system to choose - 86 bit or 64?”). Therefore, to avoid confusion, I will use the numbers 32 and 64.

We, as PC users, notice the most distinctive feature between 32- and 64-bit Windows: 32-bit systems cannot work with more than 4 GB of RAM (in fact, even less - the system “sees” about 3.5 GB). There is a way to force a 4 GB 32-bit system to be seen using a special patch, but there is no particular point in this - Windows begins to behave unstable. I talked more about the limitations of 32-bit Windows in the article

64-bit Windows 7 allows you to work (not just display a figure about the amount of installed memory, but also effectively use this volume) with 192 GB of memory, which is good. 64-bit Windows allows you to run 32-bit programs. At the same time, the 32-bit version cannot run 64-bit versions of programs. 64-bit programs will have a speed advantage over 32-bit versions due to more efficient calculations. Also, the x64 system is better protected from viruses (but an antivirus is still needed).

There is also a downside to the coin: 64-bit Windows and 64-bit programs take up a little (100-150 MB in total) more RAM due to the fact that the amount of data they work with increases. However, this difference is not always noticeable. The second problem is that some 32-bit programs do not run on a 64-bit system or crash with errors. Again, the number of incompatible programs is small enough to ignore this drawback.

My advice: if you install Windows 7 on a personal computer with at least 2 GB of RAM, and plan to add more in the future - choose x64 version. In this case, one fine day you will go to the store, buy a memory card, insert it into your computer and continue to use the computer, rejoicing at the increased speed. The added RAM will be used, everything will be fine.

If the computer had 32-bit Windows, then there will be more hassle. To use more than 3.5 GB of RAM (otherwise why did you install more RAM?), you will need to completely install the 64-bit version, because you cannot simply update the system bit depth. You will have to delete everything, clean or format the hard drive, and then install Windows x64 from scratch. There is a good article about this Windows 7: Migration to 64-bit version. By the way, when you purchase licensed Windows, the box will contain disks of both bit sizes - x86 and x64.

Helpful information

To determine the bitness of your installed Windows, open Control Panel - System and Security(if you have categories disabled, this item will not appear, the next one will appear immediately) - System:

If you have a 64-bit operating system installed, it is easy to guess that the processor in your computer is 64-bit, because 64-bit Windows requires an appropriate processor. If you have 32-bit Windows installed and you doubt that your computer's processor supports 64-bit (which is currently unlikely, unless your computer is more than 7 years old), you will have to use the free CPU-Z program - link. The program will show information about the processor:

The processor supports 64 bits if one of the following names is present in the Instructions line: EM64T, AMD64, Intel64.

About the Windows license and a useful trick

I won’t talk about the fact that piracy is bad, evil, etc. This has been discussed and is being discussed, writing about it again is a waste of time. It is more interesting to talk about what distinguishes “pirated” Windows from licensed ones. I will also share a useful trick regarding the trial period of using Windows, which many novice users do not know about. This will allow you not to use “activators”, which will allow you to legally use Windows for a long time.

Technical support

It would seem, what is the difference between a disc for 300 rubles and that box over there for “a lot of money”? It is huge, but not everyone knows about it. Microsoft, unfortunately, is somehow modestly silent about the “goodies” of the license. The only proper description of the benefits of the license is on this page, where I want to especially highlight an important point:

“Oh, well, I can ask a programmer I know!” - skeptics will dismiss it. And they will be wrong. Microsoft technical support has an advantage over all “programmers”: people working in technical support have much more experience resolving problems with the system than anyone else. In the end, this is their job, their bread, and their knowledge is appropriate.

By the way, take a look at the page Troubleshooting problems in Windows 7 - a lot of useful things are written there. There are, unfortunately, some bad nuances. The first is related to the OEM license. If you bought a laptop or desktop computer with an OEM license (Windows, which comes with the computer), then the store that assembled your PC or the computer (laptop) manufacturer is obliged to provide you with technical support. That is, if Windows malfunctions on such a computer, go to the store where you bought the computer with an OEM license and demand that the problem be solved. Microsoft technical support can simply refer you to the same store or to the manufacturer. The second nuance is that technical support takes longer to solve problems than a knowledgeable person nearby. On the other hand, Microsoft employees will not give bad advice, but a familiar “programmer” may make a mistake.

Legal right to use

A Windows license legally secures your right to use this operating system on your computer - that is, no “checks” will be scary.

About Windows updates

In addition to legal subtleties and the right to contact normal technical support, and not run around the Internet looking for advice, there are a number of advantages associated with the reliability of Windows. The most important of them is related to updates for Windows and programs.

