IT Admin

The May 5th launch date for the Windows 7 RC has come and gone, and amazingly, it went off without a hitch. The download servers held up, product keys have been free flowing, and Microsoft is once again proving to the world that they have what it takes to be the number one OS. To veteran Maximum PC readers, downloading and installing the new Windows 7 RC is a piece of cake, and they have probably been up and running for days. For newcomers however, the process can be a bit overwhelming. In the following guide, we will review the steps from start to finish on how to get the Windows 7 Release Candidate up and running in less than an hour.  The entire process is free, and the only risk involved is your time, and the possibility of developing an unnatural love affair with an operating system that you’re wife probably won’t understand.

Read on to learn how to setup a dual boot with your old OS, upgrade from Vista, or even just make a plain old clean install.

What You Will Need

A PC with the following Minimum Specs:

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB RAM (32-bit) / 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
• DVD-R / RW Drive & a Blank DVD

CDBurnerXP (Works in XP or Vista) or other DVD ISO burning software (Free)

Windows 7 RC 32 Bit or 64 Bit (Free)

A Windows Live Account (Free)

1.) Download The RC

The first thing you will need to do is navigate on over to the Windows 7 RC download page, and grab yourself the updated ISO. You will notice that it will give the option of picking either the 32 or 64 Bit version of the OS. As with Vista x64, the future is in 64 Bit computing, but you need to have compatible hardware, and the advantages don’t amount to much if you have less than 4 gigs of ram. If your not sure if your processor is 64 bit or not, feel free to take the test by downloading and running GRC’s SecureAble.

Navigate to the bottom of the page, select your edition, then hit GO.

Next you will be asked to enter your Windows Live account information, if you don’t have one, not to worry, you can create it for free. After signing up, or signing in, you will be presented with your Windows 7 product key. If you planning on installing more than one copy of Windows 7, or even a mixture of 32 bit and 64 bit, don’t worry about trying to scam yourself additional product keys. As of right now, you can activate as many copies as you want with a single key, and both editions will work with either key.

Next all you need to do is hit Download Now to start the downloader.

Next we will look at the post download process.

2.) Burn The ISO to a DVD

If you haven’t done so already, you will need to download and install an ISO burning software utility which will turn the file you downloaded, into a bootable install disk. If you don’t have Nero or another CD burning utility already, I suggest CDBurnerXP. It works in both Windows XP & Vista, despite the name, and is a free, full featured burning utility.

Just select Burn ISO from the main menu, insert a blank DVD, and hit Burn.

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3.) Upgrade Windows Vista to Windows 7 (Windows XP Users Need Not Apply!)

Windows XP isn’t elegable for an in place upgrade, and I’m not so sure that a bad thing. The in place upgrade transfers settings, and files, but given the drastically different architecture of the two OS’s, even if Windows 7 tried, the result probably wouldn’t be what you were hoping for. It is possible to use the Windows XP file and settings transfer wizard, but this will need to be backed up manually, and you will need to skip ahead to the clean install step.

Upgrading a Windows Vista installation on the other hand is ridiculously simple. Just insert you new DVD, click Install Now, then sit back and let Windows 7 will do the rest. A three click OS install? Take that Steve Jobs! It might be worth pulling out a mighty mouse if you can find one for this step just to rub it in.

Do a Clean Install or Dual Boot of Windows 7

If your doing a clean install of Windows 7, make sure that you have backed up all the information on your primary drive, and restart with the DVD in your optical drive. A clean install will be required if you are a Windows XP user, or if the computer doesn’t have a primary OS. Even if your running Vista however, I would still recommend going with a clean install. It’s a well-known fact that upgrades, rarely work as well as a fresh install.

During the boot up press any key to continue when prompted.

When you reach the first options screen select Custom

The next screen will give you a summary of your hard drive and partitions. Here you can select one of two options.

1.) Select your primary partition then click Format then Next

2.) Select a secondary partition or drive then click Format then Next.

The advantage of going with option number two is that you can run Windows 7 in a dual boot setup. Windows 7 will automatically configure a boot manager and will allow you to pick from your old OS, or Windows 7 at each startup. You can select either a secondary hard drive, or make another partition to go with the dual boot approach. Want to know how to make a new partition from your existing hard drive, without destroying your existing data? We’ve got a guide for that too. Also keep in mind, if you select a secondary drive that doesn’t contain an OS, you don’t need to click format. In this example, Windows 7 will simply be installed on the drive alongside your data.

Windows 7 will now install itself, and you won’t need to make any other choices. Just sit back, and enjoy the ride.

After you’re reboot you will be prompted to enter your CD key which you obtained during step one.

After you’re reboot you will be prompted to enter your CD key which you obtained during step one.
You can optionally uncheck the box next to Automatically activate Windows when I’m online if you plan on wiping this installation out in less than 30 days. This will save you having to activate or look around for the key before getting yourself up and running. That’s about the only advantage however, since activations aren’t limited at this point.

Install Windows 7 From a USB Key

Want to learn how to install Windows 7 from a USB key? Find our guide here.

