Greetings, friends.
Probably every computer or laptop user has encountered a situation when he realizes that it is time to reinstall the operating system. This is due to the appearance of difficulties in work, frequent mistakes and other unpleasant moments. But what if you don't have a USB stick, a plastic disc to write an image, or your floppy drive refuses to work? Don't worry. Today I will show you how to install Windows from your hard drive. Many people do not even suspect that such tools exist at all.
It must be said right away that this option is only suitable for operating systems that are in working order, since many movements will need to be done using the shell. That is, if you suddenly have a blue screen, this method will not help.
In addition, it is worth noting that this guide should only be applied to future installations of Windows 7 and later. Moreover, it is absolutely not important on which device the operation is performed. Therefore, Windows XP cannot be placed on a computer or laptop in this way. Since other mechanisms are used there.
For the procedure itself, we need several tools:
An imaging program is usually DAEMON Tools... Personally, I generally use the built-in features of Win.
Utility EasyBSD.
The very image of the operating system.
Step-by-step instruction( )
Important! It is desirable that up to this point your hard drive has already been split into at least two partitions - for the system and files.
So, to install Windows 8 from HDD, you need to follow a series of steps. First, create a separate section for the installation files:
Now, to install Windows 10 or earlier, you need to properly prepare the files themselves:
Now it is necessary to do so, the computer understood where to boot from. This is exactly what the application is needed for. EasyBCD... The order of performing the actions is as follows:
Suddenly, in some situations, something is not clear to you, you can just watch the video:
If you select "", you will see whether the entry appears or not. In your case, it should already be in place.
After the work done, close the application and restart the computer. As a result, a menu should appear where users can select the desired system. Then we indicate the installation disk "". As a result, the standard operating system installation procedure should start.
Bootice( )
The last chain of actions can be done via Bootice... The program allows you not to create an additional disk, but installs everything from the existing one.
We do the following:
It is worth noting that it is not necessary to indicate exactly where the file is located, which is responsible for the correct loading of the system, since the application will find it by itself.
Installation( )
This method does not require setting the boot parameters via BIOS, as in the case of using a plastic disk or USB drive. This approach is useful if suddenly the buttons on the keyboard do not work for you, allowing you to get to the right place.
In general, regardless of the version of the future OS, the process is almost the same.
It is important to remember that it is best to have one connected hard drive before starting the process. This will simplify the partition selection process. In addition, the equipment will consume fewer resources, which in general will have a positive effect on the operability. Therefore, you should not install the OS in this way on another hard drive. The same can be said for SSD placement. Of course, if each action is performed correctly, problems should not arise. But even with the slightest mistake, it is possible to lose all data on any of the partitions.
It is also worth noting that a similar procedure is possible from an external hard drive. True, for this, you will still need to run Win to set all the parameters. However, again, such procedures are not recommended, since by mistake you can simply delete the data.
In the case of using a plug-in device, you can set the boot setting from it in the BIOS, and simply place a new shell on a laptop or computer. True, for this, it is necessary to correctly write the OS to the external component. In more detail, you can.
In any case, regardless of the chosen method, everyone will be able to place a new one if there is already Windows on the computer.
Well, I hope this article will help you deal with the problems on your device.
In general, I would like to recommend finding a compact portable USB device in advance (they cost minimal money today) and record the correct system. Personally, I have three of them - for every latest version of the OS from Microsoft. Thus, at any second, I can insert a USB flash drive into the port, and within two hours completely restore the computer's performance, having a brand new shell.
I wish you good luck in your hard work! Subscribe and tell others about the blog.
We use the easiest way to boot - using the "Boot Menu" ("Boot Menu"). To call the "Boot Menu" on different motherboards and laptops, the keys "F8", "F9", "F10", "F11", "F12" or "Esc" can be used. This key is often indicated in prompts that appear when you turn on your computer.
Immediately after turning on the computer, hold down the "Boot Menu" call key until the boot device selection menu appears.
Use the "down" and "up" arrows to navigate to the DVD drive or USB flash drive and press "Enter".
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If the call key is not indicated in the prompts at the initial stage of computer boot, then you can find out this information from the instructions, on the website of the motherboard or laptop manufacturer, by searching the Internet or by typing.
The first thing you should see after the BIOS messages is a line like "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD ..." or "Press any key to boot from USB ..." ("Press any button to boot from USB ...") if you are booting from a USB stick.
After seeing this message, you have to press any key on the keyboard within a few seconds, I usually press "Space". If you miss this moment, the Windows installation will not start and you will have to restart the computer from the old operating system using the "Ctrl-Alt-Del" key combination or the "Reset" button on the system unit.
I draw your attention to the fact that during the installation of Windows, the computer restarts several times and each time such a message may appear, but you DON'T need to press any key on the keyboard anymore, otherwise you just repeatedly start reinstalling Windows from the beginning and you will never run out of it!
Sometimes a message may still appear as in the screenshot below.
In this case, you just need to press the "Enter" key on the keyboard. And by switching the "Tab" key to the "Windows Memory Diagnostic" item, you can check the computer's RAM for serviceability.
Wait for the blue Windows Setup window to appear.
Installing Windows 7 begins with a choice of languages.
