Installation of Windows Operating System (10, 8, 7 and XP

Information Sheet 4.
4-6
OPERATING SYSTEM
Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Define Operating System
2. Enumerate the common Operating System
3. Memorize the steps in installing Windows Operating System
(windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7 and Windows XP)
Operating System
An operating system or OS is a
software on the hard drive that enables
the computer hardware to communicate
and operate with the computer software.
Without a computer operating system, a
computer and software programs would
be useless. The picture to the right is an
example of Microsoft Windows 10, a
popular operating system and what the
box may look like if you were to
purchase it from a local retail store.
Operating System types
As computers have progressed

and developed, so have the operating
systems. Below is a basic list of the
types of operating systems and a few
examples of operating systems that fall
into each of the types. Many computer operating systems will fall into more
than one of the below types.
GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface, a GUI operating system

contains graphics and icons and is commonly navigated by using a
computer mouse. See the GUI definition for a complete definition.
Examples of GUI operating systems are:
 System 7.x
 Windows 98
 Windows CE
Real-time - A real-time operating system is a multitasking
operating system that aims at executing real-time applications. Real-time
operating systems often use specialized scheduling algorithms so that
they can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior. The main objective of
real-time operating systems is their quick and predictable response to
events. They have an event-driven or time-sharing design and often
aspects of both. An event-driven system switches between tasks based on
their priorities or external events while time-sharing operating systems
switch tasks based on clock interrupts.
Multi-user - A multi-user operating system allows for multiple
users to use the same computer at the same time and different times.
Examples of operating systems that would fall into this category are:
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 2000
Multiprocessing - An operating system capable of supporting and

utilizing more than one computer processor. Examples of operating
systems that would fall into this category are:
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 10
Multitasking - An operating system that is capable of allowing
multiple software processes to run at the same time. Examples of
operating systems that would fall into this category are:
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows 10
Multithreading - Operating systems that allow different parts of a
software program to run concurrently. Examples of operating systems
that would fall into this category are:
 Linux
 Unix
 Windows XP
FIVE COMMON OPERATING SYTEMS
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is based on a version of the Linux operating system known
as Debian GNU/Linux. Its main benefit is that it's free and open source.
This means users can alter the code as they see fit. Ubuntu also stands
out because it's updated once every six months, unlike other open source
programs that have no strict upgrade schedule. Most Ubuntu-compatible
software is also free and available in on-line software "repositories." Users
can try Ubuntu on their PC using the program's "Live CD" mode. This
allows you to run the system without actually installing it on your
computer. Because Ubuntu programs are less ubiquitous than those for
more well-known systems, users may need to do some research before
finding the software solutions they need.
Android
Android is a "mobile" operating system maintained by the Open Handset
Alliance, a group of companies and organizations that contribute to the
system's development under the management of Google Inc. The system is
an "open standard," meaning that an entire community of developers can
alter the software, not just Google. Android comes pre-installed on
smartphones and tablet PCs for which it was designed. As of the date of
publication, all four major smartphone carriers -- Verizon, T-Mobile,
Sprint and AT&T; -- have Android devices available. A variety of
manufacturers also make Android-compatible devices. One of the main
benefits of the system's open source status is that developers can create
different versions of its basic programs, allowing users greater freedom to
customize their mobile devices.
Mac OS X
While a version of Mac OS X comes pre-installed on all Apple
Macintosh computers, users must pay if they wish to use newer versions
when they become available. The system is not open source, so only Apple
developers have the ability to legitimately make alterations or
improvements to its code. It differs from other computer operating
systems in that it only works on Apple computers. Its key feature is its
usability. The most recent version as of the date of publication includes a
"resume" feature that re-opens applications in the same state they were in
when you last closed them. It also includes a "Mission Control" feature,
which allows you to see all of your open files at a glance.
IOS
IOS is Apple's mobile operating system. It runs on the company's
iPod, iPhone and iPad devices. Like Mac OS X, it can only be used on
Apple's mobile devices. One advantage of iOS is that more applications
are available for it than for any other mobile operating system. As of
summer 2011, it has approximately 400,000 to Android's 300,000. This
increases the chances that users will find the type of app they're looking
for. The system's key features include multitasking support, which allows
users to run multiple apps simultaneously, and FaceTime, a video chat
program that comes pre-installed on iOS devices.
Windows
Windows is an operating system owned and operated by Microsoft.
It differs from open source systems in that only Microsoft has the ability
to make changes to the code. However, it also differs from Mac OS X in
that it can be installed on a variety of different computers from a host of
competing manufacturers, offering the user more freedom of choice when
it comes to hardware. According to Net Market Share, Windows is the
most widely used operating system. The latest version as of the date of
publication includes touchscreen support, which combines the usability
of a touchscreen tablet with the power of a desktop computer. It also
features "Play To" and "Remote Media Streaming," which allow you to play
media from your computer on other devices in its vicinity and to access
your media when you're away from your computer.
Operating System listing

Below is a listing of many of the different operating systems
available today, the dates they were released, the platforms they have
been developed for, and who developed them.
Operating Date first

Platform Developer
system released
AIX and AIXL Unix and Linux Various IBM
history.
AmigaOS Currently no Amiga Commodore
AmigaOS
history.
Android November Mobile Google
5, 2007
BSD Unix and Linux Various BSD
history.
Caldera Linux Unix and Linux Various SCO
history.
Chrome OS July 7, 2009 Various Google
Corel Linux Unix and Linux Various Corel
history.
CP/M Currently no IBM CP/M
CP/M history.
Debian Linux Unix and Linux Various GNU
history.
DUnix Unix and Linux Various Digital
history.
DYNIX/ptx Unix and Linux Various IBM
history.
HP-UX Unix and Linux Various Hewlett Packard
history.
iOS 2010 Mobile Apple
IRIX Unix and Linux Various SGI
history.
Kondara Linux Unix and Linux Various Kondara
history.
Linux Unix and Linux Various Linus Torvalds
history.
Mac OS 8 Apple operating Apple Macintosh Apple
system history.
system history.
system history.
macOS X Apple operating Apple Macintosh Apple
system history.
Mandriva Linux Unix and Linux Various Mandriva
history.
MINIX Unix and Linux Various MINIX
history.
MS-DOS 1.x MS-DOS history. IBM Microsoft
NEXTSTEP Apple operating Various Apple
system history.
OS/2 1987 IBM IBM
OSF/1 Unix and Linux Various OSF
history.
QNX Unix and Linux Various QNX
history.
Red Hat Linux Unix and Linux Various Red Hat
history.
SCO Unix and Linux Various SCO
history.
Slackware Linux Unix and Linux Various Slackware
history.
Sun Solaris Unix and Linux Various Sun
history.
SuSE Linux Unix and Linux Various SuSE
history.
Symbian 1997 Mobile Nokia
System 1 Apple operating Apple Macintosh Apple
system history.
system history.
system history.
system history.
system history.
system history.
System V Unix and Linux Various System V
history.
Tru64 Unix Unix and Linux Various Digital
history.
Turbolinux Unix and Linux Various Turbolinux
history.
Ultrix Unix and Linux Various Ultrix
history.
Unisys Unix and Linux Various Unisys
history.
Unix Unix and Linux Various Bell labs
history.
UnixWare Unix and Linux Various UnixWare
history.
VectorLinux Unix and Linux Various VectorLinux
history.
Windows 10 Microsoft IBM Microsoft
Windows
history.
Windows
history.
Windows
history.
Windows 3.X Microsoft IBM Microsoft
Windows
history.
Windows
history.
Windows
history.
Windows
history.
Windows
history.
Windows CE Microsoft PDA Microsoft
Windows
history.
Windows ME Microsoft IBM Microsoft
Windows
history.
Windows NT Microsoft IBM Microsoft
Windows
history.
Windows Vista Microsoft IBM Microsoft
Windows
history.
Windows XP Microsoft IBM Microsoft
Windows
history.
Xenix Unix and Linux Various Microsoft
history.
INSTALLING OPERATINFG SYSTEM
Before the installation process undertake, a technician must be

aware of the minimum requirements of a computer hardware that is
compatible with the operating system to be installed. Following the
systems’ requirements means an efficient computer system.
Windows 10 minimum requirements for installation:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC

RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
Display: 800x600
Windows 7 and Windows 8 System requirements
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz)* or faster with support for PAE, NX,

and SSE2
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM
driver
Windows Vista System requirements
Processor: 1-gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 1-GHz 64-

bit (x64) processor
RAM: 1 GB of system memory
Hard disk space: 40-GB hard disk that has 15 GB of free hard disk
space (the 15GB of free space provides room for
temporary file storage during the install or upgrade.
Graphics card: 128 MB of graphics memory
Windows XP System requirements
Processor: Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster

(300 MHz is recommended)
RAM: At least 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM (128 MB is
recommended)
Hard disk space: At least 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available space on the
hard disk
Display 800x600
INFORMATION SHEET
Installing Windows 10
There are several ways to install Windows 10 on your PC, whether
you’re upgrading from Windows 7 or 8, installing a new operating system
from scratch, or reinstalling a fresh version of Windows 10.
Once you’ve created installation media, you’ll need to insert it into
the PC you want to install Windows 10 on. You then boot from the
installation media. This may require modifying the boot order in your PC’s
BIOS or UEFI firmware.
Step 1: This is the first screen you will see if you install Windows
10 using a bootable USB flash drive or DVD. Here’s where you choose the
OS’ language, time and currency format, and input method.
Step 2: It's pretty obvious what you need to click here. Like
Windows 8.x, you can also choose to repair your computer.
If you choose the repair option, you will end up at a Troubleshoot
screen where you can choose to reset your PC and re-install windows (you
can either keep or remove your files), or access more advanced
troubleshooting options. For the latter, there are options for doing a
system restore (if you’ve a restore point on your PC), image recovery,
running commands in command prompt, and letting Windows fix any
startup problems. You can also get to the advanced startup options after
installation via the new Settings app in Windows 10.
Step 3: Traditionally, your Windows product key can be found on
your online order info, in the confirmation email for your purchase, or on
the DVD packaging. That said, this is more for a clean install. If your
device has been successfully upgraded to Windows 10, and you choose to
wipe your device and do a clean install later, the device will reactivate
without the need of a Windows 8.x product key.
Step 4: Accept the license terms. After you read them, of course.
Step 5: Next, you’ll be presented with this screen, where you can
choose to do either an upgrade (files, settings, and apps are moved to
Windows) or a custom install (files, settings, and apps aren’t moved). The
latter is the one to choose if you prefer a clean install, which was what we
did.
(Note: If you're doing an upgrade, and you're running Windows
Media Center, Windows 10 will remove it.)
Step 6: Here’s where you select the drive to install Windows 10 on.
You can format a drive here as well.
Step 7: Now, you wait.
Step 8: Before you can start using Windows, there are some
personalization, location, browser and protection, and connectivity and
error reporting settings that you can adjust. You can zip through all these
by using the Express settings, which basically turn everything on, or you
can hit the small print that says ‘Customize settings’ to customize them.
We went for the latter.
Notice that little icon at the bottom left? Click on it to access an
accessibility menu where you can turn on things like a narrator,
magnifier, or increase the screen contrast.
Step 9: If you choose to customize the settings, the first page deals
with your contact, calendar, input, and location data. Read these carefully
to decide if you want to turn the settings on or off.
Step 10: The next page deals with browser data, connectivity, and
error reporting. Again, read these carefully and toggle the switches
accordingly.
Step 11: Next, you need to specify who's the owner of the device.
You can choose to sign in with your company ID, which will give you
access to your company's resources.
Step 12: Microsoft really wants you to sign in to Windows 10 with your
Microsoft account. If you use Microsoft services like Office, Outlook.com,
OneDrive, Skype, or Xbox, it makes sense to sign in with your Microsoft
account as it ties them all up and makes your Windows experience more
personal.
If you use two-factor authentication, you’ll need to enter your code. If you
don’t have a Microsoft account, you can create one right away.
Alternatively, you can sign in with a local account. Unlike Windows 8.x,
apps like Mail will not force you to switch to a Microsoft account and stop
you from using the app if you don’t comply.
Step 13: Instead of signing in using your Microsoft account

password, you’ve the option to create and use a short PIN instead.
In addition to easy typing, another benefit is that once created, this PIN
only works on the device it’s created on.
Step 14: Windows 10 will save new documents and pictures to
OneDrive. If you’re okay with that, just hit Next to continue. Else, you can
click the small text that says ‘Save new files only to this PC by default’.
Step 15: You can also decide if you want to turn on the Cortana
personal assistant feature. Some people may not want to use Cortana as
this allows Microsoft to collect and use their location; contacts; voice
input; info from email and messages; browser history; search history;
calendar details; and more. If you were to ask us, Cortana is one of the
best features in Windows 10. And for it to be truly useful, it has to be
granted access to such data. Here’s a link to Microsoft’s privacy
statement.
(Note: Cortana is only available in select markets. Currently, Cortana on
Windows 10 is only available for the U.S., U.K., China, France, Italy,
Germany, and Spain.)
At some point, you'll also be asked if you want to set the built-in apps to
be the default apps for certain tasks. Simply untick the checkboxes for
those that you don't want the installer to change.
16. Welcome to Windows 10!
Install Windows 8 or 8.1
1. Plan Your Windows 8 installation
A Windows 8 clean install involves removing the existing operating

system installed on a partition and then installing Windows 8 from
scratch on that same drive. A clean install is also sometimes referred to
as a "custom install."
In other words, a clean install of Windows 8 is the erase-whatever-
is-there-and-install-a-new-copy-of-Windows-8 process and is usually the
best method of installing or reinstalling Windows 8. I always suggest a
clean install over upgrading, say from a previous version of Windows like
Windows 7.
The walkthrough that follows contains a total of 32 steps and will
guide you through every detail of the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 clean
install process. The process is nearly identical for Windows 8 and
Windows 8.1 but I've called out the differences where appropriate.
The most important thing to consider before performing a clean
install of Windows 8 is that every bit of information on the drive you're
going to install/reinstall Windows 8 on will be erased. This means that
the entire operating system that's on there now, whatever that may be,
will be gone, as will all the programs you've installed, and yes, most
importantly, all of your precious data you've saved to that drive.
Back Up Your Important Data
So the first thing to do, if you can, is to backup whatever data you'd
like to keep like your saved documents, downloaded music and videos,
etc. Backing up your actual programs isn't usually possible, so locate all
the installation media and downloaded installation files that you used to
install the programs so they're available to reinstall once the Windows 8
clean install is done.
Be sure also to backup any data files from your programs,
assuming they have any, that might not be located with your other saved
files.
Locate Your Product Key
Your next concern should your product key. This 25-digit
alphanumeric code is required during the Windows 8 clean install
process. If you've purchased Windows 8 yourself, the product key should
be included with the DVD media you received or in the email confirmation
you received when you purchased Windows 8 or 8.1 for download. If
Windows 8 came preinstalled on your computer, look for a sticker with
the product key somewhere on your desktop, laptop, or tablet device.
Disconnect Unnecessary Hardware
Windows 8 should install fine with all of your hardware connected,
internal and external, but if you run into trouble, or have had trouble
installing Windows on this computer before, removing unnecessary
internal components (if you have a desktop) and disconnecting USB and
other external devices should help. Once the Windows 8 clean install is
complete, you can connect those devices one at a time.
Start the Windows 8/8.1 Clean Install
Once you are absolutely positive that everything on the
primary hard drivepartition you're about to install Windows 8 on,
probably your C: drive, can be removed (e.g. you've backed everything up
that you want to keep) then proceed on to the next step in this tutorial.
Please remember that once you delete everything from this drive, which is
done in a later step (I'll let you know when), you won't be able to get any
of that data back.
2. Boot from the Windows 8 Installation Media
To start the Windows 8 clean install process, you'll need

to boot your computer from whatever installation source you happen to be
using: either a DVD disc or a flash drive.
In other words, if you have a Windows 8 DVD and you would like to
install Windows 8 from an optical drive, then boot from the Windows 8
DVD. Alternatively, if you have the Windows 8 installation files properly
copied to a USB based drive, then boot from the USB device.
There are really three basic steps here:
Insert the Windows 8 DVD into your optical drive, or plug into a
free USB port the flash drive with the Windows 8 installation files on it,
and then turn on or restart the computer.
Watch for a Press any key to boot from CD or DVD... message (shown
above) if you're booting from a disc, or a Press any key to boot from
external device... message if you're booting from a flash drive or other USB
device.
Press a key to force your computer to boot from either the Windows
8 DVD or a flash drive with the Windows 8 installation files on it.
If you don't press a key to force the boot from the external drive or DVD
disc, your computer will try to boot from the next device listed in the boot
order in BIOS, probably your hard drive, in which case your currently
installed operating system will start. If that happens, just restart your
computer and try again.
Note: If you don't see one of the messages above, and your current
operating system starts or you receive some kind of error, the most likely
reason is that the boot order is set incorrectly. You probably just need
to change the boot order in BIOS, being sure to rank the CD/DVD
Drive or External Devices entry somewhere before or above the hard drive
in the list
It's also OK if you don't see one of the above messages but the
Windows 8 setup process (see the next step) does being automatically. If
that happens just consider this step over and move on.
What To Do if Your Windows 8 Installation Media Doesn't Work
for You
Considering the facts that Windows 8 can be purchased online and
downloaded in ISO file format and that many computers, especially
tablets and other smaller computers, don't have optical drives, it's
possible you could find yourself with Windows 8's setup files in some
format, or on some media, that simply isn't going to work for your
computer.
Below are some solutions based on common situations that people
find themselves in when preparing to clean install Windows 8:
Problem: You have a Windows 8 DVD but need to be able to install
Windows 8 from a USB device. This is probably the most common
problem I hear about.
Solution: Locate a flash drive that's at least 4 GB in size and that
you can remove all the data from. Then see How To Install Windows 8
From USB for help creating a disc image of the Windows 8 DVD, and then
getting that image properly copied onto a USB flash drive.
Problem: You downloaded a Windows 8 ISO File and need to install
Windows 8 from a DVD.
Solution: Burn the ISO file to a DVD (or BD) disc. This is not the
same as simply burning the ISO file itself to a disc like you would with a
music or video file. See How To Burn an ISO Image to a CD/DVD/BD for
help.
Problem: You downloaded a Windows 8 ISO File and need to install
Windows 8 from a USB device.
Solution: Find a flash drive of at least 4 GB total capacity that you
can erase everything on. Then go to How To Install Windows 8 From
USB for help getting that ISO file onto a flash drive properly.
Once you have Windows 8 on the installation media that you want, come
back here and follow the directions as given above to boot from the disc or
flash drive. Then you can continue on with the rest of the Windows 8
clean install process.
3. Wait for the Windows 8 Installation Files to Load

