HelpWindows7.com

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Installing your operating system and setting it up correctly is vital for the future performance of your computer. Here, you will be guided through the actions necessary to get Windows 7 up and running smoothly.

Installing Windows 7

Before installing Windows 7, be sure your computer meets all of the necessary requirements below:

A DVD-R/W Drive
128 MB memory (for use of Aero theme)
16 GB of available disk space
1 GB computer system memory
1 GHz processor (32-bit or 62-bit)
Compatible with DirectX 9 graphics

Should I Use 32-bit or 62-Bit windows 7?

When making this choice there is no definite answer as to which is better. It all depends on your OS, hardware, and….Below is a quick overlook of some of the key points to consider when deciding.

64-bit performs faster, but much faster if used with a 64-bit Windows OS.
32-bit can hold only 4 GB of memory, whereas 64-bit allows up to 184 GB of memory.
32-bit is more compatible with older computers, where as 64-bit isn’t compatible with most Windows hardware.

Windows 7 Installation

When installing Windows 7 there are three options:
Installing Windows 7 on a blank drive,
1. Turn on computer.
2. Insert Windows 7 DVD.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Press Esc or F12, when prompted, to begin the installation process.
5. On the Windows Screen, click Install now. (Important updates for installation page will appear )
6. Accept all updates; be sure you are connected to the Internet. (Please read the license terms page will appear)
7. After reading, accept the license terms. (Which type of installation do you want page will appear)
8. Click Custom. (Where do you want to install Windows page will appear)
9. If you would like to use the selected partition, click Next. If not, select the partition you would like to use (be sure it has enough space), then click Next.
10. The installation can take a while; it will automatically restart several times during this process. This will require no action from you.

Upgrading from an earlier Windows OS,

1. Turn on computer.
2. Insert Windows 7 DVD. (Autoplay menu will appear)
3. Click Run Setup.exe. (Install Windows screen will appear)
4. Click Install now.
5. Accept all updates; be sure you are connected to the Internet. (Please read the license terms page will appear)
6. After reading, accept the license terms, and then click Next. (Which type of installation do you want page will appear)
7. Click Upgrade.
8. The installation process will begin. Be sure to follow all instructions.

Or performing a dual boot with one of the later Windows OS's (Vista or XP).
Vista Dual Boot

1. Click Start (located on the Taskbar on your Desktop).
2. Right-click Computer.
3. Click Manage.
4. Click Disk Management (located in the left pane).
5. Right-click on the partition.
6. Click Shrink Volume.
7. In the “Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB:” box, enter the desired amount you would like to shrink the partition to.
8. Right-click the free space.
9. Click New Simple Volume.
10. Click Next.
11. Choose the volume size.
12. Click Next.
13. Assign a drive letter, and click Next.
14. Click the “Format the volume with the following settings:” circle.
15. For the File System section, select NTFS.
16. Enter a label, and press Next.
17. Click Finish.
18. Refer to Install Windows on A Blank Drive for remaining instructions.

XP Dual Boot

1. Download GParted live CD
2. Burn image to CD.
3. Reboot computer.
4. Boot from the CD. (GParted will boot.)
5. Create a partition.
6. Refer to Install Windows on A Blank Drive for remaining instructions.

After completing these steps you will be ready to log onto the Windows 7 system.


How to Log onto Windows 7

Logging on to Windows can vary according to the number of users and whether or not your account is password protected.

If you are the only user, or if there are multiple users and your account is not password protected, simply click onto your account icon/picture, and you will be taken directly to your desktop.

If your account is password protected , the number of users isnt important. Click on your icon, enter your password, select Go and you will be taken to your desktop.

Keep In Mind

Whenever an account is password protected, you also have the option of providing a password hint. This is to assist you with remembering your password and provides further protection.

Password Reset Disk

If for some reason you forget the answer to your password hint, there is also another option, a password reset disk. You cannot use a CD for this, only a flash drive or floppy disk will work. Follow the steps below to begin.

1. Insert your floppy disk in the designated drive or connect your flash drive.
2. Click Start.
3. Click Control Panel, and then User Accounts and Family Safety.
4. Click User Accounts. (A Task list will appear.)
5. Click Create a password reset disk. You can also type reset password into the Start Menu search box and click Create a password reset disk located in the search results. (The Forgotten Password utility will start.)
6. Click Next.
7. Click the floppy disk or jump drive you chose earlier, and then select Next. (Current User Account Password page will appear.)
8. Enter your log on password here, and click Next.
9. When the bar reads 100% complete, click Next.
10. Click Finish.

Using Your Password Reset Disk

To start the Password Reset wizard, on the Welcome page, place the cursor in the password box and press Enter. Windows will recognize the password is incorrect. Continue with the following steps:
1. Click OK. (You will be returned to the Welcome screen.)
2. Click Reset Password. (The Password Reset utility will begin.)
3. Click Next. (The Insert the Password Reset Disk page will appear)
4. Select the drive you would like to use, insert your disk or flash drive, and click Next.
5. The Reset the User Account Password page will appear. You will be prompted to enter a new password, along with a new password hint. After completing these steps, click Next.
6. The Completing the Forgotten Password Wizard page will appear, click Finish.