3.1. Language selection
At this stage, it is proposed to select languages.
The language to be installed is the language in which the operating system will display all messages. If the Windows version is multilingual, then you will have a choice. Most editions of Windows have only one operating system language and it is desirable that you understand it well.
"Time and currency format" - defines the names of months, days of the week, base currency, digital separators (period or comma) accepted in your country, etc. What does it mean? Well, for example, if you select "Ukrainian", then in programs for typing and tables, the days of the week, months and monetary units will be automatically substituted in Ukrainian, regardless of the language of the entire document. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a national format only if the majority of your documents will be in the national language. However, this can be easily changed in Windows at any time.
Keyboard Layout is just the default input language that will be used when Windows and all programs start up. It makes sense to install the one on which you communicate and write. If you will be using your computer primarily for programming, it may be more convenient to select the US (English) layout. After installing Windows, you can add and set as default any language.
For Russian-speaking residents of the CIS, I recommend leaving "Russian" everywhere, since when installing some programs that have a multilingual interface, they may appear not in Russian, but in the one you specified in one of the fields when installing the system.
Click the Next button to proceed with the installation.
3.2. Installation start
In the next window, click the "Install" button under the "Windows 7" logo.
3.3. License agreement
We put a tick “I accept the terms of the license” and click “Next”.
4. Windows 7 installation type
We are offered two types of installation.
"Update" - allows you to update the previous version of Windows (Vista) to the new Windows 7 while preserving files, programs and settings. Windows XP cannot be updated this way. In any case, I do not recommend using this installation method, as it inherits problems from the previous operating system and it is likely that the computer will slow down and malfunction.
Full Installation - Installs a new copy of Windows onto a new or existing hard disk partition. When installing on a new computer, partitions are created on the hard disk, and when installing on an old computer, partitions are either deleted and recreated, or a partition with sufficient space for the installation is selected. With this type of installation, you can also install Windows 7 with a second operating system, for example, along with an existing Windows XP. In this case, when you turn on the computer, you will be asked which operating system you want to load.
We select "Full installation" and we will see a window for selecting a disk for installing Windows 7.
5. Disk configuration
Disk configuration is the process of creating, deleting, formatting hard disk partitions for installing Windows on it.
5.1. Disk configuration on an old computer
If you reinstall Windows on an old computer, then it already has one ("C") or several partitions ("C", "D" ...). Hope you haven't forgotten from drive "C" to external drive, as the process of reinstalling Windows will clear drive "C".
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If your disk has only one partition, then it is better to delete it and create two new ones - one small for the operating system and programs, the second for all the remaining space for your files. This disk configuration will be more convenient and reliable in terms of backing up and restoring the operating system and your files.
If your disk has several partitions, then the first one, on which Windows is installed, can be deleted and a new one created in its place, and the second one with your files can be left as it is.
5.2. Disk configuration on a new computer
When installing on a new computer, your disk is completely empty and has no partitions. The best option would be to create two partitions - one small for the operating system and programs, the second for all the remaining space for your files. This disk configuration will be more convenient and reliable in terms of backing up and restoring the operating system and your files.
5.3. Dual drive configuration
If you have two hard drives, or one SSD and one regular disk, then it is advisable to create one partition on each of them and install Windows 7 on the one that is faster (SSD) or less in volume, and completely give the second one for storing your files. ...
If both disks are large, then on the first you can create two partitions - one small for the system, one for storing your files. On the second disk, you can create a partition for the entire volume and use it to install programs and games, or you can also create two partitions - the first for programs and games, the second for files. This configuration will provide the maximum download speed of programs and games, since Windows and the paging file will be on one disk, and programs and games on the other.
6. Disk setup for Windows 7
The screenshot below shows a computer with a 500 GB disk.
Don't be surprised that the actual size is 465.7 GB. Manufacturers round up hard drive sizes to a larger round number. A table with the real sizes of hard drives can be downloaded at the end of the article in the "" section.
It is better not to divide the SSD drive into several partitions, but to completely give it under the "C" drive for installing Windows, programs and games. Then you will get unrivaled computer speed!
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The optimal size of the system partition is 10-20% of the total hard disk space. For Windows 7, I recommend a partition size of at least 40 and no more than 200 GB.
I usually take 10% of the stated disk size, that is, 50 GB from a 500 GB disk and 100 GB from a 1000 GB disk. Since this is enough to install the main programs, and it is better to install games on the second partition along with the rest of the files, since they take up a large volume and make it difficult to backup and restore the system, which we will talk about later.
But if you like to experiment and plan to install a lot of serious programs and games, then it is better to make the system partition larger, about 20% of the disk capacity, or 100-200 GB in kind. Since all the same, some of the data ends up on the system partition and in the future there may be a lack of space on it.
Let's make sure everything is, create a 100 GB system partition. To do this, press the "Create" button and enter the size in megabytes.
Please note that 1 GB = 1024 MB. In addition, Windows 7 takes 100 MB from this volume to create a hidden boot partition.
I like everything to be beautiful and the system displays a 100 GB disk, not 97.6 GB, so I calculate the volume in megabytes as follows:
100 GB х 1024 + 100 MB = 102,500 MB
This number must be entered in the "Size" field and click the "Apply" button.