You'll know that the Windows 8 setup process is starting properly if
you see the Windows 8 splash screen as shown above.
During this time, Windows 8 Setup is preparing by loading files
into memory so the setup process can continue. Don't worry, nothing is
being erased or copied to your hard drive right now. That all happens a
bit later on.
4. Choose Language, Time, and Other Preferences

Choose the Language to install, the Time and currency format, and
the Keyboard or input method that you'd prefer to use in Windows 8 and
throughout the Windows 8 clean install.
Once your options are selected, click or touch Next.
5. Click Install Now

Click or touch the Install now button in the middle of the screen,
right under the Windows 8 logo.
This will get the Windows 8 installation process underway
6. Wait for Windows 8 Setup to Begin

The Windows 8 setup process is now beginning. Nothing to do here
but wait. You might see this screen for several seconds but not for too
much longer than that.
7. Enter Your Windows 8 Product Key
Here is where you enter your product key, the 25-digit code you
received when you purchased Windows 8. You do not need to enter the
dashes that are probably shown as part of your product key.
If you downloaded Windows 8, chances are that the product key is
in your purchase confirmation email. If you purchased a Windows 8 DVD
in a retail store or online, your product key should have been included
alongside your disc.
If Windows 8 came preinstalled on your computer, and you are now
performing a clean install of Windows 8 on that same computer, your
product key is probably located on a sticker located somewhere on your
computer or device.
Once you've entered the product key, click or touch Next.
Important: Entering your product key at this point in the Windows
8 clean install process is required. This is unlike in previous versions of
Windows where you could skip the product key entry during installation
as long as you provided one within a certain time frame, usually 30 or 60
days. Also unlike in previous versions, activating your Windows 8 product
key online is automatic and part of this process.
8. Accept the Windows 8 Software License Agreement
The next screen you encounter will be the Microsoft Software

License Agreement page, which is essentially a giant text box containing
the license terms for the edition of Windows 8 you're installing.
Read through the agreement, check the I accept the license
terms box, and click or touch Next.
Important: You should always read software license agreements
and look for caveats you might not have expected, especially when it
comes to operating systems like Windows 8. Microsoft, as well as most
other software makers, have strict and legally binding limits as to how
many concurrent computers their software can be operated on. For
example, a copy of Windows 8 can only be installed on a single computer
at a time. In reality, this means one product key per computer... period.
Note: It's completely legal to reinstall Windows 8 via this clean install
method. So long as the product key you use to install Windows 8 is only
used on one computer at a time, you're not breaking any rules.
9. Choose the Custom Installation Method
The next screen presents you with an important question: Which type
of installation do you want?. You have two options: Upgrade and Custom.
Click on, or touch, Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
Important: Even if you might be upgrading from a previous version of
Windows to Windows 8, I don't recommend that you upgrade. It sounds
like a great option, with your files, settings, and programs all remaining in
place, but the reality is often much different. You'll get better performance
from Windows 8 and whatever software you choose to install again if you
continue with this clean install procedure instead.
10. Show the Windows 8 Advanced Drive Options

On the Where do you want to install Windows? screen you'll see a list
of all the partitions that Windows 8 sees on the computer.
The thing that makes a Windows 8 clean install "clean" is the
removal of the partition that the current operating system is installed on,
as well as any auxiliary partitions that the operating system was using,
usually for recovery purposes. This is what we're going to do over the next
several steps.
Important: If, and only if, you're installing Windows 8 on a new or
previously formatted hard drive, which of course has nothing that needs
to be removed, you can skip directly to Step 15!
Windows 8 Setup considers partition management an advanced
task so before we can remove any partitions, you'll have to touch or click
on Drive options (advanced).
Over the next few steps you'll remove the partition(s) for the
operating system that you're replacing with Windows 8. Remember, it
doesn't matter what operating system is currently on the computer - an
old installation of Windows 8, a newer Windows 10 one, Ubuntu
Linux, Windows 7, Windows XP, etc.
11. Delete the Partition You Plan on Installing Windows 8 Onto
Now that you have access to the full range of partition management
options, you can delete any partitions from your hard drive that are used
by the currently installed operating system.
Important: Before you delete a partition, please know that all data
on that partition will be erased forever. By all data I mean all data: the
operating system itself, all installed programs, all saved documents,
movies, music, etc. that might be on that drive. It's assumed that, by this
point, anything you wanted to keep you've backed up elsewhere.
Highlight the partition you want to delete and then click or touch Delete.
Note: Your list of partitions may differ considerably from mine,
which you can see in the screenshot above. I have one 60 GB physical
hard drive on my computer that I previous had Windows 8 installed on.
My primary partition, which is the C: drive when I'm logged into Windows,
is 59.7 GB. That other small partition (350 MB) is a supporting partition
that I also plan on deleting, which we'll get to in a few steps.
Warning: If you have multiple hard drives and/or multiple
partitions on any of your drives, make sure you're deleting the correct
partition(s). Many people have second hard drives or partitions that they
use for backup. That's not a drive you want to be deleting.
12. Confirm the Partition Deletion
After choosing to delete the partition, Windows 8 Setup will prompt

you to confirm that you really do want to delete the partition.
Important: As I spelled out in the last step, please be aware that all
the data stored on this partition that you're removing will be lost forever.
If you have not backed up everything you want to keep, click Cancel, end
the Windows 8 clean install process, restart your computer to boot back
into whatever operating system you have installed, and back up anything
you want to keep.
To be completely clear: This is the point of no return! I don't
mean to scare you, especially since this is a necessary step to do a
Windows 8 clean install. I just want you to have full knowledge of what
you're about to do. If you know there's nothing on your primary drive you
still need to back up then you should feel completely comfortable
continuing.
Click or touch the OK button to delete the selected partition
13. Delete Other Partitions Used by the Previous Operating System
If there are other partitions that you need to delete, like recovery
partitions in use by the previously installed operating system, now is a
good time to remove them. You probably only have one of these auxiliary
partitions, and probably only if you had a previous version of Windows
installed.
For example, in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and
some Windows Vista installations, a small recovery partition, labeled here
as System Reserved, is created and populated automatically during that
operating system's installation. The same thing will happen behind the
scenes as you continue to clean install Windows 8. However, you no
longer need the one installed by the previous Windows installation so you
can remove it.
To do so, repeat the same process you followed to remove the
primary partition in the last few steps: highlight the partition you want to
delete and then touch or click Delete.
Note: You might notice that the first partition we deleted appears to
still exist. Look closer, however, and you can tell that it's gone. The
description now says Unallocated Space and there's no longer a
partition Type listed. In other words, this is now empty space, which we're
getting close to putting Windows 8 on.
Important: Again, make sure you're not removing partitions you
don't really want to remove. One of these Windows auxiliary partitions will
clearly be marked as System Reserved and will be very small, probably
100 MB or 350 MB depending on the version of Windows that you had
installed.
14. Confirm Other Partition Deletions

Just like you did a few steps back, Windows 8 Setup will prompt
you to confirm the removal of this other partition. Click or touch OK to
confirm.
15. Choose a Physical Location to Install Windows 8

As you can now see, all the space on my hard drive is listed
as Unallocated Space. In other words, I have no partitions setup and my
soon-to-begin installation or reinstallation of Windows 8 will be "clean"
and "from scratch" on this empty drive.
Note: The number of partitions displayed and whether those partitions
are unallocated portions of a hard drive, previously partitioned spaces, or
previously formatted and blank partitions will depend on your specific
setup and what partitions you've deleted in the last several steps.
If you're installing Windows 8 on a computer with just one physical hard
drive on which you've just removed all the partitions from, your Where do
you want to install Windows?screen should look like mine pictured above,
aside from the fact that your drive is probably much bigger than my 60
GB example one.
Select the appropriate unallocated space to install Windows 8 onto and
then click or touch Next.
Note: You do not need to manually create a new partition, nor
format one, as part of the Windows 8 setup process. These two actions are
completed automatically, in the background, between this step and the
next.
16. Wait While Windows 8 is Installed

Windows 8 Setup will now begin installing Windows 8 onto
the partition it created from the free space you selected in the last step.
All you have to do here is wait.
This step is the most time consuming of them all. Depending on
your computer specifications, this process could take anywhere from 10
to 20 minutes, possibly more on slower computers.
Note: This part of the Windows 8 installation is completely
automatic and the next step involves a reboot of your computer, which
you do not give explicit permission to do. So if you step away, and things
look different than above, just continue through the next steps until you
catch up.
17. Restart Your Computer
Windows 8 Clean Install - Step 17 of 32.

