In the Settings window, click the System option in the left navigation menu.

In the text field at the top of the search window, type settings and press Enter. After this, Windows will finish configuring itself and present you with your new desktop.If you don't see the Settings app in the Start menu, click the magnifying glass icon on the taskbar. This feature allows you to share files and printers with other machines in your business, and is optional. If prompted, indicate whether or not you want to set up a homegroup with other Windows 7 machines on your network. However, if the computer is a laptop and you use other networks aside from your business's service, choose “Public network.” If you use an air card to connect to a mobile broadband carrier such as Verizon or Sprint, choose “Public network.” In most cases, you’ll want “Home network,” even if your network is at a workplace. If you choose “Ask me later,” automatic updating is not enabled at this time.Ĭhoose your time zone from the drop-down menu, and adjust the date and time if necessary. If you bought Windows 7 online, the key was emailed to you.Ĭheck the “Automatically activate Windows when I’m online” check box, and then click “Next.”Ĭhoose your Windows Update settings.

You can find the key on an orange sticker in your Windows 7 DVD package if you purchased it at a store, or on an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) sticker on your computer case. The computer name, or host name, provides a means by which the system is identified on a network.Ĭhoose a password and password hint for your account.Įnter your Windows 7 product key. Select an account user name and computer name. The process could take up to an hour to complete, after which the system automatically reboots. When complete, you should see one entry for Disk 0, which is labeled “Unallocated Space.”Ĭlick on Disk 0, and click “Next.” Windows repartitions the drive, formats it, and installs a fresh copy of Windows.

Select your language and preferences on the “Install Windows” page, and click “Next.”Īccept the license terms and press “Next.”Ĭhoose the “Custom” installation type when prompted.ĭelete all partitions on Disk 0. Select your DVD or USB flash drive from the boot list, as appropriate. The key combination varies among different computer manufacturers, but it displays briefly on the screen, so watch carefully for it.

Reinstalling windows