Here is the result of the operation performed.
As you can see, two sections have been created. "Partition 1" is only 100 MB in size and is used for the boot loader and we won't see it in Windows. Partition 2 is exactly 100 GB in size and we will be installing Windows 7 on it.
There is still 365.6 GB of "Unallocated space ...", on which we will create another partition for storing user files.
By default, all the remaining space is allocated for it. It can be divided into several more sections, if you know what you need it for. But we'll leave it as it is, just by clicking the "Apply" button.
As a result, we get "Section 3", which took up all the remaining space. Now you need to click the "Format" button and confirm this action.
You can create this partition even after installing Windows, but you will have to take more steps and possibly also change drive letters. We will also consider this option after installing Windows.
7. Nuances of marking and large disks
A hidden 100 MB boot partition is created when a new partition is created. If you are installing Windows 7 on an existing partition, the bootloader files will be located on it and a separate partition will not be created.
This configuration will be the case if the Windows 7 installer will partition the disk in the old MBR system. If Windows Installer partitions the disk on a new GPT system, multiple service partitions may be created.
MBR is an old type of partitioning that supports drives up to 2TB in size. GPT is a new type of partitioning that supports drives larger than 2TB and requires support from the motherboard.
There are usually fewer problems with disks mapped to the MBR, but this is not important. If you install Windows 7 on a disk with a volume of 3 TB or more, then you need it to have GPT markup, otherwise not all of its volume (about 2.3 TB) will be used.
The problem is that the Windows 7 installer does not always lay out large disks in GPT markup, even with support from the motherboard. In this case, make sure that UEFI boot devices are prioritized in the "Boot" section in the BIOS settings of your motherboard or laptop.
In the modern graphical interface of the "Setup" program on the motherboard, it might look like this.
Write this folder to a USB flash drive and paste it before turning on your computer to install Windows. In this case, the Windows 7 distribution kit can be located both on the installation DVD and on this flash drive.
When you reach the window for selecting a hard drive, in which it is not displayed, click on the "Download" button and specify the location of the driver files (folder on the USB flash drive).
If the driver matches, then the installer should detect your hard drive and it will appear in the window for selecting a drive for installation. After that, you can create partitions on the disk and install Windows on them.
9. Copying and unpacking files
Now we select "Partition 2" with a size of 100 GB, on which we install Windows 7 and click "Next".
Copying and unpacking of files starts, which will take some time.
Sometimes this process can stop at 0% or anywhere else for a while, and then quickly complete. Be patient and don't touch the computer. It may take 15-30 minutes to wait. If after 30 minutes of waiting nothing happens, then most likely the computer is frozen or the installation disc is hard to read. You will have to start all over again and if you freeze again, perhaps replace the installation disc. Also, the problem can be caused by malfunctions of the hard disk, RAM or motherboard.
After copying and unpacking the files, the computer will reboot several times and the installation process will continue, which requires user interaction.
Let me remind you that when the message "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD ..." appears, you DO NOT need to press anything.
10. Configuring Windows 7 Settings
Configuring Windows 7 settings begins with entering your username.
10.1. Entering the username and computer name
In the next window, you need to enter the name of the primary user who will be the administrator of the computer and the name of the computer on the network.
I recommend entering the name in English letters without spaces, since the user profile folder will have the same name, in which the settings of programs and games can be saved. And some, even modern, programs and games cannot save files to folders with Russian names.
Names can have uppercase letters and numbers, and the switching of the input language is done by the "Alt-Shift" key combination.
As for the computer name, my recommendations are the same, but you can use a hyphen (minus sign) in the name. For example, for the main home computer, you can give the name PC-1, PK-1 or Home-1, for the second computer - PC-2, PK-2 or Home-2, for a laptop - HP, ACER, Samsung, etc. ... If you have multiple laptops at home, you can add a username to the computer name, such as Notebook-Vera or Misha-PC. So it will be easier for you to navigate later, but in principle it does not really matter and the name of the computer can always be changed. Also note that the username and computer name must not be the same.
10.2. Password input
The next window prompts you to enter the password of the user whose name was entered in the previous window, as well as a hint to this password in case you forget it.
I recommend that you do not enter the password at this step, since during the process of setting up the computer it will reboot more than once and you will just be bothered to enter it. It is better to do this after fully configuring the computer and creating a system backup. In principle, if no one except you is using the computer, you have nothing to hide and you do not plan to exchange files over the local network, then the password may not be used at all. In other cases, using a password is highly desirable and we will talk about this in one of the articles on setting up Windows. For now, just click Next.
10.3. Entering the key and activating Windows 7
In the next window, you are prompted to enter your Windows 7 license key.
If you officially purchased an operating system and are sure that this key was not used on another computer, then enter the 25-digit code indicated on the disk or certificate sticker. In this case, you can leave the checkbox "Automatically activate Windows when connected to the Internet" and click "Next". Activation will take place 3 days after the first login.
If you do not have a license key yet or you are installing Windows 7 for informational purposes, then do not enter anything. In this case, uncheck the automatic activation checkbox and press the "Next" button. After installation, a trial period of 30 days is activated. In the future, it can be extended 3 times, thereby increasing the familiarization time with the operating system up to 120 days.
