14 Dec your Mac's Boot Camp app to only install Windows 7, gain the ability to be the ability to create a Windows 10 USB installer that can be used. 19 Jan Your Mac will format the USB drive and create the Windows 7.
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For better of for worse, Windows 7 is currently the most popular PC OS in the world. Even if we have never done it before, it is easy to install Windows 7 on a desktop or laptop PC. In this guide, we will go through every step, from creating a Windows 7 installation USB or DVD, all the way to logging in our new Windows installation.
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This guide is written for beginners, part of the 'First Steps' category of PCsteps. Experienced users might find it too descriptive for their taste.
We install Windows 7 Home Premium x64, but it will work with any other Windows 7 version.
Table of Contents
- How to install Windows 7 from USB or DVD
- Select a hard drive or partition
How to create a Windows installation DVD or USB
If you already have a Windows 7 DVD, you can skip straight to the next section, 'Change boot order in BIOS / UEFI.'
Many of us, however, bought a PC with pre-installed Windows 7, and chances are we never got a Windows 7 DVD. Not to worry, though, since it is easy to download Windows 7 as an ISO, and then create an installation DVD or USB.
Check out our detailed guide on how to download Windows 7, legally and for free.
After we have downloaded the ISO, we can follow this guide to create a Windows Installation DVD or USB.
A Windows 7 installation USB is the best option since it will allow us to install Windows 7 faster. However, if our PC has an old BIOS that doesn't support boot from USB, the DVD is the most compatible solution.
And, speaking of the BIOS...
How to change boot order in BIOS / UEFI
A PC can boot from multiple devices, such as the hard drive, a CD/DVD-ROM, a USB thumb drive, even from the network.
The default option is usually the hard drive. To install Windows 7, we need to change the first boot device to the USB or DVD.
Changing the boot order can be tricky, though, because different motherboards often have entirely different BIOS / UEFI interfaces.
We check some of the most popular interfaces on our guide:
How to install Windows 7 from USB or DVD
So, after we have changed the boot order to our Windows 7 installation medium and boot the system, we need to press any key on the keyboard to install Windows 7.
The Digital River Windows ISOs have only a single language to install, but we can select a different time and currency format and keyboard or input methods.
On the next screen, we select 'Install Now'...
...read and accept the Windows License terms...
...and select 'Custom (advanced)'.
Select a hard drive or partition
There are multiple scenarios regarding the choice of the disk or partition where we will install Windows 7.
Install Windows 7 on an empty disk
On a new PC or a new disk, we just need to select the disk, which should be characterized as 'Unallocated Space'.
If we want Windows to create a single partition, we just click next.
If we have a large hard drive and want to split it into two or more partitions, we must click on 'Drive options (advanced)'...
...and then click 'New', set the size for the new partition in Megabytes (remember, 1GB=1024MB), and 'Apply'.
Windows itself, without any programs, takes about 21GB...
...but if we intend to install large programs, such as games with 50GB+ installations, we should allocate between 100GB (102400MB) and 250GB (256000MB), so we don't run out of space. The System Reserved partition is created automatically.
By clicking the rest of the unallocated space, we can create a data partition for our files.
Finally, we select the Windows partitions and click on 'Next' to install Windows 7.
Install Windows 7 on a disk that already has a Windows partition
If we had a previous Windows installation on the disk, it will show as one or more Windows partitions. Usually, the first one or two partitions - if there is a System Reserved Partition - belong to the previous installation.
Before we make any changes to the previous partitions, we need to make sure we have backed up any data on the partitions. Deleting or formatting the partitions will destroy all the files inside.
If there is data we haven't backed up, but don't have access to the previous Windows installation, we can follow this guide: Windows Won't Load? Two Ways to Rescue our Files.
With our data safe, it's best to delete the previous Windows Partitions. We just need to click on Drive options (advanced)...
...select the partition we want to delete and click on 'Delete'.
We click OK on the warning.
We repeat until only the data partition remains, if there was one. We then click on the unallocated space and click Next to install Windows 7.
No drives are found
If we get a message that 'no drives are found', it can mean three things:
- Windows doesn't have drivers for the particular motherboard's SATA controller
- The hard drive isn't correctly connected to the motherboard or the power supply
- The hard drive doesn't work
The most common scenario is that Windows needs external SATA drivers to recognize the hard drive. This will usually happen with laptops, rather than with desktop PCs.
We will find those drivers on the manufacturer's website for the laptop or the motherboard, usually as SATA or SATA AHCI.
On a second PC, we then download the drivers - usually as a .zip file - and copy all the files to a USB thumb drive.
Then, we connect the USB to the PC where we want to install Windows, click on 'Load Driver'...
...and we can either click 'OK' for Windows to search automatically for the driver or 'Browse' to point manually to the driver folder.
![Windows Windows](/uploads/1/2/6/3/126303096/992544115.png)
After that, the disks will be visible, and we can install Windows 7.
Windows cannot be installed to this disk (GPT partition style)
We will often get this error when trying to downgrade from a PC with pre-installed Windows 8 / 8.1.
The problem is that the drive has a GPT partition style, and Windows 7 cannot be installed on GPT.
To fix this issue, we must press Shift+F10 to open a command prompt window.
We type:
With Diskpart loaded, we use the list disk command to show all our hard drives, and then select disk 0 to choose the disk where we want to install Windows.
The next command will completely erase the disk, all the partitions and any data. So, make sure there isn't anything you need from that disk and everything is backed up.
To remove the GPT partition style, we type
![Windows 7 usb install files Windows 7 usb install files](https://i0.wp.com/www.wikigain.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Run-TransMac-as-Administrator.jpg?ssl=1)
After that we close the command prompt, click on refresh...