As the bulk of the Windows 8 installation process ends, your
computer will reboot automatically.
If you happen to catch this screen, which is only there for ten seconds,
you can click or touch Restart now to manually force the restart.
Warning: Your computer will likely present you with that Press any
key to boot from...option as it starts up again and sees
the boot information from your Windows 8 installation media again. Do
not press a key or you'll end up booting to the installation disc or flash
drive again, which you don't want to do. If you accidentally do that, just
restart your computer and don't press anything that time. The installation
of Windows 8 should continue again as shown on the next screen.
18. Wait for Windows 8 Setup to Begin Again
Windows 8 Clean Install - Step 18 of 32.

Now that your computer has restarted, Windows 8 can continue
installing.
There's nothing to do here. Windows 8 Setup has a few important
things it still needs to do before it's done but none of them require user
intervention.
You might sit at this screen for several minutes before you
see Getting devices ready, which I talk about in the next step.
19. Wait for Windows 8 Setup to Install Hardware
As you're waiting for the Windows 8 clean install to finish up, you'll
notice a Getting devices ready indicator that works its way up to 100% in
several fits and starts.
In the background, Windows 8 is identifying all of
the hardware that makes up your computer and installing the
appropriate drivers for those devices, if available.
This process usually takes just a few minutes and you may see your
screen flicker and go blank from time to time.
20. Wait for Windows 8 to Finish Installing
After Windows 8 Setup finishes installing hardware, you'll see

a Getting ready message at the bottom of the screen.
During this short stage, Windows 8 Setup is finishing up the last few
tasks, like finalizing registry and other settings.
21. Wait While Your Computer Restarts Automatically

This screen only shows up for a second, maybe less, so you may not
even see it, but as you can see in the screenshot above, Windows 8 setup
says Restarting your PC and then promptly does just that. This is the
second, and final, restart required during a Windows 8 clean install.
Note: Just as I warned you about several steps back, you'll
probably get that Press any key to boot from... option again as your
computer turns back on, but don't do it. You don't want to start the
Windows 8 installation process over again, you want to boot from
your hard drive, which now has an almost-complete installation of
Windows 8 on it.
22. Wait While Windows 8 Starts Up
Once again, you're waiting on Windows 8 to start up. This should

only take a minute or two.
23. Wait for the Windows 8 Basics Wizard to Start

The next screen you see is an introduction to a wizard you're about
to complete that helps customize Windows 8 to your preferences.
Four sections are shown, including Personalize, Wireless, Settings,
and Sign in.
This screen only appears for a few seconds before automatically
progressing to Personalize.
24. Pick a Color Theme & Name Your PC
Two pretty simple options are presented on the Personalize screen:

one for color you like and another for PC name.
The color you choose helps shape the display on your
future Windows 8 Start Screen, and in some other areas of Windows 8.
This is easily changed later from the Start screen area of PC settings so
don't get too caught up on this one.
The PC name is just a friendly phrase for hostname, the name that
identifies this computer on your network. Something identifiable is always
good, like timswin8tablet or pcroom204... you get the idea. Touch or
click Next when complete.
25. Join a Wireless Network
On this screen (not shown, I'm working on getting a good
screenshot of this step), choose from the list of available wireless
networks that Windows 8 sees at the moment.
Once chosen, enter the password if the network is encrypted and requires
one.
Click or touch Next to continue.
Note: You will not see this step if your computer does not have
wireless network capabilities or if Windows 8 does not have an included
driver for the wireless hardware and so wasn't able to enable that device.
Don't worry if the latter is the case - you can install the correct wireless
driver for Windows 8 after the clean install is complete.
26. Use Default Settings or Set Custom Ones
On the Settings screen, you have the option of accepting Microsoft's

recommended default settings for Windows 8, which are detailed on
screen, or customizing them to your preferences.
For the most part, I see no problem accepting the express settings.
Click or touch Use express settings to continue.
Note: If you'd like to explore your options, you can
click Customize and walk through a series of additional screens with
settings for network sharing, Windows Update, automatic feedback to
Microsoft, and more.
27. Sign In To Your PC With a Microsoft Account... or Don't
The next screen is the Sign in to your PC step.

You have two pretty big options here for how to sign in with Windows 8:
Sign in with your Microsoft account
If you already have an email associated with a major Microsoft
service then you can use that here. If you don't, that's OK, enter any
email address and Microsoft will create an account for you based on that
email address.
The advantage of using a Microsoft account is that you can easily
use the Windows Store, you can sync major settings between multiple
Windows 8 computers, and more.
Sign in with a Local account
This is the standard way that previous versions of Windows, like Windows
7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP worked.
Your account is only stored locally on this Windows 8 computer. Please
note though that you'll still need to create a, or use your current,
Microsoft account some time in the future if you plan on using the
Windows Store to download apps.
My recommendation is to use your existing Microsoft account or create a
new one.
Assuming you decide to do that, enter your email address and then
click or press Next.
The next several screens (not shown) will verify your account, ask
for your password, and may ask for a telephone number or other
information to help with password recovery. If you're setting up a
Microsoft account for the first time, you may see some other screens as
well. If you're signing in with an existing account, you may be asked to
confirm a code sent to your email or phone, copy settings and apps from
other Windows 8 computers, etc.
28. Accept SkyDrive Settings
SkyDrive (now OneDrive) is Microsoft's online storage service and is

integrated into Windows 8, making it easy to keep your settings and saved
files like documents, photos, and music, securely backed up and available
from other devices.
Touch or click Next to accept the default SkyDrive settings.
Note: You'll only see this SkyDrive settings page if you're installing
from Windows 8.1 or newer media. Some later installations may refer to
this as its newer brand, OneDrive.
29. Wait While Windows 8 Creates the Local Portion of Your User
Account
Even though you may have chosen to create, or use your current,
Microsoft account, there is still a local account created to help facilitate
that.
This is what Windows 8 is doing while the Creating your
account or Setting up your account message is on screen.
30. Wait While Windows 8 Finalizes Settings

Remember all of those personalization and other settings you just
made? Windows 8 is now committing those to your user account it just
created.
Just wait during this short phase.
Your Windows 8 clean install is almost done... just a few more steps.
31. Wait While Windows 8 Prepares the Start Screen
Depending on the version of Windows 8 you're installing, you may

sit through a long series of screens, the first several of which explain how
to work with the Windows 8 interface.
That, or maybe you'll see some large messages in the middle of the
screen. The background will continually change colors as this progresses
and you'll see Installing apps at the bottom of the screen.
Regardless, this whole series of screen changes and messages should only
take a few minutes, at most.
32. Your Windows 8 Clean Install is Complete!

This completes the final step of your clean install of Windows 8!
Congratulations!
What's Next?
Most importantly, if you chose not to enable automatic updates
(Step 26) then the first step after installing Windows 8 is to head
to Windows Update and install all the important service
packs and patches that have been issued since the version of Windows 8
you just installed was released.
If you did enable automatic updates, Windows 8 will prompt you

about any important updates needed.
See How To Change Windows Update Settings in Windows 8 for a little
more on your options with Windows Update in Windows 8.
After Windows updates, you should update any drivers that
Windows 8 didn't automatically install for your hardware during
installation. You might also want to update drivers for any devices that
don't seem to be working correctly.
See How To Update Drivers in Windows 8 for a complete tutorial.
You might also want to see my Windows 8 Drivers page which
contains information and links to Windows 8 drivers from some of the
more popular computer and device manufacturers in the world. This is an
especially helpful resource if this is your first Windows 8 clean install and
you're locating Windows 8 drivers for the various parts of your computer
for the first time.
Windows 7
1. Plan Your Windows 7 Clean Install