10.4. Configuring Windows 7 Updates
In the next window, you need to select one of three modes for installing Windows updates.
"Use recommended settings" - all important and recommended updates will be installed automatically. Important include security updates and bug fixes. Recommended - updated drivers, software components and much more. Most experts advise using this mode.
Install only the most important updates - only security updates and bug fixes will be automatically installed.
"Postpone decision" - do not enable automatic updating, but configure it later in the operating system.
On my own behalf, I want to say that if the protection of your data is important to you and you do not know how to protect yourself from security threats on the Internet, then you need to install important updates. On the other hand, multiple updates over time lead to a slowdown in the computer, and along with the recommended updates, a large number of unnecessary components are installed in the operating system. If you use your computer mainly for games, you have a well-configured security, you have a backup copy of the system and all personal files, then in principle you can do without updates and the computer will work as quickly as possible. Still, I recommend installing at least the most important updates.
10.5. Date and time setting
The next step is to select a time zone, date and time.
There is nothing difficult about this, and although it can be configured after installing the system, it is better to do it right away. First you need to set the time zone, and only then the time. If your locality is not in the list of time zones, then choose any other that is in the same time zone with you, for example, for Kiev time zone UTC +02: 00 as in Athens.
If you live in Russia, then uncheck the "Automatic daylight saving time and back" checkbox, since in Russia the time changeover has been canceled. Otherwise, follow the regulations in your country. For example, in Ukraine, the time conversion is still valid and the tick must be left. The computer clock will be translated automatically at the right time and day. Press "Next".
10.6. Computer location
If your computer is connected to the network and the correct driver for the network card was installed during the Windows installation, the Select the current location of the computer window will appear.
"Home network" - select this item if your computer or laptop is now at your home, connected to the Internet through a router, and you want to exchange files with other home computers.
"Work network" - select this item if your computer or laptop is now at your work, where there is a computer network to exchange files with other work computers.
"Public network" - select this item if your computer or laptop is directly connected to the Internet with a cable. In this case, additional protection against attacks from the Internet will be activated.
10.7. Home group
This functionality was introduced in Windows 7 to make it easier to share files between home computers, but in principle is not necessary. You need to check the boxes for the folders with which types of data you want to provide access. You can also enable sharing of the printer connected to this computer. You can check all the boxes, it won't hurt you.
If a computer with Windows 7 or higher was found on the network, then you will be prompted to enter the homegroup password, which can be viewed on that computer. After entering your password, click Next. If you do not have much time, you can skip entering the password and press the "Skip" button, and enter the password later.
If no homegroup was found, it will be created on this computer and you will be given a random password. You can write it down, and you can view it later in Windows at any time. But better write or take a picture and click the "Next" button.
11. Login
After that, the user should automatically log on to the system and display the main Windows screen, called "Desktop". This completes the installation of Windows 7.
12. Links
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Many users who have encountered the installation of operating systems of the Windows family know that external media such as USB drives or optical disks are usually used to perform this operation. If you try to run the installation file from your hard drive, the user may not get the desired result. For this reason, for the Windows 7 operating system, the installation from the hard drive must be performed using a different method. There are five main options for the average user. We will talk about them now.
Installing Windows 7 from your hard drive: options
Let's look at some directions in the implementation of the installation of the seventh version of the Windows operating system. The main installation options include the following:
- installation over old Windows 7;
- installation as a second operating system;
- installation using the command line;
- the use of special utilities;
- installing the system on an external hard drive.
Each of the above methods has advantages and disadvantages. However, the general rule for all described methods is the presence of an image of the installation distribution of the system, with which you will have to work later. If there are already created hard disk partitions on the computer, then you can leave them alone when installing Windows 7. Otherwise, you will need to create them. However, this will be discussed a little later.
Installing Windows 7 from a hard drive: preliminary information
Let's take a look at some of the initial conditions that must be met when installing the system. The system requirements for Windows 7 are such that you need less than 16 GB of free disk space to install the 32-bit version. To install the 64-bit version, you need about 20 GB. This is provided that there is already an installed system, the directory of which will be renamed to Windows old after installation. It should never be deleted manually. It just won't be possible to rollback later.
Installation over an old operating system
Using this technique, you should immediately understand that installing Windows 7 will not be able to format the hard drive, even if we are talking about the system partition. But let's rely on the fact that the distribution is on the C drive when the partitioning is done. It will be discussed later on how to partition a disk. As it should be clear by now, the downloaded section must first be placed in an independent section. As a rule, this is disk D. Of course, you can start the installation from it, but then errors may come out. Now you just need to select the installation file Setup.exe from the Archive directory. This is followed by the installation of Windows 7, which is no different from the standard procedure. For Windows 7, in this case, the installation from the hard drive is more likely to be a means of updating the system files, since the new configuration can inherit the errors of the old one. It's not very convenient.
Installing Windows 7 as a Second Operating System: What You May Need
You can choose another variant of the development of events. To install the system, a method is provided for installing it not over an existing operating system, but as an additional OS, which can then be loaded when selected from the Boot menu. In this case, the main thing is to create a bootable partition on the original volume. To perform such operations, it is enough to have only one application capable of working with images and creating virtual drives, as well as a utility that creates an MBR boot sector on the selected partition. We'll use DaemonTools and EasyBCD as examples.
