Windows 7 RC Essentials: Getting Started Guide – Part 2

So you’ve got your PC all ready for installing Windows 7 RC by following my Getting Started Guide – Part 1? Right then buckle up for the next bit!

Part 2: Install and Configure

Boot from the DVD and install to your blank partition. If you’re lucky, you might witness a boot-loader, through to install sequence, then final configured desktop, without a single re-start. I must say, this didn’t happen on my Toshiba Satellite laptop, or the good old Acer Netbook, but it did happen on my aging HP tower. Even a single re-start was fine, but the HP went from BIOS to streaming Flash video in 22 minutes without restarting. Sorry, but that’s just amazing.

When you’ve waited the time it takes to take a painfully brief piss, Windows 7 RC is ready to ask you some questions. Enter your time zone, keyboard settings (if it prompts you) and the usual guff. Create an account with a password and do not enter the product key. You only get three goes at this thing, so there is no point at all in activating or even using the product key unless you absolutely have to. I have no idea what Microsoft would be like about issuing you with more keys, but I suspect they could be….annoying!

Anyway, Windows may re-boot, then you will be presented with what is essentially an enhanced Vista desktop. More on that in part three. If your machine does re-boot (and whenever it re-boots hereafter), you will be presented with the Microsoft Boot-Loader. It’s important to understand what has actually happened here. You’ve started with an old version of Windows, then brought a new version along to pick its way in to loading before it. Like the T1000 in Terminator 2, the new version knows how to pull the old version apart. Whatever you do though, don’t try to install Vista as a dual-boot, after you’ve installed Windows 7. The Vista version of the boot-loader can’t handle the newer version of Windows, and could well kill your Windows 7 installation in the process. This sort of weird version problem can also be witnessed when using the X-Box as a Media Centre Extender in Windows 7, then going back to Vista with the upgraded X-Box firmware. It’s concerning.

Log in to Windows, then run Windows Update exhaustively. You see, rather than run round the room with it’s head on fire, shrieking “HOLY CRAP, I’VE GOT NO ANTI-VIRUS!!” unlike Vista and especially XP, Windows 7 doesn’t hit you with everything all at once on initial boot, but don’t be fooled. You’ve got some hefty downloading to do. Run Windows Update several times, until you’ve downloaded squillions of updates and re-booted as necessary (oh yeah, even the HP did need the odd re-boot here).

When you get the green-shield of acceptance in Windows Update, it’s time to deal with that annoying flag in Windows Action Centre, by installing Anti-Virus. If you’ve got some horrid, bloated and paid-for Anti-Virus, then good news! Windows 7 handles Vista versions of all the popular flavours very well, apparently. I personally recommend Avast, but there are other nifty freebies.

So it’s all good right? Well, in part three, I’ll tell you why you now need to boot back in to Vista. Sooner rather than later…

The Average Windows Nerd.

Related Pages:

1. Windows 7 RC Essentials: Getting Started Guide – Part 3
2. Windows 7 RC Essentials: Getting Started Guide – Part 1
3. Windows 7 Beta Released
4. Windows 7 RC Download
5. How To Install Windows 7 On Apple Mac’s Boot Camp

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