Installing and reinstalling Windows

In this article you will find instructions for:

• Upgrading to Windows 7. Choose Upgrade to keep your files, settings, and programs from your current version of Windows, and if your current version of Windows can be upgraded. If your version of Windows can't be upgraded, you need to choose Custom.
• Installing a custom version of Windows. Choose Custom to completely replace your current operating system, or to install Windows on a specific drive or partition that you select. You can also use Custom if your computer does not have an operating system, or if you want to set up a multiboot system on your computer. For more information about setting up a multiboot system, see Install more than one operating system (multiboot).
• Reinstalling Windows 7. Choose this option if you want to restore default Windows settings or if you are having trouble with Windows and need to reinstall it by performing a custom installation.

During the installation process, you need:

• The Windows installation disc.
• Your product key. You can find your product key on your computer or on the installation disc holder inside the Windows package. A product key sticker looks similar to this:
  PRODUCT KEY: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
  Go to the Microsoft website to see examples of product key stickers.
• Your computer name, if your computer is currently connected to a network.

You also need to decide whether to install a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7. For help deciding, see 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions.

Before you begin, to save time and help you avoid problems during installation:

• Update your antivirus program, run it, and then disable it. After you install Windows, remember to reenable the antivirus program, or install new antivirus software that works with Windows 7.
• Back up your files. You can back up files to an external hard disk, a DVD or CD, or a network folder. For more information about backing up your files, search for "back up" in Help and Support.
• Connect to the Internet. Make sure your Internet connection is working so that you can get the latest installation updates. These updates include security updates and hardware driver updates that can help with installation. If you don't have an Internet connection, you can still upgrade or install Windows.
   

   To upgrade to Windows 7

  When you upgrade to Windows 7, you keep your files, settings, and programs from your current version of Windows.

  Note

  • If you use a fingerprint reader or other biometric device to log on to your computer, make sure you write down your password before upgrading. You must log on by typing your user name and password the first time that you use Windows after upgrading.

  1. Turn on your computer so that Windows starts normally. (To perform an upgrade, you cannot start, or “boot,” your computer from the Windows 7 upgrade disc. )
  2. Insert the Windows installation disc into your computer's DVD or CD drive.
  3. On the Install Windows page, click Install now.
  4. On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and to help protect your computer against security threats. You need an Internet connection to get installation updates.
  5. On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms.
  6. On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Upgrade to begin the upgrade. You might see a compatibility report.
     Which type of installation do you want? page

     
     

      

      To install Windows by performing a custom installation

     When you choose Custom, you install a new copy of Windows on the partition you select. This erases your programs and settings.

     Back up any files and settings you want to keep so that you can restore them after the installation. You must manually reinstall your programs when the installation is done. For information about how to restore your files after a clean installation, go to How to restore your personal files after you perform a custom installation online.

     1. Turn on your computer, insert the Windows installation disc into the computer's DVD or CD drive, and then do one of the following:
        • If your computer already has an operating system installed and you want to replace it with Windows 7, and you don't want to change any partitions, go to step 2.
        • If your computer doesn't have an operating system installed or if you want to create, extend, delete, or format partitions, you need to restart your computer with the installation disc inserted in your CD or DVD drive. This causes your computer to start (or "boot") from the installation CD or DVD. If you are asked to press a key to boot from DVD or CD, press any key. If the Install Windows page appears, go to step 2.
          If the Install Windows page doesn't appear and you're not asked to press a key to start from DVD or CD, you might have to specify that your computer use its DVD or CD drive as the startup device. To do this, you need to change settings in the computer's basic input/output system (BIOS). To learn how to do this, see Start Windows from a CD or DVD. After you select your DVD or CD drive as the startup device, restart your computer, and then start Windows from the installation DVD or CD as previously described.
     2. On the Install Windows page, follow any instructions that are displayed, and then click Install now.
     3. On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and to help protect your computer against security threats. You need an Internet connection to get installation updates.
     4. On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms.
     5. On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.
     6. On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, do one of the following:
        • If you don't want to specify a specific partition to install Windows on, or create partitions on your hard disk, click Next to begin the installation.
        • If you already have another existing partition with enough free space and want to have more than one operating system on the same computer, you can install Windows on that partition. This is called a dual-boot or multiboot configuration. (If you do this, be sure to install Windows on a different partition from the partition where your current version of Windows is installed.) Select the partition you want to use, and then click Next to begin the installation.
        • If you want to create, extend, delete, or format a partition, click Drive options (advanced), click the option you want, and then follow the instructions. Click Next to begin the installation. (If the Drive options (advanced) option is disabled, you need to start your computer using the installation disc.)
     7. Follow the instructions.

        Note

        • If you delete or format a partition that contains a version of Windows, all data on the partition is permanently deleted. However, if there is an existing copy of Windows on the partition you selected, but you do not format or delete the partition, user files are saved to a Windows.old folder on the partition, which you can browse to after the installation completes. However, you should still back up your user files before performing a custom installation. For example, if you have encrypted files, you might not be able to access them after installing Windows. If you’ve backed up your user files and then restored them after installing Windows, you can delete the Windows.old folder

           To reinstall Windows 7

          If you want to reinstall Windows 7 by performing a custom installation—possibly to restore the default Windows settings—here's how to do it.

          If Windows is able to run, you can reinstall Windows using Recovery in Control Panel, under Advanced recovery methods. This method reinstalls Windows, either from a recovery image provided by your computer manufacturer, or from the original Windows installation files. You need to reinstall all of the programs that you added, and restore all of your files from a backup. For more information, see Choosing an advanced recovery method.

          If Windows cannot run at all, you can reinstall Windows using the original installation disc.

          Warning

          • Back up your files before you begin reinstalling Windows if possible, even if you're reinstalling Windows on a hard disk partition, and you have personal files on a separate partition. For example, if you have encrypted files, you might not be able to access them after reinstalling Windows. A custom installation replaces the current version of Windows and all personal files.

          1. Turn on your computer and insert the Windows 7 DVD or CD.
          2. On the Install Windows page, follow any instructions that might appear, and then click Install now.
          3. On the Get important updates for installation page, we recommend getting the latest updates to help ensure a successful installation and to help protect your computer against security threats. You need an Internet connection to get installation updates.
          4. On the Please read the license terms page, if you accept the license terms, click I accept the license terms.
          5. Follow the instructions on each page. On the Which type of installation do you want? page, click Custom.
          6. On the Where do you want to install Windows? page, select the partition where you want to install Windows.
          7. Click Next to begin the installation.
          8. Follow the instructions.