Windows 7 installation: how to create a partition?
Sometimes it is impossible to just download the installation distribution kit, even if it is on the system disk. This is due to the fact that the system itself does not recognize it, and even if it does, it will set a ban on downloading. Here you should refer to the section on disk management. You can get into it through the computer administration panel. The Windows 7 operating system, like all subsequent versions, has this tool. First, you need to look at the virtual partition D. At this stage, you need to open the menu and select the volume compression. You need to specify a size that is slightly larger than the distribution package. After that, using the right mouse click, open the menu and use the command to create a simple volume. Without this, the system will not determine that this section is functional. It should now be clear how to partition the hard drive when installing the Windows 7 operating system. You can proceed to the most important part.
Installing Windows 7
Let's deal directly with the installation of Windows 7. Hard disk systems are arranged in such a way that they do not see the distribution kit. You need to run the Daemon Tools program and mount the image using the appropriate command, specifying the path to the saved file. You need to copy it to the newly created section. Then we launch the Easy BCD application and click on the add record button. After that, from the bottom we indicate the Win PE tab. In the name field, enter "New volume". In the path line, you need to locate the boot.wim file. When the entry is added, all that remains is to restart the laptop or computer. This will start the standard Windows 7 installation.
Installing Windows 7 using the command line
This option may not apply if there are errors or damage in the initial system. However, in case of restoration, it does. When Windows starts, you need to press the F8 key and select the troubleshooting line from the menu. She will be the first on the list. In the additional parameters, you must specify the same. After that, we use what we need in the language selection window. Let's proceed to system recovery. In this case, you need to select the command line. Two commands must be written in the line: X: \> windows \ system32> E; E> setup.exe. Don't be afraid to make a mistake. Windows and DOS do not have the same drive letter. The system may issue an error, after which it will be necessary to correct the corresponding symbol, but usually this is not required. Then the process starts, which is practically no different from the standard one. It should be noted that in this case, you do not even need to reboot the system.
Installing Windows 7 on top of any system using the BOOTICE utility
Suppose now that we need a different type of Windows 7 installation. We already have a formatted hard drive. The problem is that you need to create a boot device in the form of an HDD partition. The BOOTICE utility is designed specifically to emulate the continuation of the installation of the Windows 7 operating system, while creating and overwriting the boot sector. To do this, the unpacked distribution contains a bootmgr folder. First of all, you need to change the MBR boot record to GRUB4DOS. However, one feature should be taken into account here. The problem is that the utility asks to create a bootloader name of no more than five characters. You need to rename the bootmgr file to GRLDR, and then run the utility itself. A new entry will be immediately visible in the menu here. Therefore, you need to check the box, and then click on the change setting button. In the configuration, you need to choose to save to disk. Now all that remains is to reboot the device. This will activate the Windows 7 installation. Installation from the hard drive will immediately follow. As a rule, there are no problems at this stage.
Installing the Windows 7 operating system on an external hard drive
Despite all the peculiarities of installing Windows 7 on a hard drive, some users try to install the system on removable media such as USB-HDD. It is worth saying that such a decision is fundamentally wrong. A completely natural question arises: why create unnecessary problems for yourself? Booting from any USB device is much slower than from a hard drive. External storage itself is more susceptible to physical stress. He is not immune from errors and failures. "Especially gifted" users will have to use a virtual machine. Many of them have no idea what it is. For the rest, we can say that using the built-in Hyper-V or WMWare module, it can be done very simply. However, this is not limited to automatic settings. You will have to set the parameters according to the system configuration. Those who argue that you can create a virtual machine with an operating system installed in it in just a few minutes and a couple of mouse clicks are completely wrong. All of this is not true.
Possible failures and errors
Now let's talk about the saddest thing. Let's assume that the hard drive is not visible when installing Windows 7. In principle, we will not consider the issues of equipment failure. The external hard drive must be enabled in the BIOS, as well as the boot priority from the main device. If you have problems with the file system, you can use the sfc / scannow or chkntfsx / c command. If the hard drive is “crumbled”, then there is nothing you can do. We'll have to change it. Although many experts recommend trying the HDD Regenerator program, some claim that this utility reversals the magnetization of the disk surface, but this method is hard to believe. On the other hand, you cannot do without utilities like ImageX when installing the system on an external drive. The PW Boot module does not recognize Cyrillic characters at all, it works on the command line principle. Is it worth doing this? And that's not all ... When you start choosing multiple simultaneous installations, you have to choose between a regular removable device and a standard VHD container format. It is believed that the VHD format is read much faster, but the problem with enabling this type of media is precisely in the BIOS settings. There can be many more problems when switching from BIOS to UEFI. However, for Windows 7, installation can be done by any of the above methods. However, you will not be able to format partitions in most cases. Thus, we can make a completely logical conclusion that this simplest solution is ideal. It is unlikely that an ordinary user will use specific methods for creating boot sectors. This is already clear. The method of updating the system looks much simpler, but it also has its drawbacks. In general, it is better to perform a "clean" installation after copying all the necessary information to removable media.