...and that's it. All of the partitions are gone, but the error message is also gone. We can click on drive options to create partitions, as we saw earlier, or click next to install Windows 7 on the whole disk.
Automated Windows Installation
After we selected disk or partition, Windows installation is mostly automated. It will first expand files...
...automatically reboot and continue with the installation.
Setup Windows 7
After a second automatic reboot, we just need to enter our personal information and create our user account.
First we select a username and a computer name. The computer name is the name with which our PC will show on our local network (LAN).
Typing a password is optional, but encouraged for our account safety.
We can add the product key now, but we can also add it later. Digital River Windows 7 Home Premium ISOs will work for 30 days as a full trial without a product key.
It's best to use the recommended settings for Windows update.
We select our time zone, and make sure we have the correct date and time.
If our PC is connected to our home network with Ethernet, we select Home Network to be able to exchange files with other devices through the LAN.
Windows will prepare our desktop...
...and that's it. We have successfully installed Windows 7.
Now, the only things we have to do is install any missing drivers, which we will cover in a future guide, then install the 10 essential Windows Programs every PC should have, and any other software we need.
Did you have any trouble, trying to install Windows 7?
If anything didn't work as described, as you attempted to install Windows 7, leave us a comment.
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If you're looking to install Windows on your Mac, Boot Camp is the best way to go. Whether it's for a great gaming experience or you just want to try out Windows 10 on Apple's svelte hardware, here's how to get it all set up.
What you'll need before you install Windows 10 on your Mac
Before starting anything else, be sure you have a Mac that supports Windows 10. Straight from Apple, these are the compatible models:
- MacBook Pro (2012 and later)
- MacBook Air (2012 and later)
- MacBook (2015 and later)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- iMac (2012 and later)*
- Mac mini (2012 and later)
- Mac mini Server (Late 2012)
- Mac Pro (Late 2013)
If you own an iMac with 3TB or more, check out this Apple Support document for more information on installing Windows 10 on your machine through Boot Camp.
Do you have a Mac that can run Windows 10? Good! Make sure you have at least 64GB of free space on your hard drive for the Windows installation. During the installation process, you can set the Windows partition to whatever size you want, as long as the drive has enough storage.
Finally, update your Mac's OS to ensure there are no compatibility problems. You'll also want to perform a backup of your Mac in the (rare) case that something goes wrong.
How to download the Windows 10 ISO file
To start, we need to grab a Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website. You can download it straight to your internal hard drive.
- Navigate to the Microsoft Windows 10 ISO download page.
- Click the dropdown menu below Select edition.
- Click Windows 10 in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update section. You can download the Creators Update through Windows once it is installed.
- Click Confirm.
- Click the dropdown menu below Select the product language.
- Click your language of choice.
- Click Confirm.
- Click 64-bit Download.
- Click Save. The ISO file will now be downloaded.
Once the file has finished downloading, continue on to the next set of steps.
How to install Windows 10 with Boot Camp
Once you've downloaded a Windows 10 ISO, you can complete the following steps.
- Launch Boot Camp Assistant from the Utilities folder in Applications.
- Click Continue. Boot Camp should automatically locate the ISO file on your system.
- Click and drag the slider in the partition section. It will be set to 48GB by default, but you can add as much storage as you want within the limits of the drive.
- Click Install. Windows support software will now be downloaded.
- Type your password.
- Click OK. Your Mac will restart and you will see the Windows 10 setup screen.
- Choose your language.
- Click Install Now.
- Type your product key or click I don't have a key. You can enter it after the installation.
- Click either Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Pro based on your preference.
- Click Next.
- Click Custom: Install Windows Only.
- Click Drive 0 Partition X: BOOTCAMP. Do not choose anything else.
- Click Next. Windows 10 will now be installed. Your Mac will restart several times during the process.
- Click Use Express Settings or Customize Your Installation when the Windows 10 setup screen appears. In this case, we use express settings, as all can be changed after the installation.
- Type a username. You can also add a password.
- Click Next.
- Choose to use or not to use Cortana.
Windows 10 will now boot fully, and you'll be able to use Windows normally.
How to install Boot Camp software on your Windows 10 partition
When Windows 10 loads for the first time on your Mac, a Boot Camp software installer will automatically pop up.
- Click Install.
- Click I accept the terms in the license agreement.
- Click Install.
- Click Finish when the installation is complete.
This is an important process, as it installs a bunch of drivers and software that will help make your Windows 10 experience as good as possible on your Mac.
How to return to macOS from Windows 10
One of the best parts of Boot Camp is how easy it is to switch back and forth between operating systems.
- Click the Show hidden icons button in the Windows 10 taskbar.
- Click the Boot Camp button.
- Click Restart in OS X.
Your Mac will now restart, and you'll be brought right back to macOS. To get back to Windows 10, and indeed another way to switch from Windows 10 to macOS, is to restart your Mac and hold down the Option key on your keyboard until a boot menu appears. From here, you can choose which OS to load.
Updating Windows 10 and more
Now that you have Windows 10 installed on your Mac, you can update it to the Creators Update.
The easiest way to do so is to use Windows Update.
- Click the Start button.
- Click the Settings button. It looks like a gear.
- Click Update & security.
- Click Check for updates.
The Creators Update should begin downloading and will install. Follow the steps on screen, and you'll be up to date in no time.
Looking for more Windows 10 Creators Update help? Check out the ultimate guide over on Windows Central.
Updated March 22, 2019: Updated for macOS Mojave.
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