Antivirus is not able to cope with 100% of all threats - this is a fact. There are many ways to launch a virus without direct user interaction. For example, the Kido virus (description), which has infected more than 12 million computers as of January 2009, actively exploits the vulnerabilities of the Server service. If all Windows users installed updates that covered these vulnerabilities, then the epidemic of the above-mentioned computer virus would not have happened. Reality is a harsh thing, which is why the virus still lives on from users who have not enabled the update function.

In pirated versions of Windows, the update function is usually disabled, because Windows activation system updates come along with updates that cover security holes and fix problems with programs. As a result, a person using Windows activated by an illegal method (activator) will either have to forget about updates and expose his computer to attack, making it a potential breeding ground for infection (I repeat - antivirus in this case is not a solution to the problem!), or control the installation of updates by checking - Will the activator break after updating the protection? This is how computers that are infected with viruses appear - a novice user follows the recommendations for unlicensed activation, disables the update function, and then wonders: “I have an antivirus, why do I have viruses on my computer?!”

I won’t say anything about assemblies - they sometimes come with malicious programs (for example, the Zver assembly). So licensed Windows is more secure than pirated Windows. And this is not advertising, but a proven fact. To be fair, I would like to note that sometimes activation fails on licensed Windows. The reasons for this are not entirely clear. However, this happens less often than when using pirated activators. There is interesting information about Windows Update on Wikipedia - link. You will find the updater itself in the Control Panel and in the Start menu - All Programs.

I recommend in " Parameter settings» check if automatic updates are enabled:

Some drivers are also updated through Windows Update. While writing this article, the author just received new updates:

Free antivirus Microsoft Security Essentials.

It is available to all licensed Windows users; you can download it from here. The antivirus is pretty good. Clearly better than free Avast, which for some reason is very popular, despite its helplessness.

Windows trial period

The same trick I talked about earlier. If you do not have a Windows license, but you agree with my arguments about the advantages of licensed software and, unfortunately, do not have the money to purchase a license, you can do this: install Windows 7 and Not activate it. In this case, the trial period countdown timer will work, which is 30 days from installation Windows. The main thing is to install the edition of Windows that you want to buy in the future.

When you buy Windows, just open the “System” window - at the very bottom there will be an activation link. If you haven’t managed to find money in 30 days (let me remind you, Windows 7 Home Premium costs 4,290 rubles, which is not that much), then you can reset the trial period and use the 30-day trial period again. And so on up to three times. In total, you can use Windows for free without activation or reinstallation until 120 days! I think it is quite possible to collect the required amount during this time. Instructions for extending the trial period can be found here.

Installing Windows 7

Where can I get the Windows distribution?

Although Microsoft itself recommends installing Windows from the original licensed disk, the site allows installation from other sources, as long as the contents of the disk coincide with the original one. Disk images, supposedly 100% identical to those that come in beautiful boxes with licenses, are, for example, here - link. Naturally, there is no point in downloading the entire contents of a torrent distribution; you need to select a separate disk image. How to do this is written. How to burn a downloaded disk image to a DVD, written

If you don't want to burn a Windows installation disc, you can burn the installation to a USB flash drive. There are two good instructions for this: How to install Windows 7 from a flash drive using WinToFlash (easier) and Installing Windows 7 from a flash drive (more difficult). It doesn't matter which method you choose.

Installation process.

Now that we're done with the preparations, let's begin the installation. Read my article to configure your computer to boot from a disk or flash drive. If everything is configured correctly, when you turn on the computer, instead of loading Windows, a black screen with the line “” will appear.

Press any button and the installation will start (a loading indicator will appear). After which we see a window with language settings, where everything is already configured. Click " Further»:

The next window is interesting with the item “ System Restore" If you already have Windows Vista or 7 installed, which for some reason does not work, this item may help you. But at the moment we are installing Windows 7, so we click the " Install»:

Then select the Windows edition. Choose the one for which you have a license. If you install Windows on a laptop that already had Windows 7 preinstalled, there will be a sticker on the bottom of the laptop with the license key and edition information.

After selecting a publication from the list, click “ Further" In the next window you must accept the license agreement. For some reason I remembered an episode from the animated series “South Park”, where the main characters forgot to read the license agreement and it turned out that... Well, never mind. We agree and click “ Further».