The hard drive stores all the files on your computer. The operation of each program, and even the operating system itself, depends largely on the operation of your hard disk. Therefore, it is important that it is in perfect condition and optimized.
Optimizing hard drive performance in Windows 7
Optimizing a disk is a complex process that involves several steps. These steps differ depending on whether you are using an SSD or HDD.
Advanced Disk Cleanup in Windows 7
The first step in optimizing disk performance should be to clean it up. Temporary files and other debris accumulate on the disk over time and slow down its work. To remove them, we will use the "Disk Cleanup" system utility. We do the following:
In addition, you can delete additional files in the "Clean up system files" section. But that's not all. You can access Advanced Disk Cleanup by entering a command at the command prompt. For this:
Defragmenting a disk in Windows 7
Defragmenting the hard disk is the basis for its optimization. If over time your disk starts to work slower than before, and the response when opening files and launching programs has become much greater, then your hard disk needs to be defragmented. By itself, this process consists in moving fragments of files to each other for faster access to them. The need for defragmentation arises when these pieces are recorded on different parts of the disk during active disk use.
During the defragmentation process, all red areas will appear side by side, providing quick access to the file
Defragment your disk as needed. Before defragmenting, let the utility analyze the fragmentation of all partitions and issue a report. If the share of fragmented files is 10% or more, then it is worth defragmenting them, but if less than 10%, then defragmentation can be delayed.
Automatic defragmentation is enabled by default in the Windows 7 operating system. It is tuned for Wednesday and turns on at night. However, depending on your computer work schedule, this may not be enough, or the defragmentation process may be interrupted by you. In this case, you need to start it manually. This is done as follows:
It is worth mentioning that defragmentation is a rather lengthy process. You may have to wait for several hours.
Video: How to Defragment a Disk on Windows 7
Optimizing an SSD drive on Windows 7
If you have an SSD drive, the situation is slightly different. It does not require defragmentation, and the system takes this into account. Automatic defragmentation will not be performed when using an SSD. But in the case of such a drive, there are a number of other actions that can contribute to increasing the speed of the disk. And instead of setting up an SSD drive manually, it will be easier to use a special program - SSD Mini Tweaker.
After downloading the program from the Internet and downloading it, do the following:
A complex setup for your SSD has been completed. Of course, you can tweak most of these options yourself, but it will take much longer. And also you can get information about each option that this program changes if you read the reference data.
In the help, you will find information about all the settings of the SSD drive. Video: how to set up a system for an SSD using SSD Mini Tweaker
Disk Management Utility
You may need to have access to the disk management system to set up a disk. With its help, you can change the drive letter, divide the disk into virtual volumes, or, conversely, combine them together, which can be convenient for creating a separate partition for the operating system. In the future, this can help avoid the loss of important data and provide an opportunity to format the partition without the risk of deleting necessary files.
To interact with the disk, use the context menu: it is called by pressing the right mouse button To open Disk Management in Windows 7, just call the Run menu by pressing the Win + R keyboard shortcut and enter the command "diskmgmt.msc" there.
Enter the command "diskmgmt.msc" and click "OK" Actions in the dispatcher itself are performed mainly using the context menu. That is, it is enough to select the required disk and call up the menu by pressing the right mouse button.
Fixes errors with hard disk
Let's figure out how to solve the most common errors that may arise with your hard drive.
Disc is defined as dynamic foreign (undefined)
If you find in the manager that the disk is not defined as basic, but as dynamic with the postscript "undefined" or "foreign", then most likely you will not be able to access the data on this disk.
Dynamic foreign disk will not work properly This error can be corrected using special programs. To fix it, we need to convert the dynamic disk back to basic, and this can be done using the free TestDisk program or the paid Acronis Disk Director. The possibilities of a paid program, of course, are much wider, and we will analyze this process using its example. Do the following:
Of course, if a malfunction occurs on a disk with an installed operating system, you will not be able to access it. The solution here is simple - insert the disk into another computer as an additional one and perform all the actions you need, and then put it back in place when the disk is restored.
Video: Working with Acronis Disk Director
Windows 7 detects a hard drive failure
If, during any check, the system displays a message about a problem with the hard disk, the first thing you should do is create a backup copy of the necessary files. While your disk is still functional, copy all the necessary files from the disk to another drive or upload them to the cloud. This can later help you rescue these files if the problems get worse.
You can determine which drive you are having a problem with by carefully examining the error message. The letter designation of the virtual disk partition will be indicated there.
At the bottom of the notification, you will see the drive letter The error could arise for the following reasons:
- problems appeared directly with the drive itself. This may be due to physical damage or contamination. In this case, it is recommended to take your drive to a service center for diagnostics and troubleshooting;
- operating system problems. If certain system files are damaged by viruses, the error may appear on its own for no reason on the part of the disk. In this case, it is recommended to check the system with anti-virus programs, and then restore the damaged files using the installation disk.