Back up & Locate Your Product Key
The most important thing to realize before performing a clean install
of Windows 7 is that all of the information on the drive that your current
operating system is installed on (probably your C: drive) will be destroyed
during this process. That means that if there's anything you want to keep,
you should back it up to a disc or another drive prior to beginning this
process.
One quick way to back up the list of programs you have on your
computer is with the CCleaner tool. It doesn't back up the actual program
data but simply a list of what's installed so that you don't have to
remember every program name.
You should also locate the Windows 7 product key, a 25-digit
alphanumeric code unique to your copy of Windows 7. If you can't locate
it, there is a fairly easy way to find the Windows 7 product key code from
your existing Windows 7 installation, but this must be done before you
reinstall Windows 7.
Note: If Windows originally came preinstalled on your computer (i.e.
you did not install it yourself), your product key is probably located on a
sticker attached to the side, back, or bottom of your computer's case. This
is the product key you should use when installing Windows 7.
Start the Windows 7 Clean Install Process
When you're absolutely sure sure that everything from your computer that
you want to keep is backed up, proceed to the next step. Keep in mind
that once you delete all of the information from this drive (as we'll do in a
future step), the action is not reversible!
2. Boot From the Windows 7 DVD or USB Device
To begin the Windows 7 clean install process, you'll need to boot

from the Windows 7 DVD if you're using a Windows 7 DVD, or boot from a
USB device if your Windows 7 installation files are located on a flash
drive or other external USB drive.
Tip: See our Windows Installation FAQ if you have Windows 7 as
an ISO image that you need on a flash drive or disc, or a Windows 7 DVD
you need on a flash drive.
Restart your computer with the Windows 7 DVD in your optical
drive, or with the properly configured Windows 7 USB flash drive plugged
in.
Watch for a Press any key to boot from CD or DVD... message similar to the
one shown in the screenshot above. If you're booting from a flash drive,
the message might be phrased differently, like Press any key to boot from
external device....
Press a key to force the computer to boot from the Windows 7 DVD
or USB storage device. If you do not press a key, your computer will
attempt to boot to the next device in the boot order, which is probably
your hard drive. If this happens, chances are your current operating
system will boot.
Note: If your existing Windows installation begins to boot or you see
a "No Operating System Found" or "NTLDR is Missing" error here instead
of the screen above, the most probable reason is that your computer is
not setup to boot first from the correct source. To correct this problem,
you'll need to change the boot order in BIOS to list the CD/DVD/BD
drive, or External Device, first.
Note: It's perfectly fine if, instead of the screen above, the Windows 7
setup process begins automatically (see the next step). If this happens,
consider this step complete and move on!
3. Wait for Windows 7 Installation Files to Load
You don't need to do anything at this point but wait for Windows 7
to finishing loading files in preparation for the setup process.
Note: No changes are being made to your computer at this time.
Windows 7 is just temporarily "loading files" into memory for the setup
process. You'll be removing everything on your computer as part of the
Windows 7 clean install in a future step.
4. Wait for Windows 7 Setup to Finish Loading
After the Windows 7 install files are loaded into memory, you'll see
the Windows 7 splash screen, indicating that the setup process is about
to begin.
5. Choose Language and Other Preferences
Choose the Language to install, Time and currency format,

and Keyboard or input method that you'd like to use in your new Windows
7 installation. Click Next.
6. Click the Install Now Button

Click on the Install now button in the center of the screen, under
the Windows 7 logo.
This will officially begin the Windows 7 clean install process.
Note: Do not click the Repair your computer link at the bottom of
the window even if you're completing this clean install of Windows 7 as
part of some larger repair project for your computer.
The Repair your computer link is used to start a Windows 7 Startup
Repair or perform another recovery or repair task from System Recovery
Options.
Important: If you're performing a clean install of Windows 7 as a solution
to a major problem but have not yet tried a Startup Repair, do that first. It
could save you the trouble of completing this clean install process.
7. Wait for Windows 7 Setup to Begin

The Windows 7 setup process is now beginning. No need to press any
keys here - everything is automatic.
8. Accept the Windows 7 License Terms

The next screen that appears is a textbox containing the Windows 7
Software License.
Read through the agreement, check the I accept the license
terms checkbox under the agreement text, and then click Next to confirm
that you agree with the terms.
Note: You should always read "small print" especially when it
comes to operating systems and other software. Most programs, Windows
7 included, have legally binding limits on how many computers the
application can be installed on, among other limitations.
Important: You are not breaking any laws or contracts by
reinstalling Windows 7 via this clean install. As long as this particular
copy of Windows 7 is only being operated on one computer, you're OK.
9. Choose the Type of Windows 7 Installation to Complete
In the Which type of installation do you want? window that appears

next, you're offered the choice of Upgrade and Custom (advanced).
Click on the Custom (advanced) button.
Important: Even if you are upgrading from a previous operating
system to Windows 7, I highly recommend that you do not follow
the Upgrade installation. You'll get better performance with less chance of
issues if you follow these clean install steps.
10. Show the Windows 7 Advanced Drive Options
In this screen, you'll see each partition that Windows 7

recognizes. Since a clean install involves the removal of all operating
system related partitions, if they exist, we'll do this now.
Important: If, and only if, you're installing Windows 7 on a new
hard drive, which of course does not have an operating system on it to
remove, you can skip directly to Step 15!
Windows 7 setup considers partition management as an advanced task,
so you'll need to click the Drive options (advanced) link to make those
options available.
In the next few steps, you'll delete the partitions containing the operating
system you're replacing with Windows 7, be it Windows Vista, Windows
XP, a previous installation of Windows 7, etc.
11. Delete the Partition Windows Is Installed On

Now that all available drive options are listed, you can delete any
operating system related partitions from your existing hard drive(s).
Important: Before continuing, please be aware that deleting a
partition will permanently erase all data from that drive. By all data I
mean the operating system that's installed, all programs, all data saved
by those programs, all music, all video, all documents, etc. that might be
on that particular drive.
Highlight the partition you want to delete and then click
the Delete link.
Note: Your list of partitions may differ considerably from mine
shown above. On my computer, I am performing a clean install of
Windows 7 on a computer with a small 30 GB hard drive that has
previously had Windows 7 installed.
If you have multiple hard drives and/or multiple partitions on those
drive(s), take great care in confirming that you're deleting the correct
partition(s). Many people, for example, have second hard drives or
partitions that act as backup drives. That's certainly not a drive you want
to be deleting.
12. Confirm the Partition Deletion
After deleting the partition, Windows 7 setup will prompt you to

confirm the deletion.
The message says "The partition might contain recovery files, system
files, or important software from your computer manufacturer. If you delete
this partition, any data stored on it will be lost."
Click the OK button.
Important: As I spelled out in the last step, please be aware that all the
data stored on that drive will be lost. If you have not backed up everything
you want to keep, click Cancel, end the Windows 7 clean install process,
restart your computer to boot back into whatever operating system you
have installed, and back up everything you want to keep.
To be clear: This is the point of no return! There's no reason to be
scared, I just want it to be very clear that you can't undo the deletion of
the drive you selected after you click this OK button.
13. Delete Other Operating System Related Partitions
If there are any other partitions that need to be deleted, you can do
so at this time.
For example, the Windows 7 installation I had on my PC previously
created this special 100 MB (very small) partition to store system data in.
This is most definitely related to the operating system that I'm trying to
completely remove from my computer, so I'll delete this as well.
Highlight the partition and click the Delete link.
Note: As you can see, the partition we deleted in the last step is gone. It
may appear like it's still there but if you look closely, you'll see that that
same 29.9 GB space is now described as Unallocated Space, not as a
partition.
14. Confirm Additional Partition Deletions
Just as in Step 12, Windows 7 setup will prompt you to confirm the
deletion of this partition.
Click the OK button to confirm.
Important: Just as before, please be aware that all the data stored
on this particular drive will be lost.
15. Choose a Physical Location to Install Windows 7 On

As you can now see, all the space on the installed hard drive is
unallocated. No partitions exist on this computer.
Note: The number of partitions displayed and whether those partitions
are unallocated portions of a hard drive, previously partitioned spaces, or
previously formatted and blank partitions, will depend on your specific
system and which partitions you deleted in the last several steps.
If you're installing Windows 7 on a computer with a single hard
drive on which you've just deleted all the partitions from, your screen
should look like the one above, aside from your hard drive being a
different size.
Choose the appropriate unallocated space to install Windows 7 on
and then click Next.
Note: You do not need to manually create a new partition nor are
you required to manually format a new partition. Windows 7 Setup will do
this automatically.
16. Wait While Windows 7 Is Installed
Windows 7 Setup will now install a clean copy of Windows 7 to the

location you chose in the previous step. You don't need to do anything
here but wait.
This is the most time consuming of any of the 34 steps. Depending on the
speed of your computer, this process could take anywhere from 5 to 30
minutes.
17. Restart Your Computer
Now that the Windows 7 clean install process is nearly complete,
you need to restart your computer.
If you do nothing, your computer will reset automatically after 10
seconds or so. If you'd rather not wait, you can click the Restart
now button at the bottom of the Windows needs to restart to
continue screen
18. Wait for Windows 7 Setup to Begin Again
The Windows 7 clean install is now continuing. You don't need to

do anything here. There are a few more automatic Windows 7 setup steps
to come.
19. Wait for Windows 7 Setup to Update Registry Settings
Windows 7 Setup is now updating registry settings in preparation

for the final stages of the operating system clean install.
20. Wait for Windows 7 Setup to Start Services
Wait while Windows 7 Setup starts various necessary services. This
starting of services will occur during every Windows 7 boot as well but
you won't see it like this again. Services start in the background during a
normal Windows 7 startup.
21. Wait for Windows 7 Setup to Complete
This last Windows 7 Setup screen says "Completing installation"

and may take several minutes. All you need to do is wait - everything is
automatic.
22. Wait for Your PC to Automatically Restart
Wait while the Windows 7 setup process automatically restarts your

computer.
Important: Do not restart your computer manually at this point.
Windows 7 Setup will restart your PC for you. If you interrupt the setup
process by restarting manually, the clean install process may fail. You
may then need to start the Windows 7 setup over again from the
beginning.
23. WAIT FOR WINDOWS 7 TO START
Wait while Windows 7 starts. No user intervention is required here.
24. Wait for Windows 7 to Prepare Your PC for First Use