Your new password has been saved.

Windows Desktop

The Windows Desktop is a user interface composed of the following elements.

Desktop. The display area where the elements below are located and controlled.
Icon. Used as shortcuts on your desktop, this is a small thumbnail image that represents files, programs, folders, or other tasks. Pointing to and/or clicking an icon can open it, display properties and other important information about the selected item. By default, the Recycle Bin icon is always on the desktop.
Pointing device. A mouse or other device that allows you to click and select objects on your screen.
Window. An adjustable frame within which programs or files are ran.
Menu. A list of options displayed when selecting or clicking a task or command.
Dialog box. An instructional window in which you can make changes and modify your options. You cannot change the size of dialog boxes.

Feel free to use Windows 7 backgrounds or images and graphics of your own to decorate your desktop. If your computer is new, the OEM may have installed extra programs and features. Shortcuts to these items may appear on your desktop as well. When adding your own programs and applications, you will be given a choice of whether or not you would like to create a shortcut for the item.

The Start Menu

The Start Menu is vital to your computer experience, as it is the portal to your personal files, computer management files, programs, and all other items located on your computer. To access the Start Menu, click the Start button located on the far left of the Windows Taskbar. The Start Menu will be divided into two panes, the left and the right.

Left Pane

On this side are programs (pre-installed and manually installed). These programs are categorized as follows:
· Pinned Items. This is your personal list of applications and utilities. You would place your most used programs here for easier access.
· Recently Opened Programs. This list keeps your recently used programs, documents, and applications so you can return to them without searching.
· All Programs.This menu lists all applications and programs on your computer. Some programs will be visible and others will be located in folders. To access them, simply click on the folder to reveal the program and other components of the application. Any new programs will be highlighted.

Keep In Mind

Not all programs and utilities will be located on the All Programs menu. But can be found in the following folders: Accessories, Games, Startup, Maintenance, Extras and Upgrades and Administrative Tools.

Right Pane

This side has three sections (starting from the top):

· First Section. Displays your name, user account image and personal folders links.(i.e. Pictures, Documents)
· Second Section. Provides links to your games, recently used documents, and favorites. Windows can also be displayed to allow you to view the information on your computer, as well as your network.
· Third Section. This section lists links to the Control Panel, Windows Help and Support, Devices and Printers. Below this section are your Shut-dowm Options.

Each section can differ depending on your Start Menu properties.

Jump Lists and Using the Start Menu Search Box

Windows jump lists has been a function of Windows systems for years, but it simply didn’t have a title. Windows has tweaked this utility so that now instead of hovering over an arrow to only be shown the contents of a file or folder, it now displays recent documents and projects within the specific program.

The Start Menu search box is one of Windows most appreciated features. You simply click the Start button, and begin typing the program, file, or document name, and the search results will appear immediately. To open an item, simply click on it. Right-click to view other options. For more information about your search, click See More Results.

The Windows Taskbar

The taskbar informs you about what is active and running on your computer at the present moment. As usual, the Start button is located to the far left of the taskbar and the clock to the far right. The Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, and Windows Media Player are also located on the left end of the Windows Taskbar.The Taskbar is used for a variety of actions such as opening files, dialog boxes, your Computer and many other utilities.

Although the Taskbar is larger than it has been in previous versions of Windows, the appearance and amount of information that can fit onto the task bar varies according to your display settings. Hovering over an icon on the taskbar will display thumbnail images of all images currently running in that program. By hovering you will also be given the option to close the window, instead of using the right-click menu as it was in previous versions of Windows. The right-click function now houses a shortcut menu of related files, commands, and other tasks.

Keep In Mind

You can drag your taskbars icons to organize them to your liking.

The Notification Area

Located on the right end of the taskbar is the Notification Area. In this area are icons to notify you of the status of the running program. To make more space on the taskbar, Windows automatically hides the icons that don’t concern you.

The Control Panel in windows 7

This is the control hub for all actions performed by the Windows 7 system. You can alter the appearance, operational, and other settings from here. Depending on the view you choose, you can view all eight categories or each action specifically. The eight categories are as follows:

Appearance
Personalization Clock
Language
Region Ease of Access Hardware and Sound
Network and Internet
Programs
System and Security
User Accounts and Family Safety

The action you would like to perform is located in corresponding category above. If you are having trouble finding what you’re looking for, there are different methods. To find the action, you can browse through all Control Panel tasks by following the step below:

1. Click Control Panel (located on the Start menu).
2. Click All Control Panel Items.
3. Double-click the Control Panel item you want to open.

You can also use the Start menu search box, and type part of the item name. Your results will be displayed. Click the task you would like to open.

Now that the basics have all been covered, you are now ready to begin the Windows 7 experience.