Regardless of the cause of the problem, the best you can do is save your files ahead of time. If the error message continues to appear and you want to get rid of it, you can disable the disk diagnostic system. This is done as follows:
Formatting the disk for installing the Windows 7 operating system
For more efficient operation of the disk when reinstalling Windows, it is recommended to format it, that is, to completely clean the disk from files on it. You can format the disk right during the installation of Windows 7. Be sure to back up all the necessary files, as formatting will completely delete them. To start formatting:
Thus, formatting is carried out quickly and without much frills. In addition, it is possible to perform formatting using special programs. For example, there is such an opportunity in the above-mentioned Acronis Disk Director program. The program must be written to the disc, and the disc itself must be selected as the boot device. This can be done in the Boot BIOS menu or by pressing the appropriate key when turning on the computer (depending on your BIOS version).
Install CD / DVD as the first Boot device After the disk with the program is loaded, we do the following:
Disk programs
There are many programs that can help you optimize, clean, or otherwise manipulate your drives. Let's analyze the possibilities of some of them.
CCleaner disk cleaner
Disk cleanup includes deleting temporary files and installed applications of the user's choice. A good cleaning program can delete your browser cache and temporary files of various programs, and diagnose the system. And one of the best programs in this area is CCleaner. This program has the following features:
- system cleaning automation;
- completely harmless and safe cleaning of temporary files, as well as analysis of registry damage and its correction;
- work with all popular browsers.
The program interface is simple and convenient, suitable for beginners who want to regularly clean their computer of garbage. In addition, the free version of the program is not limited in functionality and has the same features as the paid one.
CCleaner helps you set up startup applications, which will also speed up your computer.
CCleaner is a popular disk cleaner Video: CCleaner and its main functions
EaseUS Disk Copy hard drive cloning software
In this case, cloning means the transfer of information from one disk to another. This can be extremely helpful when reinstalling your system. EaseUS Disk Copy is a great free solution for this task. It is different:
- the ability to work with any operating system;
- support for disks up to a terabyte;
- high cloning speed;
- simple interface for novice users;
- support for dynamic disks.
In general, it does an excellent job with the task for which it was created, and its only serious drawback is the absence of the Russian language in the program.
EaseUS Disk Copy - disk cloning software Recovering disk partitions with Starus Partition Recovery
In case of damage to a hard disk partition, one of the special recovery programs, Starus Partition Recovery, can help. She copes well with this task. The main features of this program:
- deep scan of the disk for damage;
- recovery of partitions that have been damaged or deleted;
- recovery of information on any type of media;
- comprehensive disk analysis.
The program is considered simple and effective among the users.
Starus Partition Recovery can repair damaged partitions of your disk DAEMON Tools disk drive emulation software
If you are going to reinstall the system, you cannot do without a flexible tool for creating virtual disks. DAEMON Tools Lite or another version of DAEMON Tools will help you create an installation disc or create virtual discs. The program also makes it possible to create several virtual drives at once and use them simultaneously.
This program is easy to use, and the limitations of the free version of the program are not too noticeable.
DAEMON Tools - a program for creating and using virtual disks Video: DAEMON Tools Lite program overview
It is important to know how to tune your hard drive to work efficiently. The disk optimization process is not one-time, and actions to improve its performance should be performed from time to time throughout the entire life of the device. Now you know how easy and simple it is to improve the performance of your disk with the Windows 7 operating system.
Many of those who have encountered the installation or reinstallation of Windows systems know that for this operation, in most cases, external media such as USB drives are used. If you try to start from the hard drive, the user will not get the desired result. Therefore, for Windows 7, the installation from the hard drive must be done using completely different methods. For an ordinary user, there are five main options, which will now be discussed.
Windows 7: Installing from a hard drive. Installation options
So, let's consider some directions in carrying out the installation of the seventh version of the system. Among the main options are the following:
- installation over the old "seven";
- installation as a second OS;
- installation using the command line;
- using special utilities;
- installation of the system on an external HDD.
Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages, however, for all of them, one general rule is the presence of an image of the installation distribution kit of the system, with which you will later have to work. In addition, if your computer already has hard disk partitions created, you can leave them alone during Windows 7 installation. Otherwise, they will need to be created. But more on that later.
Preliminary information
Now let's look at some of the initial conditions that must be met without fail when installing the system.
The system requirements are such that a 32-bit system requires at least 16 GB of free disk space, while an x64 system requires about 20 GB. And this is provided that there is an already installed system, the directory of which after installation will be renamed to Windows.old. It is impossible to delete it manually under any circumstances (unless you do a disk cleanup). Then it will simply be impossible to rollback.
Installing over an old system
Using this technique, you immediately need to understand that you will not be able to format the hard drive when installing Windows 7, even if it is a system partition. But we will rely on the fact that the distribution is on the C drive when the partition is done. How to partition a disk will be discussed later.
As already clear, first the downloaded distribution must be placed on an independent partition (usually drive D). You can, of course, start the installation from it, but then errors will come out. Now we just select the installation file Setup.exe from the Archive directory, followed by the installation of Windows 7, which is no different from the standard procedure.
In this case, for Windows 7, installing from a hard drive is more of a means of updating system files, since the new configuration can inherit errors from the old one. It is not comfortable.
Alternative method for installing Windows 7 as a second OS: what you might need?
However, you can do otherwise. For there is a way to install it not on top of an existing OS, but as an additional OS, which can then be loaded when selected from the boot menu (Boot). The main thing is to create a bootable partition on the original volume.