Windows 7 Setup is now preparing your computer for "first use."
Windows 7 is now loading drivers, checking to make sure everything has
been setup properly, removing temporary files, etc. You don't need to do
anything here.
Note: Remember, this clean install of Windows 7 has completely
removed your old operating system. Windows 7 is being installed and
configured just as it would on a brand new computer.
25. WAIT FOR WINDOWS 7 TO CHECK YOUR PC'S VIDEO

PERFORMANCE
Wait while Windows 7 checks the video performance of your
computer.
Windows 7 needs to know how well your video card and
related hardware works so it can properly adjust performance options for
your computer.
For example, if your video system is too slow, Windows 7 may
disable features like Aero Peek, translucent windows, and other
graphically intense features of the operating system.
26. CHOOSE A USER NAME AND A COMPUTER NAME
Windows 7 needs to know what user name you'd like to use and
how you'd like your computer to be identified on your local network.
In the Type a user name (for example, John): text box, enter your
name. You can enter a single name, your first and last name, or any other
identifiable text you like. This is the name you'll be identified by in
Windows 7.
Note: You're more than welcome to use the same user name that
you used in your old operating system installation.
In the Type a computer name: text box, enter the name you'd like
your computer to have when being viewed by other computers on your
network.
Note: If it makes sense in your specific situation, I recommend
using the same computer name you used in the operating system
installation you've deleted as part of this clean install, especially if any
other computers on your network connect to resources on your PC.
Otherwise, a good computer name might be Office-PC, Windows-7-Test-
PC, Bob-Dell, etc. You get the idea. Anything identifiable that makes sense
to you will work.
Click Next when you're done entering both the user name and
computer name.
Note: Planning on having more than one user on your computer?
Don't worry - you can set up more users inside Windows 7 later.
27. CHOOSE A PASSWORD TO ACCESS WINDOWS 7
Microsoft recommends that you choose a password that will be

required when starting Windows 7 before access to your user account will
be allowed.
Don't treat this as a recommendation - consider it a requirement.
In the Type a password (recommended): text box, enter a
complicated but easy-for-YOU-to-remember password. Retype the same
password in the Retype your password: text box.
Type a hint to give yourself in the Type a password hint
(required): text box. This hint will display if you enter the wrong password
when logging on to Windows 7.
As you can see in the example above, the hint I entered was What is
my favorite food?. The password I entered (which you can't see above)
was applesauce.
Note: Feel free to use the same password as you used in
the operating system you've just removed from your computer as part of
this Windows 7 clean install. However, this is as good a time as any to
choose a stronger password than you might have used before.
28. ENTER THE WINDOWS 7 PRODUCT KEY

Enter the product key that came with your retail purchase or legal
download of Windows 7. If Windows 7 came as part of your complete
computer system, enter the product key you were given as part of that
purchase.
Note: If Windows originally came preinstalled on your computer, your
product key is probably located on a sticker attached to the side, back, or
bottom of your computer's case.
Important: You may be able to avoid entering a product key at this
point but you will eventually need to do so in order to continue using
Windows 7. I highly advise that you enter your product key here and
choose to Automatically activate Windows when I'm online.
29. CHOOSE A WINDOWS UPDATE OPTION

On this Help protect your computer and improve Windows
automatically screen, Windows 7 is asking you to choose how you want to
automatically install updates from Microsoft's Windows Update service.
I recommend that you choose Install important updates only.

This option is the safest because it restricts Windows 7 from doing
anything with your data or to your computer automatically except when
important security and stability updates are available.
You are more than welcome to choose Use recommended
settings but I do not recommend that you choose Ask me later.
Note: These settings can easily be changed within Windows 7 after you're
done stepping through these configuration questions.
30. CHOOSE THE CORRECT TIME ZONE, DATE, AND TIME

On the Review your time and date settings screen, choose the
correct Time zone, Date, and Time.
The time and date is likely already correct but be sure to verify the
time zone and change if necessary.
If your area observes Daylight Saving Time be sure to check that box
here.
Note: If the date and/or time of Daylight Saving Time changes,
Microsoft will issue an update via Windows Update to change the
automatic time change, so don't avoid checking this box assuming that
DST changes won't occur correctly.
31. CHOOSE A NETWORK LOCATION
In the Select your computer's current location window you see

now, Windows 7 is asking where your computer is located at so it can
setup the proper network security - tighter security for public areas and
lighter for private ones like home and work.
Choose Home network or Work network if that applies to you.
Most of you reading this will choose Home network.
Choose Public network if you use a mobile computer and you
connect to the internet or other computers away from home. Also, be sure
to choose Public network if you access the internet via a mobile broadband
network - no matter if you're at home or not.
32. Wait for Windows 7 to Connect to the Network

Windows 7 is now connecting your computer to the network. You
don't need to do anything here. Everything is automatic.
Note: If Windows 7 detects another computer on your network
running Windows 7 that also has a homegroup setup, you will be
prompted to choose what kinds of files you'd like to share on that
homegroup and for the homegroup password. You can enter this
information or Skip the setup entirely.
I do not show this additional screen in this guide.
33. Wait for Windows 7 to Prepare the Desktop
Windows 7 will now put all the "finishing touches" on your clean
installation like adding icons to the desktop, prepare the start menu, etc.
You don't need to do anything here. All of these changes are done
automatically in the background.
34. Your Windows 7 Clean Install Is Complete!
This completes the final step of your clean install of Windows 7.

Congratulations!
Important: If you chose not to enable automatic updates (Step 29),
then the first step after installing Windows 7 is to visit Windows
Update and install all the important service packs and patches that have
been issued since the version of Windows 7 on your DVD was released.
INSTALLING WINDOWS XP
1. PLAN YOUR WINDOWS XP CLEAN INSTALLATION
After serious system

problems it's often necessary
to wipe your Windows
XP system clean and start
over from scratch - a
procedure referred to as a
"clean Install".
A clean install is also
the best way to go when you
want to "revert back" to
Windows XP from a later
version of Windows, or even if you want to install Windows XP for the first
time into a new or recently wiped hard drive.
The most important thing to realize before performing a clean
install of Windows XP is that all of the information on the drive that
Windows XP is currently on (probably your C: drive) will be destroyed
during this process. That means that if there's anything you want to keep
you should back it up to a CD or another drive prior to beginning this
process.
Some things to consider backing up that usually reside on the same
drive as Windows XP (which we'll assume is "C:") include a number of
folders located under C:\Documents and Settings\{YOUR NAME} such
as Desktop, Favorites and My Documents. Also check these folders
under other user's accounts if more than one person logs onto your PC.
You should also locate the Windows XP product key, a 25-digit
alphanumeric code unique to your copy of Windows XP. If you can't locate
it, there is a fairly easy way to find the Windows XP product key code from
your existing installation, but this must be done before you reinstall.
When you're absolutely sure that everything from your computer that you
want to keep is backed up, proceed to the next step. Keep in mind that
once you delete all of the information from this drive (as we'll do in a
future step), the action is not reversible!
Tip: A Windows XP Repair Install is the better way to go if you want
to keep your files and programs intact. Typically you'll want to try to solve
your problem that way prior to trying a clean install.
2. BOOT FROM THE WINDOWS XP CD
To begin the Windows XP clean install process, you will need
to boot from the Windows XP CD.
Watch for a Press any key to boot from CD... message similar to the
one shown in the screenshot above.
Press a key to force the
computer to boot from the
Windows CD. If you do not
press a key, your PC will
attempt to boot to
the operating system that's
currently installed on
your hard drive. If this
happens, simply reboot and
try to boot to the Windows XP
CD again.
3. PRESS F6 TO INSTALL A THIRD PARTY DRIVER