Conclusion

Microsoft has done an amazing job of using the beta, and RC of Windows 7 to create awareness for its new OS. As a result, many of the major hardware manufacturers have already developed very mature and stable Windows 7 drivers to satisfy the early demand. We strongly encourage anybody who is interested in a sneak peek of the future to give the RC a try, and we are hoping this guide will remove the barrier of entry for even the most modest of users. The RC will be available for download until at least June 2009, and you won’t need to worry about it expiring until March 2010.

What are your impressions of the Windows 7 RC?

Once more unto the breach, dear friends. The first iteration of Microsoft’s next operating system has arrived, and things are looking up for the Windows faithful. In fact, the first beta of Windows 7 is so reliable and responsive that it reminds us of the early Windows XP betas. With less than 12 months to go before launch, Windows 7 is in much better shape than Vista was at the same time, and it feels like a much more usable operating system than even XP did during its beta phase.

Windows 7 features a completely overhauled interface along with a host of new features. We give you a quick tour of what to expect.

So what’s new with Windows 7? The first thing you’ll notice is a completely overhauled user interface. The Taskbar, which has worked more or less the same way since Windows 95, has changed. Instead of having separate areas for the Quick Launch toolbar and running applications, the new Taskbar combines the two in a way that’s similar to OS X’s Dock. Start an app, and its icon will show up in the Taskbar. Hover over it, and you’ll see a ton of useful info about it, including recently opened files and thumbnails of all the open windows. Move your mouse over a thumbnail and everything else on the screen except that window fades out, making it simple to find things on even the most cluttered desktop. Say you like having your favorite apps in the Quick Launch area—with Windows 7, you can pin apps to the Taskbar, and they’ll remain there whether they’re running or not.

What else is new? Homegroups make sharing printers and files between the computers on your network dead simple, without mucking around with NTFS permissions and user accounts. Libraries let you collect all your important files in one place. The new navigation column in Windows Explorer gives you speedy access to the locations on your PC and network that you use most. Gadgets embed directly on the Desktop instead of the Sidebar. The notification area on the Taskbar (where all the small icons for running applications show up) puts spammy or misbehaving apps in a holding pen where they won’t annoy you. Oh, and UAC is much less annoying—we’re even using it.

Additionally, there are dozens of small tweaks to the OS that, taken alone, don’t amount to much but combined make a significant impact on your end-user experience. For example, Windows 7 will ship with an array of common audio and video codecs, including H.264, AAC, and DivX. Also on the media front, the built-in streaming server can handle all the formats that the Xbox 360 uses. You can sort and search your files by perceived type—that is, the type of content in the file rather than the file format. The Action Center corrals many of the system warnings that previously would have popped up in disparate locations. Drag a window to the top edge of the screen to maximize it. Drag it to the right side of the screen and it expands vertically to fill your screen. When you open a communication app or game that uses the microphone, Win7 reduces the volume of all other apps. The Shut Down button has even made its triumphant return to the Start menu.

Don’t get too excited yet. Even though Windows 7’s first beta surpasses Vista in many ways, we still know very little about the final OS. We don’t have a firm release date or even know the number of different flavors there will be (we’re hoping for one, but that’s probably a pipe dream) or what it will cost. However, we’ve learned enough from the first beta to leave us cautiously optimistic that Windows 7 will be more XP than Vista.

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Let’s kick off with keyboard shortcuts – the first thing every power user must memorize with working with a new operating system. In Windows 7, we’ve uncovered several new sets of essential time-saving shortcuts that will make your mouse jealous with neglect.

Alt + P

In Windows Explorer, activate an additional file preview pane to the right side of the window with this new shortcut. This panel is great for previewing images in your photos directory.

Windows + + (plus key)

Windows + – (minus key)

Pressing the Windows and plus or minus keys activates the Magnifier, which lets you zoom in on the entire desktop or open a rectangular magnifying lens to zoom in and out of parts of your screen. You can customize the Magnifier options to follow your mouse pointer or keyboard cursor. Keep in mind that so far, the Magnifier only works when Aero desktop is enabled.

Windows + Up

Windows + Down

If a window is not maximized, pressing Windows + Up will fill it to your screen. Windows + Down will minimize that active window. Unfortunately, pressing Windows + Up again while a window is minimized won’t return it to its former state.

Windows + Shift + Up

Similar to the shortcut above, hitting these three keys while a window is active will stretch it vertically to the maximum desktop height. The width of the window will however stay the same. Pressing Windows + Down will restore it to its previous size.

Windows + Left

Windows + Right

One of the new features of Windows 7 is the ability to automatically make a window fill up half of your screen by dragging to the left or right. This pair of shortcuts performs the same function without your mouse. Once a window is fixed to one side of the screen, you can repeat the shortcut to flip it to the other side. This is useful if you’re extending a desktop across multiple monitors, which prevents you from executing this trick with a mouse.

Windows + Home

This shortcut performs a similar function to hovering over a window’s peek menu thumbnail in the Taskbar. The active window will stay on your desktop while every other open application is minimized. Pressing this shortcut again will restore all the other windows.