To carry out all operations, you only need to have an application that can work with images and create a utility that creates an MBR boot sector on the selected partition. We will use Daemon Tools and EasyBCD as an example.
Creating a section
It is impossible to simply download the installation distribution, even if it is on the system disk. This is only due to the fact that the system itself does not recognize it, and if it does, it sets a ban on downloading. Here you need to turn to the disk management section, which can be accessed through the computer administration.
Fortunately, Windows 7, like all subsequent versions, has such a tool. First, we look at the virtual partition D. Call the menu and select the volume compression (the specified size should slightly exceed the size of the distribution). Next, right-click on the menu and use the command to create a simple volume (without this, the system will not determine that this section is functional).
How to partition a hard drive when installing Windows 7 is clear. Let's get down to the most important part.
Installing the system
Now we are directly interested in installing Window 7. Hard disk systems are such that they still cannot see the distribution.
Run the Daemon Tools program and mount the image using the appropriate command, specifying the path to the saved file. We copy it to the newly created section (unpacked image file).
Now we launch the EasyBCD application and press the button for adding an entry, after which we indicate the WinPE tab at the bottom, and then enter "New volume" in the name field, and in the path line we determine the location of the boot.wim file.
After the entry is added, just restart your computer or laptop. This starts the standard installation of the "seven".
Installing Windows 7 using the command line
Again, this option cannot be applied when the initial system is damaged or faulty. But in case of recovery, it will do.
When Windows starts, press the F8 key (the standard method, unlike Windows 10) and select the troubleshooting line from the menu (the first in the list). In the additional parameters, we indicate the same, after which we use what we need in the language selection window, and proceed to the system recovery, where we select the command line.
We write two lines in the console:
- X: \> windows \ system32> E;
- E:> setup.exe
Don't be afraid to be wrong. DOS and Windows do not have the same drive letter. As a last resort, an error will simply be thrown, after which it will be necessary to correct the corresponding symbol, but, as a rule, this is not required. Well, then the process starts, which is no different from the standard one. Note that in this case, you do not even need to reboot the system.
Installation over any system using the BOOTICE utility
Now suppose we want another installation of Windows 7. We have a formatted hard drive. The catch is to create a boot device in the form of an HDD partition.
The BOOTICE utility was created in order to emulate the continuation of the Windows 7 installation, creating and overwriting the boot sector at the same time (for this, the unpacked distribution contains a bootmgr folder).
To start the installation, you need to change the MBR boot record to GRUB4DOS. But here you need to take into account one feature. The fact is that the utility requires the creation of a bootloader manager name of no more than five characters (letters).
Rename the bootmgr file to GRLDR, and then run the utility itself. A new record is immediately visible in the menu, so we put a checkmark (destination disk) there, and then press the change setting button and select save to disk in the configuration. All that remains is to reboot the device, after which the installation of Windows 7 will be activated. Installation from the hard disk will follow immediately. As a rule, there should be no problems.
Installing Windows 7 on an external hard drive
But, despite all the nuances of installing the "seven" on a hard drive, some users try to install the system on removable media, in particular a USB-HDD. What to say? This is fundamentally wrong!
The question is: why create problems for yourself out of the blue? Booting from any USB device is much slower than from a hard drive. The external drive itself (hard drive) is exposed to stronger physical stress and is not immune from failures and errors. Nevertheless, "especially gifted" users will have to use (at least) a virtual machine. And many of these "geeks" have no idea what it is.
Of course, for the rest, we can say that any virtual emulation, for example, using WMWare or the same built-in Hyper-V module, can be done quite simply. But the matter is not limited to automatic settings. Here you will have to set the parameters corresponding to the system configuration. And all those who argue that with an operating system installed in it can be created in a couple of clicks and in five minutes are absolutely wrong. Nothing like this!
Possible errors and failures
Now the saddest thing. What to do if installation Issues of equipment failure are not considered in principle. The external hard drive must be enabled in the BIOS, as well as the boot priority from the main device.
If you are having problems with the file system, you can always use a command like sfc / scannow or chkntfs x / c (if partition C is selected as the system drive). Well, if the hard drive "fell down", there's nothing you can do about it. We'll have to change. Although ... Many experts advise to first use the program supposedly remagnetizing the surface of the disk, but this method is hard to believe.
On the other hand, when installing a system on an external drive, utilities like ImageX, included with the Windows AIK, are indispensable. In addition, the PWBoot module does not recognize Cyrillic characters at all, but works like a command line. So is it worth doing this?
And that is not all! When you start choosing multiple concurrent installations, you have to choose between a standard VHD container format and a regular removable device. It is believed that the VHD format is read faster, but the problem with enabling this type of media is precisely in the BIOS settings. And when switching from BIOS to UEFI (which is not always supported), there can be much more problems. However, for Windows 7, installation can be done by any of the above methods. But formatting partitions will fail in most cases.
Thus, the conclusion suggests itself that the simplest is the ideal solution. An ordinary user will not use specific methods for creating boot sectors. It's obvious. But the method of updating the system looks much simpler, but it also has its drawbacks. In general, it is better to perform a "clean" installation, having previously copied the necessary information to another medium.