The Windows Setup screen will appear and a number of files
and drivers necessary for the setup process will load.
Toward the beginning
of this process, a message
will appear that says Press F6
if you need to install a third
party SCSI or RAID driver....
As long as you are performing
this clean install from a
Windows XP SP2 CD, this
step is probably not
necessary.
On the other hand, if you're reinstalling from an older version of
the Windows XP installation CD and you have an SATA hard drive, you
will need to press F6 here to load any necessary drivers. The instructions
that came with your hard drive or computer should include this
information.
For most of you, though, this step can be ignored.
4. PRESS ENTER TO SET UP WINDOWS XP

After the necessary
files and driversare loaded,
the Windows XP
Professional Setup screen
will appear.
Since this will be a
clean installation
of Windows XP,
press Enter to setup
Windows XP now.
5. READ AND ACCEPT THE WINDOWS XP LICENSING

AGREEMENT
The next screen that

appears is the Windows XP
Licensing Agreement screen.
Read through the
agreement and press F8 to
confirm that you agree with
the terms.
Tip: Press the Page
Down key to advance
through the licensing
agreement faster. This is not to suggest that you should skip reading the
agreement though! You should always read a software's "small print"
especially when it comes to operating systems like Windows XP.
6. PRES ESC TO INSTALL A FRESH COPY OF WINDOWS XP
On the next screen,

Windows XP Setup needs
to know which Windows
installation you want to
repair or if you'd rather
install a fresh copy
of Windows XP.
Important: If you
have a new, or otherwise
empty, hard drive you're
installing Windows XP to, you won't see this! Skip to Step 10 instead.
An installation of Windows on your PC should already be
highlighted, assuming Windows exists on there at all (it doesn't need to).
If you have multiple Windows installations then you'll see them all listed.
Even though you may be repairing an issue with your computer, do
not choose to repair the selected Windows XP installation. In this tutorial,
we are installing a clean copy of Windows XP on the computer.
Press the Esc key to continue.
7. DELETE THE EXISTING WINDOWS XP PARTITION
In this step, you will

delete the main partition on
your computer - the space on
the hard drive that your
current Windows
XP installation has been
using.
Using the arrow keys on
your keyboard, highlight the
line for the C: drive. It
probably says Partition1 or System though yours may be different.
Press D to delete this partition.
Warning: This will remove all of the information on the drive that
Windows XP is currently on (your C: drive). Everything on that drive will
be destroyed during this process.
8. CONFIRM KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM PARTITION
In this step, Windows XP

Setup warns that
the partition you are trying to
delete is a system partition
that may contain Windows XP.
Of course we know this
because that is exactly what
we're trying to do.
Confirm your knowledge that
this is a system partition by
pressing Enter to continue.
9. CONFIRM PARTITION DELETION REQUEST
WARNING: This is
your last chance to back out
of the reinstallation process
by pressing the Esc key. If
you back out now and restart
your PC, your
previous Windows
XP installation
will boot normally with no loss
of data, assuming it was
working before you started
this process!
If you're sure you're ready to proceed, confirm that you wish to delete
this partition by pressing the L key.
10. Create a Partition
Now that the previous

partition is removed, all of the
space on the hard drive is
unpartitioned. In this step,
you will create a
new partition for Windows
XP to use.
Using the arrow keys on
your keyboard, highlight the
line that says Unpartitioned
space. Press C to create a
partition on this unpartitioned space.
Warning Note: You may have other partitions on this drive and on
other drives that may be installed in your PC. If so, you may have a
number of entries here. Be careful not to remove partitions that you may
be using as this will remove all data from those partitions permanently.
11. CHOOSE A PARTITION SIZE

Here you need to choose a size
for the new partition. This will
become the size of the C drive,
the main drive on your PC that
Windows XP will install to.
This is also the drive that all of
your software and data will
probably reside on unless you have additional partitions set aside for
those purposes.
Unless you are planning on creating additional partitions from
within Windows XP after the clean installation process (for any number of
reasons), it's usually wise to create a partition at the maximum size
possible.
For most users, the default number provided will be the maximum
space available and the best choice. Press Enter to confirm the partition
size.
12. CHOOSE A PARTITION TO INSTALL WINDOWS XP ON
Highlight the line with

the newly
created partition and
press Enter to set up
Windows XP on the selected
partition.
Note: Even if you created a
partition at the maximum size
available, there will always be
a relatively small amount of
space left over that will not be included in the partitioned space. This will
be labeled as Unpartitioned space in the list of partitions, as shown in the
screen shot above.
13. CHOOSE A FILE SYSTEM TO FORMAT THE PARTITION
For Windows XP to
install on a partition on a hard
drive, it has to be formatted to
use a particular file system -
either the FAT file system
format or the NTFS file system
format. NTFS is more stable
and secure than FAT and is
always the recommended
choice for a new Windows XP
installation.
Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the line that
says Format the partition using the NTFS file system and press Enter.
14. Wait for the New Partition to Format
Depending on the
size of the partition that
you are formatting and the
speed of your computer,
formatting the partition
could take anywhere from a
few minutes to several
minutes or hours.
15. WAIT FOR THE WINDOWS XP INSTALLATION FILES TO

COPY
Windows XP Setup will now

copy the necessary
installation files from
the Windows
XP installation CD to the
newly formatted partition -
the C drive.
This step usually
only takes a few minutes
and no user intervention is
necessary.
16. WINDOWS XP INSTALLATION BEGINS
Windows XP will now

begin installing. No user
intervention is necessary.
Note: The Setup will
complete in
approximately: time
estimation on the left is
based on the number of
tasks that the Windows XP
setup process has left to
complete, not on a true
estimation of the time it will take to complete them. Usually the time here
is an exaggeration. Windows XP will probably be setup sooner than this.
17. CHOOSE REGIONAL AND LANGUAGE OPTIONS
During installation,
the Regional and Language
Options window will appear.
The first section allows you
to change the
default Windows
XP language and the default
location. If the options listed
match your preferences, no
changes are necessary. If
you wish to make changes, click on the Customize... button and follow
the directions given to install new languages or change locations.
The second section allows you to change the default Windows XP
input language and device. If the options listed match your preferences,
no changes are necessary. If you wish to make changes, click on
the Details... button and follow the directions given to install new input
languages or change input methods.
After you've made any changes, or if you've determined no changes
are necessary, click Next >.
18. ENTER YOUR NAME AND ORGANIZATION
In the Name: text box,

enter your full name. In
the Organization text box,
enter your organization or
business name. Click Next
> when complete.
In the next window
(not shown), enter the
Windows XP product key.
This key should have come
with your Windows XP
purchase.
Note: If you're installing Windows XP from a Windows XP Service
Pack 3 (SP3) CD, you will not be prompted to enter a product key at this
time.
Click Next > when complete.
19. ENTER A COMPUTER NAME AND ADMINISTRATOR
PASSWORD
The Computer Name

and Administrator
Password window will
appear next.
In the Computer
name: text box, Windows XP
Setup has suggested a
unique computer name for
you. If your computer will be
on a network, this is how it
will be identified to other
computers. Feel free to change the computer name to anything you wish.
In the Administrator password: text box, enter a password for the
local administrator account. This field can be left blank but it's not
recommended to do so for security purposes. Confirm this password in
the Confirm password: text box.
20. SET THE DATE AND TIME
In the Date and Time

Settings window, set the
correct date, time and time
zone settings.
21. CHOOSE THE NETWORKING SETTINGS

The Networking
Settings window will appear
next with two options for you
to choose from - Typical
settings or Custom settings.
If you're installing Windows
XP in on a single computer or
a computer on a home
network, chances are the
correct option to choose
is Typical settings.
If you're installing Windows XP in a corporate environment, you
may need to choose the Custom settings option but check with your
system administrator first. Even in this case, the Typical settings option
is probably the right one.
If you're not sure, choose Typical settings.
Click Next >.
22. ENTER A WORKGROUP OR DOMAIN NAME
The Workgroup or
Computer Domain window will
appear next with two options
for you to choose from - No,
this computer is not on a
network, or is on a network
without a domain... or Yes,
make this computer a member
of the following domain:.
If you're installing Windows
XP on a single computer or a
computer on a home network, chances are the correct option to choose
is No, this computer is not on a network, or is on a network without
a domain.... If you're on a network, enter the workgroup name of that
network here. Otherwise, feel free to leave the default workgroup name
and continue.
If you're installing Windows XP in a corporate environment, you may need
to choose the Yes, make this computer a member of the following
domain: option and enter a domain name but check with your system
administrator first.
If you're not sure, choose No, this computer is not on a network, or is
on a network without a domain....
Click Next >.
23. Wait for the Windows XP Installation to Finalize
The Windows
XP installation will now
finalize. No user intervention
is necessary.
24. Wait for Restart and First Windows XP Boot
Your PC will automatically restart and proceed to load Windows

