Boot Windows 7 from a USB drive. Introduction Please note: This tutorial enables you to prepare a USB drive so that you can boot directly to Windows 7 from the USB. Does your computer meet minimum specs? Do you want to go 32-bit or 64-bit? And what about Boot Camp? Can you clean install Windows 8 with the Upgrade Media? You may recall that this was a huge issue with Windows 7.

Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media. Note: This article received significants updates on October 2. November 5, 2. 00. But now, thanks to numerous reader reports, my own hands- on experience, and a briefing with the team at Microsoft responsible for this technology, I think we have some answers. Sadly, Microsoft is still making it difficult to clean install Windows 7 with Upgrade media, as it did with Windows Vista. But fear not, there is some good news. While you can't simply use Upgrade media to do a clean install of Windows 7 on a new or previously formatted PC, the workarounds this time are easier than ever.

Want to install Windows on a Mac? We explain the two main methods of running Windows on a Mac, Boot Camp and virtualisation, and the pros and cons of each. With Windows 8's Release Preview available and the final version inching toward completion, it's a great time to revisit how to install Windows 8 with a USB drive and.

And that's what this article is all about: Revealing the secrets to clean- installing Windows 7 with Upgrade media. In older versions of Windows, Microsoft would actually prompt you to insert an install floppy or CD from a previous Windows version, to prove that you qualified for the upgrade version.

Before you install Windows, stop and think about whether or not Boot Camp is the best choice for your needs. There are a couple of drawbacks to consider. Microsoft Office 2010 Visio Premium X86 X64 Cracked Screen more.

• What won’t work. During the course of my Windows install venture I figured out at least 6 ways which didn’t work. They all have their eureka moments, but don’t.
• Boot Camp is a Mac OS X utility that lets you run Windows on your Mac without relying on virtual machines or crippled emulators. Boot Camp supports Windows XP.

But beginning with Windows XP, PC makers were able to dramatically change the Windows install disc, so much so that, in some cases, those discs weren't even identifiable as valid install media to Windows Setup. Clearly a different system was required. For some people, it just works, and I'll provide information here so you can help ensure it just works for you, every time. For purposes of this discussion, a clean install- -or what Microsoft calls a custom install- -is when you boot your PC with Windows 7 Setup media (typically a Setup DVD, but with this version it could also be a specially created, bootable USB memory device containing the Setup bits) with the intention of installing just Windows 7 on the PC.

There could be a previous version of Windows (XP or Vista) installed on the PC already. You will either install Windows 7 to a separate partition or will wipe out the previous Windows version during Setup. If it's the latter, please- -please- -be sure to backup all your data first. Upgrade versions of Windows 7 are far more common than Full versions, both because they are less expensive and because Microsoft offered (and in some cases is still offering) exceptionally cheap pricing on Upgrade media.

Note: One such special offer, the Windows 7 Family Pack, consists of 3. Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade media Setup discs and a single product key which can be used to activate three copies of the OS on three different PCs. The Family Pack costs $1. Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade.

It's kind of a no- brainer. But rememeber what you're getting there: The Family Pack comes with Upgrade, not Full, product keys. While anyone with a valid, licensed copy of Windows XP or Vista qualifies for any Upgrade version of Windows 7- -and by the way, that's pretty much every single PC user on earth- -only Vista users can do an in- place upgrade, which is the install type for which Upgrade media is optimized. If you're an XP user, there's no way to do an in- place upgrade. So you have to perform a migration, which consists of three steps: 1.

Backup your crucial data and settings using Windows Easy Transfer (it's on the Windows 7 Setup DVD) and make note of the applications that are installed, because you'll have to manually reinstall them again after the fact. Microsoft Office 2013 Pro Plus With Serial Keys here. Perform a clean install of Windows 7 using the Upgrade media. I describe this process in this article. Restore your crucial data and settings using Windows Easy Transfer (part of Windows 7) and then reinstall your applications.

Many people have experienced issues with Windows 7 upgrades, especially those trying to do clean installs with Upgrade media, but if you follow the advice in this article, you will get up and running. You will get a legally activated, legitimate version of Windows 7 installed on your PC. I'm not sure yet, but I think so. In any event, here's a checklist of things to try, in order from least painful to most painful. One of these methods will work for you. Note: In all of these methods, you should observe one simple rule.

Do not enter your product key during Setup. Instead, you will attempt to activate Windows 7 manually after it is installed. So you can just enter your product key later. These tips and tricks represent the bulk of the information we didn't have before Microsoft shipped Windows 7 to millions of people in October 2. Each of these was confirmed by the team at Microsoft that created the Windows 7 Setup technology. If you run Windows 7 Setup from your previous OS, Windows 7 will always activate.

If the existing install of Windows is on some other partition, Windows 7 should still activate. There are instances in which this won't work- -especially when people really muck around with directory structures and so on, but it should activate. If it was there, Windows 7 will still activate. While Windows 7 Setup will look for previous installations of Windows, it will not look for recovery partitions or use them for compliance checking. The call is free, and they will get you up and running (i. And you know what? It doesn't hurt to simply try this method, because if it doesn't work, you can then try methods 2 and then 3, in order, afterwards.

There is no downside to trying this. Insert the Windows 7 Upgrade DVD in your PC's optical disc, reboot the computer, boot off the DVD, and then follow the steps to install Windows 7. If you are installing onto a computer that already has another version of Windows, be sure to back everything up first.

Then, type activate in Start Menu Search to bring up the Activate Windows utility. Type in your product key and attempt to activate Windows. You're done. Congratulations. Here's what you do want to see. But don't worry, we can overcome this.

If you are nervous that performing this workaround will lead to later complications- -unlikely, but not impossible- -please use Method #3, below, instead. Method #3 is supported by Microsoft.

Right- click this shortcut and choose . When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate windows. You're done. Congratulations. In my experience, some of these can cause this method to fail.

Install them and reboot PC. Re- run the command line (with administrative privileges) noted above, reboot again, and re- attempt the activation. This workaround is fully supported by Microsoft. There's already a whole article dedicated to this topic, but here's the short version since you've already done the initial install: 1.

Insert the Windows 7 Setup DVD in the optical drive if it isn't already there and choose Run Setup from the auto- run dialog that appears. Or, if it is already inserted, navigate to the optical drive in Computer and double- click is icon to trigger Setup. At the appropriate stage of Setup, choose Upgrade (and not Custom). Windows 7 will install as before, though you might notice that it takes quite a bit longer this time.

Because you're upgrading this time, you won't be prompted to enter your user name or most of the other information that you need to provide during a clean install. Using the user name (and password) you created during the first install, logon to Windows 7. To activate Windows 7 immediately, type activate in Start Menu Search. This brings up the Activate Windows utility.

Type in your product key and attempt to activate Windows. However you do it, these tips, tricks, and workarounds should get you up and running in Windows 7 legally, safely, and easily. My only regret is that it took so long to get this information out to you. Hopefully, with the next Windows version, the Upgrade process will be more well known before the product launches.