How did you guys install Win 7?

[daddog]

Have a new SATA drive up and running.
When I boot to it and have my system boot off the Win 7 CD it says Windows is loading files, I watch a progress bar, then it loads up to a Win 7 screen after a couple min. My mouse is working, but that is it. Nothing else. No icons, no task bar, just a blank Win 7 screen. I have to hard boot and try again. Several tries with no success.

I still have my old XP system HD and can boot up to that fine. My 2nd blank SATA drive comes up and I can add or remove items. The drive is fine so that is not the problem.

Should I try to install Win 7 on that extra SATA drive while in my XP operating system HD? I was trying to do it with the new SATA drive being the only drive in the system, but as I said above that gets me no where. 

[Malap]

Have you tried formatting the new SATA drive? i installed Windows 7 on a brand new hard drive and i dont recall any problems.

[Ghosth]

Takes a while Daddog, just walk away for 15 min.

[daddog]

Really? Seemed so odd, figured something was wrong. OK Ghosth, will try again and walk away. 

Ya Mal the SATA drive it good to go.

[daddog]

You were 'both' right.
Walked away, made some coffee, came back, and sure enough there was the first part of the install screen.

Also Mal when I got to the part of installing it said my drive was not ready and I had to format it. I just figured it was good to go because as a 2nd drive off my XP OS it was showing up and I could use it.

Booted back to my old drive and now just trying to figure out what I have to do to prep it for Win 7.

[daddog]

This seems pretty silly. Do I have to download an .iso file install it on a USB or DVD to install Win 7? I have the Win 7 disk. It is a legimit copy with the product key. To get the .iso copy I have to sign up for the Microsoft store. Gerrrrr.

Here is the document.

Overview

When you choose to download most software from the Microsoft Store, you have the option of using Download Manager or downloading from your browser. However, when you purchase Microsoft Windows 7 from Microsoft Store, you have an additional choice to make: whether to download a collection of compressed files or to download an ISO file. An ISO file combines all the Windows 7 installation files into a single uncompressed file.

If you choose to download an ISO file (so that you can create a bootable file from a DVD or USB flash drive), copy your Windows 7 ISO file onto your media and, run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. After you do this, you can install Windows 7 onto your computer directly from the USB flash drive or DVD.

Note: When you download the ISO file, you must copy the file onto a USB flash drive or a DVD to install Windows 7. When you're ready to install Windows 7, insert the USB flash drive into your USB port or insert your DVD into your DVD drive, and then run Setup.exe from the root folder on the drive.

The advantage to following this process and creating bootable media is that it allows you to install Windows 7 without having to first run an existing operating system on your machine. If you change the boot order of drives in your computer's BIOS, you can run the Windows 7 installation directly from your USB flash drive or from a DVD when you first turn your computer on. (Please see the documentation for your computer for information about how to change the BIOS boot order of drives.)
Copies

    * To install the software, you may make one copy of the ISO file on a disc, USB flash drive, or other media.
    * After you’ve installed the software and accepted the license terms that accompany the software, those license terms apply to your use of the software. The license terms for Windows 7 permit you to make one copy of the software as a back-up copy for re-installation on the licensed computer. If you do not delete your copy of the ISO file after installing the Windows 7 software, the copy of the ISO file counts as your one back-up copy.

If you need to download the software again, you can go to your Download Purchase History in your Microsoft Store account and access the download there.
Installation

To install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool:

   1. Click to open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool installation file.
   2. When you are prompted to either save the file to disk or run it, choose Run.
   3. Follow the steps in the setup dialogs. You'll have the option to specify where to install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

Note: You need to be an administrator on the computer you are installing the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool on. The tool requires the Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0 or higher.

System Requirements

    *

      Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
    *

      Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster (300 MHz is recommended)
    *

      50MB of free space on your hard drive
    *

      DVD-R drive or 4GB removable USB flash drive

For Windows XP Users
The following applications must be installed prior to installing the tool:

    * Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.
    * Microsoft Image Mastering API v2 must be installed. It can be downloaded here.

