How to install Windows 7 ISO

Posted on May 15, 2009 at 6:34 am

Are you a curious beginner PC user who wants to try the release candidate of Windows 7? A release candidate is like a pre-production version so users can checkout a piece of software before it gets released officially. In this post I will show you where to get the installer and how to burn the ISO onto a bootable DVD. The latest Windows 7 RC is downloadable from Microsoft.

Here are things that you need to understand first before you install Windows 7 or a new OS for that matter.

1. You will loose your data if you reformat during installation. Backup everything that you want to retain.

2. This is not yet an official production version. Your PC might hang and it might not be that stable on some machines. Expect to have some instability issues as you use it.

3. This is only a trial software and will expire on June 1, 2010.

According to the site, here are the minimum specs for a system to run Windows 7:

- 1 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor or higher
- 1 GB of system memory or more
- 16 GB of available disk space
- Support for DirectX 9 graphics with 128 MB memory (to enable the Aero theme)
- DVD-R/W Drive

If your computer the above requirements then follow the steps below.

Step 1. Download the software from Microsoft. If you have a newer 64 bit processor, try to download the 64bit version of Windows 7. I tried a 32bit version on my 64bit AMD 64 X2 and it worked. I am yet to try the 64 bit version.

Step 2. Once you get the ISO file, burn it using a DVD ROM burner software like Nero. Open Nero Burning ROM, open the ISO file and then burn to your blank DVD.

Step 3: Boot your PC using this burned DVD. You may need to change boot order in the BIOS to CD-ROM in order to run the installer during reboot.

Step 4: Check the disc by double clicking the setup.exe file. You should see an installation window like below.

That’s it! This should get you going with trying out a Windows 7 setup. Remember that this is only a release candidate so it is strongly suggested to not use this on a primary computer. You can also read my post on how to install Windows 7 on VirtualBox.

Ben Carigtan shows you how it’s done.

» Filed Under Windows 7

Comments

2 Responses to “How to install Windows 7 ISO”

Ken.Kirk-Bayley said on : June 2nd, 2009 at 4:42 am

I have successfully downloaded W7 RC Ultimate and find it great, easy to use and packed with new goodies.
THE BIG PROBLEM is registering the PRODUCT CODE.
I have copied and pasted the product code supplied and each time I have entered the code ( now over 30 attempts) I am informed that this will take a few minutes THEN ERROR appears with 0×80072EE2 which shows a time out try later.
Surely, there is an easier way, like email it, to register.
The other options offered do not help as I am directed to the french language telephone system. Trying the UK phone numbers do not allow me access as I live in France.
I do not want to lose what appears to be Microsoft’s best yet.

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[...] you want to try out Windows 7, I have an article posted before that will guide you on how to legally get and burn a Windows 7 ISO on a bootable disc. Ben Carigtan shows you how it’s done. Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to Online Tech Tips via RSS [...]
May 31st, 2009 at 5:37 am