How to reinstall Windows 7

If you reinstall Windows once or twice a year, your computer will run stably and flawlessly. However, for those who are not computer savvy, reinstalling the Windows operating system can seem like a very daunting task. Fortunately, this process is now much easier to carry out than it used to be, and the risk of putting your computer at risk is minimal. Read this article to learn how to repair or reinstall Windows 7.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: System Restore at Startup

Step 1. Identify the problem

Before doing a full reinstall, determine if simple boot repair can fix your problem. This action will replace the damaged system files. This method is most often used if Windows fails to start.

If Windows won't start, Startup Repair can fix the broken processes and Windows will start

Step 2. Insert the Windows 7 disc

Make sure your computer boots from CD. To do this, go to BIOS settings immediately after turning on the computer. To do this, you will need to press the key that is written next to the manufacturer's logo. For most computers, these are F2, F10, F12, and Del.

• In the BIOS settings, go to the Boot tab. Select CD / DVD or Optical Drive as the first boot device.

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• Save changes and exit settings. Your computer will automatically restart.

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Step 3. Go to the Windows setup program

Press any key when "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD …" appears on the screen. Windows Setup starts. The files will download for a while, and then you will be prompted to select Language and Time Zone Settings. They are usually set correctly by default. Click Next to continue.

Step 4. Click "System Restore"

It's a button at the bottom left of the screen, below the big Install button. After you select the "System Restore" item, the recovery settings window will open.

• It will take some time for the program to find the Windows installation files. Select an installation option and click Next. In most cases, there will only be one.

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Step 5. Select "Startup Repair"

The program will start looking for corrupted Windows files. Depending on the errors found, she can suggest solutions, or fix them automatically.

• Please remove all removable media for the recovery program to work as expected.

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• Your computer may restart several times. During the reboot, the message "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" may appear - do not press anything, otherwise you will have to start the process again.

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Step 6. Click Finish

After the repair finishes, click Finish to start Windows normally. If the recovery program finds no errors, this screen will not appear.

Method 2 of 4: System Restore

Step 1. Run "System Restore"

Depending on whether your Windows starts or not, you have two options.

• If Windows does not start, follow steps 2-4 in the previous section to access recovery settings. Select "System Restore".

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• If Windows has started, click "Start", "All Programs", "Accessories", "System Tools", and then select "System Restore".

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Step 2. Select a restore point

You can choose from manually created restore points that are automatically created and restore points created during program installations and Windows updates. You can only roll back your computer to the dates indicated there.

Step 3. Click Next, then Finish

Click "Yes" to confirm. The operating system will begin the recovery process. Your computer will automatically restart during this process. Recovery may take some time. After the recovery process is complete, Windows will boot normally and a message will appear stating that the system has been restored successfully.

• System Restore will not bring back deleted files.

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Method 3 of 4: Clean install

Step 1. Save important data

The installation process is safe and harmless, but we recommend that you save important data before making any changes to the system, especially when reinstalling. Copy the files to an external hard drive, flash drive, or burn them to a DVD.

Step 2. Prepare everything you need for installation

It is very important to have a Windows 7 activation key. It can be on the system CD or included with your computer. Make a list of the programs you need so you can install them after reinstallation.

Step 3. Run Windows 7 Setup

Insert the disc into your computer and restart it. Make sure the computer boots from the CD / DVD. You can do this by following Step 2 from the first section of this guide.

Step 4. Start the installation

You will be prompted to configure some parameters (language, time), as well as agree to the terms of the Windows license. You cannot install Windows without accepting the license agreement.

Step 5. Select the type of installation

The program will offer you two options: Update or Custom installation. Select Custom Installation if you want to install Windows from scratch while cleaning up your hard drive.

Step 6. Format the desired drive and install the operating system on it

Formatting the drive will erase all data on it and prepare it for system installation. Although formatting is optional, it is recommended to do so to avoid conflicts between the old and the new system. Typically, Windows 7 is installed on drive C. Installation may take 20 to 120 minutes, depending on the performance of your computer.

Step 7. Complete the installation by configuring additional options

When the installation of the operating system is complete, you will be prompted to enter a computer name and create an account. For most users, the default name will be fine. Once you have created an account, you can use it to log into a freshly installed Windows 7 operating system.

Step 8. Restore the saved data and programs

If you've saved your data, it's time to put it back on your computer. If you have created a list of the programs you need, download and install them.

Method 4 of 4: Via the Recovery Console

Step 1. Use the built-in recovery tools if you don't want to perform a clean install of Windows 7

Press F8 repeatedly as your computer boots to access the Recovery Console, a utility built into Windows.

• Note: Not all versions of Windows 7 have this feature. But if it is in the version you are using, be sure to use it - it allows you to fix a lot of problems.
• You need to get access to the command line - it is with its help that you can solve many problems that cannot be eliminated using conventional methods. In this particular case, we will correct errors MBR (master boot record - master boot record).

Step 2. Boot Recovery Console by pressing F8 again while the computer boots up. 3 Select an item System Restore and press Enter.

Step 4. In the "System Recovery Options" window, click on the blue command line inscription

5 At the command line, enter.

• bootrec / rebuildbcd

• Click on Enter.

  Step 6. Enter

  • bootrec / fixmbr

  • Click on Enter.

    Step 7. Enter

    • bootrec / fixboot

    • Click on Enter.

    • These steps should resolve any MBR-related issues. Again, this feature is not included in all versions of Windows 7. If your operating system does not have this feature, you need to enter the command line through the Windows 7 boot disk. To do this:
      • In the BIOS settings, go to the Boot tab. Select CD / DVD or Optical Drive as the first boot device.
      • Insert the bootable disc into your DVD drive.

      • In the installation window, select System Restore.

      • In the System Recovery Options window, select Command line and enter the above commands one by one.