Using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Before you run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, make sure you have already purchased the Windows 7 ISO download from Microsoft Store and have downloaded the Windows 7 ISO file to your hard drive. If you have purchased Windows 7 but have not yet downloaded the ISO file, you can download the file from your Microsoft Store Account.
To make a copy of your Windows 7 ISO file:

   1. Click the Windows Start button, and click Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool in the All Programs list to open the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
   2. In the Source File box, type the name and path of your Windows 7 ISO file, or click Browse and select the file from the Open dialog box. Click Next.
   3. Select USB Device to create a copy on a USB flash drive or select DVD disk to create a copy on a DVD disk.
   4. If you are copying the file to a USB flash drive, select your USB device in the drop-down list and click Begin copying. If you are copying the file up to a DVD, click Begin burning.


When your Windows 7 ISO file is copied onto your chosen media, install Windows 7 by moving to the root folder of your DVD or USB flash drive, and then double-click Setup.exe.
Frequently Asked Questions

The following are frequently asked questions about using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool:

Where can I download .NET Framework 2.0?
The .NET framework can be downloaded here.

Where can I download Image Mastering API 2.0?
The Image Mastering API can be downloaded here.

What size USB flash drive is required?
You need a USB flash drive with a minimum of 4 GB of free space.

Can I use my newly created USB drive to install Windows 7 on someone else’s computer?
No. The Windows 7 ISO file on the USB flash drive is only intended to be used to install Windows 7 on the licensed user’s own computer.

Can I backup to a CD-ROM?
No. The Windows 7 ISO file is too large to fit on a CD.

Can I backup to a Blu-Ray DVD disk?
Yes, as long as your DVD drive can write to a Blu-Ray DVD.

If I have other files on the USB flash drive will the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool delete them?
This tool requires the USB flash drive to be completely blank before the Windows 7 files are copied. This helps ensure that the device is bootable after the copying has completed.

Can I backup to an iPod, camera, or other device with enough free disk space?
Yes, but this is not recommended.

    * The device must be formatted in order for the device to be bootable.

A dedicated USB flash drive would be a better option.

Can I use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to backup other files?
No. This tool is only for use with the Windows 7 ISO file purchased from Microsoft Store.

Does the tool support dual-layer DVD discs for burning?
No. Currently, the tool does not support dual-layer DVD discs.
Troubleshooting

The following tips might help if you run into a problem using this tool.

The tool is requesting that I install the .NET framework and Image Mastering API before I install the tool
For users running Windows XP, you must install the .NET Framework 2.0 and the Image Mastering API 2.0 before installing the tool. You can download .NET framework here and you can download the Image Mastering API here.

Please note that a restart may be required after installing the .NET framework and the Image Mastering API.

When creating a bootable USB device, I am getting an error about bootsect
To make the USB device bootable, you need to run a tool named bootsect.exe. In some cases, this tool needs to be downloaded from your Microsoft Store account. This may happen if you're trying to create a 64-bit bootable USB device from a 32-bit version of Windows. To download bootsect:

   1. Login to your Microsoft Store account to view your purchase history
   2. Look for your Windows 7 purchase.
   3. Next to Windows 7, there is an "Additional download options" drop-down menu.
   4. In the drop-down menu, select "32-bit ISO."
   5. Right-click the link, and then save the bootsect.exe file to the location where you installed the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (e.g. C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Apps\Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool).
   6. Once the file has been saved, go back to the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool to create your bootable USB device.

My USB device is not in the list of available devices
If you don't see your USB flash drive in the list of available devices, please make sure the drive is inserted in the USB port, and then click the Refresh button beside the list of available drives.

I inserted a blank DVD in my DVD-ROM drive, but the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool doesn't recognize it
If there are multiple drives on the system, the tool will select the first one that is capable of burning DVDs. If you have multiple DVD-R drives, try inserting the blank DVD into another DVD-R drive. If that doesn't help, please make sure that your disc isn't damaged and that your DVD-R drive is operational. Contact Product Support if issues continue to arise.

I inserted a blank DVD in my DVD-ROM drive, but the tool won't let me burn it
Make sure the disc isn't a dual-layer DVD disc. Currently, dual-layer discs are not supported within

[daddog]

This is the page that directed me to the above.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/how-to-deploy-windows-7-from-a-usb-drive.aspx

[Malap]

I didn't do any of that Daddog, i just used the disk i bought from best buy. Did you get an installation disk with your Hard drive Daddog? maybe you have to run that first before installing windows, i would read the documentation with the hard drive and see what it suggests.

