Datasheet

Before you can master any Microsoft product, you must know
how to properly install the product. In this chapter, I will
show you how to install Windows 7. This is a straightforward
process that can be highly automated and user friendly.
Preparing for the installation of Windows 7 involves making sure your hardware meets
the minimum requirements and is supported by the operating system. Another consideration
when installing Windows 7 is whether you are going to upgrade from a previous version
of Windows or install a clean copy on your computer. An upgrade attempts to preserve
existing settings; a clean install puts a fresh copy of the operating system on your computer.
Installation preparation also involves making choices about your system’s confi guration,
such as selecting a disk-partitioning scheme.
To complete the Windows 7 installation, you will need to activate the product through
Windows Activation. This process is used to reduce software piracy. After Windows 7 is
installed, you can keep the operating system up to date with post-installation updates.
When you install Windows 7, you should also consider whether the computer will be
used for dual-boot or multiboot purposes. Dual-booting (also called multibooting) allows
you to have your computer boot with operating systems other than Windows 7.
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) is an objective listed by Microsoft
under the “Perform a Clean Installation” section of the objectives. We will
cover WDS is full detail in Chapter 2, “Automating the Windows 7 Installation.”
Introducing Windows 7
Microsoft Windows 7 is the newest version of Microsoft’s client operating system software.
Windows 7 combines the best of Windows XP and Windows Vista.
Microsoft currently has six different versions of the Windows 7 operating system:
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Windows 7 Starter
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Windows 7 Home Basic
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Windows 7 Home Premium
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Windows 7 Professional
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Windows 7 Enterprise
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Windows 7 Ultimate
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