XP for the first time.
25. Accept Automatic Display Settings Adjustment
After the Windows XP start

up splash screen appeared
in the last step, a window
titled Display Settings will
appear.
Click OK to allow Windows
XP to automatically adjust
the screen resolution.
26. Confirm Automatic Display Settings Adjustment
The next window is

titled Monitor
Settings and is asking for
confirmation that you
can read the text on the screen. This will tell Windows XP that the
automatic resolution changes it made in the previous step were
successful.
If you can clearly read the text in the window, click OK.
If you can not read the text on the screen, the screen is garbled or
not clear, click Cancel if you are able. If you can't see the Cancel button
don't worry. The screen will automatically revert to the previous setting in
20 seconds.
27. Begin Final Set Up of Windows XP
The Welcome to
Microsoft Windows screen
appears next, informing
you that the next few
minutes will be spent
setting up your computer.
28. WAIT FOR INTERNET CONNECTIVITY CHECK
The Checking your

Internet connectivity screen
appears next, informing you
that Windows is checking to
see if your computer is
connected to the Internet.
If you'd like to skip
this step, click Skip ->.
29. CHOOSE AN INTERNET CONNECTION METHOD
In this step, Windows

XP wants to know whether
your computer connects to
the Internet through a
network or if it connects to
the Internet directly.
If you have a
broadband connection, like
DSL or a cable or fiber
connection, and are using a
router (or if you're on another type of home or business network) then
choose Yes, this computer will connect through a local area network
or home network.
If your computer connects directly to the Internet via a modem
(dial-up or broadband), choose No, this computer will connect directly
to the Internet.
Windows XP will see most modern Internet connection setups, even
those involving only a single PC, as on a network so the first option is
probably the most likely choice for most users. If you're really not sure
though, choose No, this computer will connect directly to the
Internet or click Skip ->.
After making a choice, click Next ->.
30. OPTIONALLY REGISTER WINDOWS XP WITH MICROSOFT
Registration with
Microsoft is optional, but if
you'd like to do that now,
choose Yes, I'd like to register with Microsoft now, click Next -> and
follow the instructions to register.
Otherwise, choose No, not at this time and click Next ->.
31. CREATE INITIAL USER ACCOUNTS
In this step, setup

wants to know the names of
the users who will
use Windows XP so it can
setup individual accounts for
each user. You must enter at
least one name but can enter
up to 5 here. More users can
be entered from within
Windows XP after
installation is complete.
After entering the account name(s), click Next -> to continue.
33. FINISH FINAL SETUP OF WINDOWS XP
We're almost there! All

of the necessary files are
installed and all of the
necessary settings are
configured.
Click Finish -> to
proceed to Windows XP.
34. Wait for Windows
XP to Start
Windows XP is now
loading for the first time.
This may take a minute or
two depending on your
computer's speed.
35. Windows XP Clean

Installation is
Complete!
This completes the
final step of the Windows
XP clean installation!
Congratulations!
The first step after a clean
install of Windows XP is to
proceed to Windows
Update to install all of the
latest updates and fixes
from Microsoft. This is a
very important step to ensure that your new Windows XP installation is
secure and up to date.
SELF- CHECK NO. 4.4-4
A. Multiple Choice:
Read each question carefully and choose the letter of the best
answer. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
1. If you see a message to press any key to boot the CD/USB and you
fail to do so, what do you think will happen?
a. The computer will restart
b. Set up inspecting your system will appear
c. It will be prompted to BIOS setup
d. It will return to boot menu
2. Where do we typically install the operating system?
a. Drive C
b. DVD
c. External Drive
d. Floppy Drive
3. What key should you press if you need to install any third- party or
RAID drivers?
a. F2
b. F6
c. F2
d. F12
4. What file system is usually used during installation of Window 10?
a. FAT
b. FAT32
c. NTFS
d. NTFS32
5. Which of the following is not a Windows 10 minimum requirement?
a. 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
b. 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
c. 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
d. CD- ROM or DVD ROM
B. Identification
Direction: Identify the Precautions and Procedures write TRUE if

the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is wrong.
________1. An operating system is a set of programs that manage

computer hardware resources and provide common services for
application software.
________2) Operating system is not a vital component of the system
software in a computer system. Application programs require an operating
system which are usually separate programs, but can be combined in
simple systems.
________3) Time-sharing operating systems schedule time for efficient use
of the system and may also include accounting for cost allocation of
processor time, mass storage, printing, and other resources.
________4) For software functions such as input and output and memory
allocation, the operating system acts as an intermediary between
application programs and the computer hardware.
________5) Operating systems are found on almost any device that
contains a computer—from cellular phones and video game consoles to
supercomputers and web servers
ANSWER KEY 4.4-4
A. MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. D
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. D
B. IDENTIFICATION
1. True
2. False
3. False
4. False
5. True
TASK SHEET NO. 4.4-4
Title: Install of Windows 7 Operating System
Performance Objective: Given tools, materials and equipment, you

should be able to install Windows 7 Operating
System for 3 hrs observing OHS procedures.
Supplies/Materials : Windows 7 Installer (USB/CD or DVD)
Equipment: Computer with CD/DVD ROM, AVR/UPS
Steps/Procedure:
1. Configure your Computer BIOS
- Press DEL, ESC, F2, F10 or F9 to enter the system BIOS
- Find your BIOS boot options menu
- Select the CD-ROM or Removable Devices as the first
boot device of your computer
- Save the changes of the settings
2. Insert the windows disc into your CD/DVD drive or USB
bootable installer into USB port
3. Restart your PC. When the computer starts, press a key if you
are asked if you would like to boot from disk/USB by pressing
any key. Windows setup will begin loading
4. Choose your Windows setup option
5. Click the Install Now button
6. Accept the License Terms
7. Select the Custom installation
8. Decide on which hard drive and partition you want to install
windows on
9. Install Windows on your preferred hard drive and partition
Assessment Method:
Demonstration
Performance Criteria Checklist 4.4-6
CRITERIA YES NO
1. Install the Operating System with no errors.
2. Proper disk partitioning and partition is
performed.
3. Proper use of equipment and materials is
observed.
4. Observance of Safety Precautions.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Installation of Windows Operating System (10, 8, 7 and XP

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Information Sheet 4.

Operating System types

As computers have progressed

GUI - Short for Graphical User Interface, a GUI operating system

Multiprocessing - An operating system capable of supporting and

Operating System listing

Operating Date first

Before the installation process undertake, a technician must be

Windows 10 minimum requirements for installation:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC

Windows 7 and Windows 8 System requirements

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz)* or faster with support for PAE, NX,

Windows Vista System requirements

Processor: 1-gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 1-GHz 64-

Windows XP System requirements

Processor: Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster

Step 13: Instead of signing in using your Microsoft account

1. Plan Your Windows 8 installation

A Windows 8 clean install involves removing the existing operating

2. Boot from the Windows 8 Installation Media

To start the Windows 8 clean install process, you'll need

3. Wait for the Windows 8 Installation Files to Load

4. Choose Language, Time, and Other Preferences

5. Click Install Now

6. Wait for Windows 8 Setup to Begin

The next screen you encounter will be the Microsoft Software

10. Show the Windows 8 Advanced Drive Options

11. Delete the Partition You Plan on Installing Windows 8 Onto

12. Confirm the Partition Deletion

After choosing to delete the partition, Windows 8 Setup will prompt

13. Delete Other Partitions Used by the Previous Operating System

14. Confirm Other Partition Deletions

15. Choose a Physical Location to Install Windows 8

16. Wait While Windows 8 is Installed

17. Restart Your Computer

Windows 8 Clean Install - Step 17 of 32.

Windows 8 Clean Install - Step 18 of 32.

19. Wait for Windows 8 Setup to Install Hardware

After Windows 8 Setup finishes installing hardware, you'll see

21. Wait While Your Computer Restarts Automatically

22. Wait While Windows 8 Starts Up

Once again, you're waiting on Windows 8 to start up. This should

23. Wait for the Windows 8 Basics Wizard to Start

24. Pick a Color Theme & Name Your PC

Two pretty simple options are presented on the Personalize screen:

26. Use Default Settings or Set Custom Ones

On the Settings screen, you have the option of accepting Microsoft's

The next screen is the Sign in to your PC step.

28. Accept SkyDrive Settings

SkyDrive (now OneDrive) is Microsoft's online storage service and is

30. Wait While Windows 8 Finalizes Settings

31. Wait While Windows 8 Prepares the Start Screen

Depending on the version of Windows 8 you're installing, you may

32. Your Windows 8 Clean Install is Complete!

If you did enable automatic updates, Windows 8 will prompt you

1. Plan Your Windows 7 Clean Install

To begin the Windows 7 clean install process, you'll need to boot

3. Wait for Windows 7 Installation Files to Load

5. Choose Language and Other Preferences

Choose the Language to install, Time and currency format,

6. Click the Install Now Button

7. Wait for Windows 7 Setup to Begin

8. Accept the Windows 7 License Terms