Windows + E

Automatically opens up a new Explorer window to show your Libraries folder.

Windows + P

Manage your multiple-monitor more efficiently with this handy shortcut. Windows + P opens up a small overlay that lets you configure a second display or projector. You can switch from a single monitor to dual-display in either mirror or extend desktop mode.

Windows + Shift + Left

Windows + Shift + Right

If you are using two or more displays (and who isn’t, these days?), memorize this shortcut to easily move a window from one screen to the other. The window retains its size and relative position on the new screen, which his useful when working with multiple documents. Utilize that real estate!

Windows + [Number]

Programs (and new instances) pinned to your Taskbar can be launched by hitting Windows and the number corresponding to its placement on the Taskbar. Windows + 1, for example, launches the first application, while Windows + 4 will launch the fourth. We realize that this is actually one key-press more than just clicking the icon with your mouse, but it saves your hand the trouble of leaving the comfort of the keyboard.

Windows + T

Like Alt + Tab (still our all time favorite Windows specific shortcut), Windows + T cycles through your open programs via the Taskbar’s peek menu.

Windows + Space

This combo performs the same function as moving your mouse to the bottom right of the Taskbar. It makes every active window transparent so you can view your desktop. The windows only remain transparent as long as you’re holding down the Windows key.

Ctrl + Shift + Click

Hold down Ctrl and Shift while launching an application from the Taskbar or start menu to launch it with full administrative rights.

Ctrl + Click

Hold down Ctrl while repeatedly clicking a program icon in the Taskbar will toggle between the instances of that application, like multiple Firefox windows (though not browser tabs).

Time = 1 hour

What you need:

• 4GB USB key
  $10, www.newegg.com
• WinRAR
  Free Evaluation Copy, www.rarlab.com
• Windows 7 Beta ISO
  Free, http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dd353205.aspx

Note: This guide will only work within Windows Vista.

1.    Format Your USB Key

Plug in your USB key and back up any existing data stored on it. You’ll need to format the key before you can make it a bootable device.

Open up a Command Prompt as an Administrator. You can do this by finding the cmd.exe in yoru Windows/System32 folder, right-clicking the executable, and selecting “Run as Administrator”. Alternatively, type CMD in the Start Menu search field and activate the Command Prompt using Ctrl + Shift + Enter.

You should be under c:\Windows\system32 (assuming your Vista partition is the C drive). Type “diskpart” in the command line to enter the Disk Partition command line tool, which lets you format and create partitions on active disks.

Type “list disk” to reveal a list of all your active disks, each of which is associated with a number. Make a note of which one is your USB key, based on the capacity. In our screenshot below, our USB drive is Disk 6 (8GB).

Next, type the following commands, one at a time:

Select Disk # (Where # is the number of your USB disk. We typed “Select Disk 6”)

Clean (removes any existing partitions from the USB disk, including any hidden sectors)

Create Partition Primary (Creates a new primary partition with default parameters)

Select Partition 1 (Focus on the newly created partition)

Active (Sets the in-focus partition to active, informing the disk firmware that this is a valid system partition)

Format FS=NTFS (Formats the partition with the NTFS file system. This may take several minutes to complete, depending on the size of your USB key.)

Assign (Gives the USB drive a Windows volume and next available drive letter, which you should write down. In our case, drive “L” was assigned.)

Exit (Quits the DiskPart tool)

2.    Turn the USB Key into a Bootable Device

Download and Install winRAR, which lets extract files from the install DVD image without burning or mounting it first. Open the utility and navigate to the direction where you downloaded your Windows 7 Beta ISO. Double click the ISO file to examine its contents. Extract all of the files here to a folder on your Desktop. We put the ISO contents in a folder named “Windows 7 Beta”

Go back to your command prompt, running it as an Administrator. Using the “CD” command, find your way to the folder where you extracted the ISO files. Your command line path should look something like “C:\Users\USERNAMEHERE\Desktop\Windows 7 Beta\”.

Type the following commands:

CD Boot (This gets you into the “boot” directory)

Bootsect.exe /nt60 L: (where ‘L’ is the drive letter assigned to your USB key from the previous step)

Bootsect infuses boot manager compatible code into your USB key to make it a bootable device.

IMPORTANT: If you’re currently running Windows Vista 32-bit, Bootsect will only work if you downloaded the 32-bit ISO for Windows 7 Beta. The Bootsect executable from the 64-bit version of the beta will not run in 32-bit Vista.

3.    Load the USB Key Up with the Install Files

Copy all of the extracted ISO files into the USB drive. You don’t need to do this from the command prompt. Just drag and drop the files from the “Windows 7 Beta” folder into the drive using Windows Explorer.

Your USB key is now all ready to go! Plug it into your target system and make sure you enter the BIOS (typically with F2 or F12) to temporarily change the boot order to allow booting from the USB key before your primary hard drive or optical drive. On the next restart, your system should automatically begin speedily loading setup files off of the USB key and entering Windows 7 installation.