Next, we are given items to choose from Update(if the computer already had Windows) and Full installation. Windows XP cannot be upgraded to Windows 7, but Vista to 7 is quite possible - all settings and programs will be saved. Since I’m talking about a “clean installation from scratch,” click on the “Full installation” option:

The next window requires explanation - what and how. We are asked to partition the disk:

The disk can be divided into sections. Each partition will appear in the Computer window as a separate hard drive. The process is called "logical disk partitioning".

In the screenshot you see that the disk of the computer where I install Windows 7 already has two partitions. Section 1 created Windows 7 for its needs (the bootloader is a kind of protection against those who like to delete files and against malware). This section is hidden and you will not see it in the “Computer” window. Its size is 100 MB, which is trivial by modern standards. Section 2 contains already installed Windows 7, which I want to remove by installing a new Windows. In principle, you don’t have to delete the old Windows, then after installing Windows 7 on the disk C: there will be a folder Windows.old, where you will find the old operating system files. It will also contain a Users folder with documents, shortcuts and other files from the user of the former operating system.

Do not delete the Windows.old folder!!! More precisely, you can delete it, but only using the disk cleanup function. Instructions for correctly deleting the Windows.old folder are located It is also possible to restore Windows from this folder, but there is no guarantee of normal operation. Instructions In addition to everything, there may be other sections. For example, laptops have their own Windows recovery system, for which an image of an already installed and configured system is stored on a hidden partition, which, if desired, can be “unpacked” instead of a buggy Windows. Whether to delete this section or not is up to you.

I recommend the simplest and most reliable way- format (clear the contents) of the Windows partition and install our Windows 7 there. To do this, click “ Disk setup", click on Section 2(if you had Windows XP or Vista, then this will be Partition 1, of type System) and press Format:

I hope you have backed up all your documents and files in advance because Drive C: will be cleared. The desktop is also the C: drive. Nuance: if you previously had Windows installed incorrectly, then Partition 1 may be drive D: or be designated by a different letter. Moreover, the system could be on a drive other than C:, then the confusion would be even greater. Pay attention to the partition sizes to format the partition you need. In case of any problems, the author of the article is not responsible! Don't forget to make backup copies of all important documents by saving them to a DVD, flash drive or another computer. After formatting, click " Further”and the installation itself will begin:

This stage can take up to half an hour. It is not necessary to sit and look at the monitor so as not to damage your eyes. After installation, the computer will reboot and the message “ Press any key to boot from CD or DVD…" - but you don’t need to press anything for the installation to continue from the hard drive. A username entry window will appear. Here I will share with you a very useful trick - enter the name only in English letters:

In the future, you can change the name through the Control Panel - User Accounts, writing it there in Russian letters. But at the first stage after installing Windows, it is best to write the name in English so that games and programs do not “glitch”. Also write the computer name in English. Next, you can set a password for your account:

Here you can specify a password

It's not obligatory. In the future you can set a password in Control Panels - User Accounts. After clicking Next, the next step is to activate Windows.

However, you can skip it and enter the key later, even after a month or six months - I talked about this in the chapter on licenses. In the next window, I strongly recommend clicking the largest button:

I hope you have unlimited Internet, because the size of the files that Windows will download after installation can total more than half a gigabyte. The fact is that after the release of Service Pack 1 (service packs are sets of updates), a fairly large number of updates have already been released. Naturally, they are not included in Service Pack 1 for Windows 7, because the first service pack for Windows 7 was released at the beginning of 2011. Next, it remains to set the time and time zone:

And select the computer location:

This network feature is important because different types of connections require different security settings. Which item to choose is up to you, the description of the options is quite clear. Then we wait for Windows to configure itself. The Desktop will appear. Here I recommend rebooting your computer and setting the BIOS back to boot from the hard drive. You can remove the Windows installation disc.

Problems during the installation process

Unfortunately, this also happens. Problems that arise during the Windows installation process are addressed

Installing drivers

I talked about such an important and mandatory step as installing drivers in - both operating systems are identical in terms of installing drivers, there is no point in duplicating the material.

Windows setup

What can and cannot be customized

Oddly enough, you can go into Windows settings. This is your computer, you need to customize it to suit you. Nothing bad will happen if you open it Control Panel and look at various items, change the wallpaper on the Desktop... This is allowed, this is what the Control Panel is for. But " tweaks"(hidden settings), about which there are articles written on the Internet that copy each other, should not be done. Such settings will not increase speed, but glitches will definitely appear. Maybe not right away, but they will appear. All these registry edits, changing the startup type of Windows services, changing interrupt priorities and other settings with interesting words are just in theory can increase computer performance. In practice there is only one harm, and the acceleration is noticeable due to the placebo effect.

