Installing OS on new PC

[David_255]

My parts just came in and I'm ready to get started as soon as I get home from work. However, I may have a problem when it comes to installing Windows 7.

Here is the list of parts I have:
https://pcpartpicker.com/user/Drexl27/saved/
MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128841&nm_mc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel&cm_mmc=TEMC-RMA-Approvel-_-Content-_-text-_-
Take out the Windows 10 software because I didn't purchase it. Instead, I have a Windows 7 ISO file that has been converted to a bootable file on a USB flash drive, with an activation key.

I don't have an optical drive, and no disk for Windows anyway. So what's the best way to get my PC to recognize the flash drive and boot Windows from it? Thanks!

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... 1) use a 4gb or larger usb2 stick, format FAT32 and Make "Bootable"
2) convert the ISO DL to the USB stick. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
3) Set your BIO's for USB boot order (save&exit) OR just press the right F key, at boot, for the BIO's boot select screen.
4) Win 7 will need a pre-install SATA AHCI driver ( check MB CD/site for this ) before anything will communicate to your drive.
4B) Win 7 can use SATA IDE mode too, without a driver, set BIO's and (save&exit).

 

[captaincharisma]

use the microsoft usb/dvd tool with the ISO file to make the USB drive bootable and then after you turn the PC on go into the boot menu (check the motherboard manual) and choose the usb drive to boot to and then follow the prompts to install.

i'm not 100% certain if windows 7 supports UEFI (someone else here should be able to confirm this) so maybe before installing go into the BIOS and set it to use the UEFI BIOS. if you do there will be an option in the boot menu withUEFI in it you can use

here is a link to the USB/DVD tool

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

 

[David_255]

Okay, I will do that and check back if anything goes wrong.

Another question: I heard that it's best to install a fresh version of Windows if you have all new parts, but I already have Windows 7 installed on a 1TB HDD. Would it be problematic if I booted that to start?

 

[captaincharisma]

Okay, I will do that and check back if anything goes wrong.

Another question: I heard that it's best to install a fresh version of Windows if you have all new parts, but I already have Windows 7 installed on a 1TB HDD. Would it be problematic if I booted that to start?

it is never a good idea to use an existing version of windows on a new computer because it will freak out because of so many hardware changes e and the problem there lies in what licence you have. if you previous version of windows 7 is an OEM version you are using from your old computer then expect your CD key to be invalid because of too many hardware changes

 

[David_255]

Okay, I will do that and check back if anything goes wrong.

Another question: I heard that it's best to install a fresh version of Windows if you have all new parts, but I already have Windows 7 installed on a 1TB HDD. Would it be problematic if I booted that to start?

it is never a good idea to use an existing version of windows on a new computer because it will freak out because of so many hardware changes e and the problem there lies in what licence you have. if you previous version of windows 7 is an OEM version you are using from your old computer then expect your CD key to be invalid because of too many hardware changes

Awesome, thanks. I'll install a fresh version on my new SSD.

 

[Ironsounds]

Hello... if you are going from AMD to Intel or the other way... the OS on that drive will not work. Windows compiles a file from your HD/system hardware during a install... in other words you can plug it in in if ya wanna experiment, you won't break any thing, but typically if you have different hardware on the MB etc... you will not have a working hardware OS.

if you got a new SSD, just plug that in and leave the HD un-plugged for DATA use later, and complete a working OS install on just the SSD. When all happy and good, install the HD, give permission to the NEW OS for use, And do file transfer/cleanup on it, then wipe the Partitions on it for NO previous OS files on it... and you have a clean working extra drive.

 

[captaincharisma]

Okay, I will do that and check back if anything goes wrong.

Another question: I heard that it's best to install a fresh version of Windows if you have all new parts, but I already have Windows 7 installed on a 1TB HDD. Would it be problematic if I booted that to start?

it is never a good idea to use an existing version of windows on a new computer because it will freak out because of so many hardware changes e and the problem there lies in what licence you have. if you previous version of windows 7 is an OEM version you are using from your old computer then expect your CD key to be invalid because of too many hardware changes

Awesome, thanks. I'll install a fresh version on my new SSD.

make sure you have only the SSD connected during the install to be safe