[Ghosth]

Daddog new disks should always be partitioned, then formatted for the OS you plan to install.

NTFS for XP, Fat32 for 98SE, etc.

However once formatted, however it is formatted, Win 7 should allow you to set it up (format) it for win 7.

Large disks will tend to work better as 2 or 3 smaller partitions.
Plus if you have more than 1 partition you have the option to do a dual boot down the road.
Either a different variant of windows, Linux, etc. So its almost always smart to partition.

Plus if you have a 500 gig hd, and you go search for a particular file on it, if its all one drive, it has to search the whole thing. Where if it is partitioned, you "should" know which drive you put it on, so you only have to search half.
Saves time, that includes HD access time when flying.

I'm running a 250 gig WD drive, 3 partitions, 2 of 93 gig's each, and a third smaller drive of 46 gigs.

Win XP pro on C, D is storage, E is windows 7.

Also that way if I need to I can copy files from one side, to another, format, and reinstall OS clean, then move things back that I want back. Without having to slow down to go through network or burn to disk.

Its just more flexible. Elegant.

As to your other win 7 problem, I have no clue.

Never seen anything like that, but then I "liberated" mine from the net.

[daddog]

Downloaded and ran the disk software. Partitioned it into 4 drives. After that things went quite smoothly.

Up and running with Win 7. Installed MB drives, then anti virus, Firefox, installing, installing, installing. Going to grab AH, Vent, and my latest Vid drivers.

[Malap]

Thats good new Daddog,    how do you like your new computer?

[daddog]

Well, not really a new computer Mal. It is my old system in a new case and with Win 7 instead of XP. So far I like it.

Can't get the sound to work. Motherboard is on board sound is 'Realteck'. It only seems to want me to install 'digital' speakers or ear phones. I have analog. Have not figured that one out yet.

[Ghosth]

Amazing how well things work sometimes when you get them right isn't it!

Daddog, you don't have a decent pci sound card?

Personally I've never had an onboard sound setup where either the mic worked but the sound was terrible, or the sound was great, but the mic sucked.

Even an old SB live should do you much better than onboard sound.

Glad you got it up and running. 

[Drone]

I've got an extra Creative Soundblaster Audigy or X-Fi XtremeGamer PCI cards if you want one.

Just gimme the word and I'll ship them off.

[daddog]

Na I am good thanks Drone, I appreciate the offer.
I have an old SB Live card, but I did not need it. Once I installed the MB sound drivers all was well. I thought they had already been installed.

After that to make a VERY long story short things were going along nicely when I decided to hook up my old drive and just transfer stuff from that directly. I had been hooking up my old drive, moving stuff to my external drive. Shutting down my system, hooking up my new drive with Win 7 transfer stuff from my external drive to my new one, shutting down, rinse and repeat. Got tired of that after 3 or 4 times. Decided to hook up both drives at once. That was a mistake. Blue screen of death. I figured no big deal, so I just unhooked my old drive and would continue with the way I had been doing it. No joy. Blue screen! Booted again, Blue screen!  Booted up in Safe Mode. Wrote down the error. Booted up in normal mode, Blue screen! Used the Win 7 disk and did some memory checks. All was good. Did some drive checks, all was good. Booted up again, Blue screen!  Then I tried some restore points, Blue Screen!  At that point I gave up and started all over again. Formatted the new drive, setup new partitions and started reinstalling Win 7 yesterday afternoon. By yesterday evening (after squad time) I had it up and running again with the OS and drivers installed. By the time I went to bed I had AH downloaded and installed along with other stuff. This morning I have installed Skype and some other programs, Open Office and such. All is good. Hard lesson learned. Will not try to hook up both of those again without doing my home work. 

So as of now I seem to be good to go. Vent, AH, all the other necessary's are installed and running. Was hoping to fly Sunday night with you guys, but after my first install ended up in a Blue screen I had to start all over. 

[Ghosth]

Dad I would seriously recomend trying that SB live card if you have it.

Onboard sound is always going to rob more CPU cycles than a sound card.