Conclusion: Any settings not available in the Control Panel may be harmful. You can do whatever you want in Control Panel because it's your computer, just read the help first (to display help, click F1 on the keyboard - a lot of useful information is written there). The “Administration” folder in the Control Panel contains the very thing that should not be touched, although there are also very useful “Event Viewer” and “System Monitor” - these are information components that allow you to identify problems that are invisible to the eye in Windows.

Screen resolution

For beginners, it is often a problem to set the screen resolution correctly. Often, a novice user does not know what screen resolution is. However, it is important to know this and be able to configure it. Firstly, if the resolution is incorrect, the picture on the screen will be of incorrect proportions, and secondly, it will be cloudy.

You should protect your eyes, so you need to adjust the resolution: right-click on the Desktop and select " Screen resolution" The setting we need is there, with the most optimal resolution highlighted with the word “recommended”:

If such a word is not in the list, press F1 on the keyboard - help for the open window will appear. In our case, help on setting resolutions will open with a table of recommended resolutions for different screen sizes. If the recommended resolution is set, but the image on the screen (or part of it) is still cloudy, look for the “ button on the monitor Auto" - almost all monitors have such a button and/or setting in the monitor menu that allows you to automatically adjust the image to maximum clarity at the correctly selected resolution. The monitor itself does not select the resolution; this will have to be done in Windows.

Mouse settings

Mouse arrow sensitivity is adjusted in Control Panel - Mouse - Pointer Options:

If the computer is expected to be used by a child or an elderly person, reduce the pointer speed so that they will be able to much easier aim the mouse at on-screen elements.

Setting the desktop wallpaper

Right-click on the Desktop - item Personalization- there you will find everything you need. If you have Windows 7 Home Basic or Starter, then you should know that the personalization settings there are limited, but there is a full-fledged replacement for the “Personalization” window - Personalization Panel for Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic.

Changing the keyboard shortcut for switching input language

I don’t know about you, but it’s inconvenient for me to switch the keyboard language from Russian to English and back using a keyboard shortcut Alt+Shift. I prefer Ctrl+Shift, because these buttons can be pressed with one finger, without looking. If you agree with me, then here is the recipe: to change the keyboard shortcut, go to Control Panel - Change keyboard layout and other input methods - Change keyboard - Switch keyboard - Change keyboard shortcut. Everything will be clear later.

1. Settings are not a goal, but a means to achieve comfort. Set up only what will ensure comfort not for the computer, but for you.

2. If you want to learn how to set up a network, restore Windows and simply gain knowledge, I advise you to look at the FAQ on laptops. Don't pay attention to the mention of laptops - Windows is installed the same everywhere, the principle is always the same.

Useful programs

After installing Windows and drivers, the computer will be ready for work, but only for what? Of course, you need to install programs. Which ones exactly - I can recommend several.

I don’t recommend installing dozens of programs just out of curiosity or “just in case,” because this is one of the reasons for a slow computer. If you like to install “a lot of interesting programs”, say goodbye to the stability and fast operation of Windows. By the way, for optimization you can install one that can keep your PC “in good shape”:

a) clear browser caches to launch them quickly;

b) remove any garbage from temporary folders to free up disk space;

c) do it automatically according to a schedule - install, configure, enjoy.

Other:

Browser- this is a fairly important program, because it interacts with the Internet. There is a list of browsers with download links in . I recommend Google Chrome - it is more convenient than standard Internet Explorer.

Antivirus You can install it for free. I talked about the most popular free antiviruses in the article

Office programs. If you don't have a Microsoft Office license, you can try the free LibreOffice - link. The capabilities of this free “Office” are quite enough for typing text, editing tables, and creating presentations. Externally, LibreOffice programs are similar to Microsoft Office 2003, so you can get used to it. Not so important, but it is recommended to install the Microsoft Visual C++ and .NET Framework components from the list - they will be useful for the correct operation of many programs and especially games.

Bottom line

In this article, I told you almost everything about the correct installation of Windows for beginners. Some of the instructions - especially for installing drivers - are available in the form of links, because I have nothing to add on my own, and I don’t want to retell it.

If there are any problems during installation, check if you missed anything in the article? Did they do everything exactly as I wrote? 90% of the problems are due to inattention, the rest is a problem of the technology itself. If any moment seems incomprehensible to you, read it again. Perhaps you missed something. Feel free to write your wishes and questions in the comments - based on your suggestions, I will edit the article so that it becomes more understandable.