How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD

This wikiHow teaches you how to reinstall Windows 7 if you don't have your Windows 7 installation disc. To do so, you'll need your Windows 7 product key and either a blank USB flash drive or a blank DVD. Check your computer's bit number....

Part 1 of 3:

Creating an Installation Tool

  1. Picture 1 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Check your computer's bit number. When you download a fresh version of Windows 7, you'll need to know whether your computer has a 32-bit processor or a 64-bit processor.
  2. Picture 2 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Find your Windows 7 product key. This is the 25-character key that you received with your copy of Windows 7. You can usually find it on the bottom of your computer (laptops only), or inside of the Windows 7 box.
    1. If you registered your copy of Windows 7 online, Microsoft most likely sent to your registered email address a confirmation email with your product key.
    2. If you can't find a hard copy of your product key, you can check it on your computer using Command Prompt or software.
  3. Picture 3 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Select an installation method. You can use either a blank USB flash drive or a blank DVD to create your installation tool. Keep in mind that if you choose a flash drive, it must have a capacity of larger than 4 gigabytes.[1]
    1. Before choosing a DVD as your method, make sure that your computer has a DVD drive. You can check this by looking for the DVD logo on or near the disc tray.
    2. If you don't have a DVD drive, you won't be able to burn the DVD on your computer.
  4. Picture 4 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Open Microsoft's Windows 7 download page. This is the official webpage for Windows 7 software downloads.
  5. Picture 5 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Scroll down and enter your product key. You'll find the "Enter your product key" text field near the bottom of the page; click this field and type in the 25-character product key that you retrieved earlier.
  6. Picture 6 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Click Verify. It's a blue button below the product key text field. Doing so will verify your product key and take you to the language selection page.
  7. Picture 7 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Select a language. Click the Choose one drop-down box and then click your preferred language in the drop-down menu.[2]
  8. Picture 8 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Click Confirm. This button is below the language drop-down box.
  9. Picture 9 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Select a download. Click either 64-bit Download or 32-bit Download in the middle of the page. The download that you choose here should match your computer's bit number. The file will begin downloading.
    1. Depending on your browser's settings, you may first have to select a download location or confirm the download.
  10. Picture 10 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Wait for the file to finish downloading. The Windows 7 installation file will download in ISO format. After it finishes downloading, you can usually find it in your computer's Downloads folder.
  11. Picture 11 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Create your installation tool. Once your installation tool has been created, you can proceed with installing Windows 7. Plug in your USB flash drive or insert your DVD, then do the following:
    1. Flash drive - Select the ISO file, press Ctrl+C to copy it, click your flash drive's name in the lower-left side of the window, and press Ctrl+V to paste the file onto your flash drive.
    2. DVD - Burn the installation file onto the DVD by finding and selecting the file in Windows Explorer, clicking Burn disc image, and clicking Burn at the bottom of the pop-up window.[3]
      1. You can also burn ISO files on Windows 10.
Part 2 of 3:

Setting up the Installation

  1. Picture 12 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Back up your files. Even though most modern operating systems give you the option of keeping your files when installing the operating system, backing up your files is a safety precaution that you shouldn't skip.
  2. Picture 13 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Make sure that your installation tool is inserted. Your USB flash drive or burned DVD should be attached to/inserted into your computer.
  3. Picture 14 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Restart your computer. Click Start
    Picture 15 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    in the bottom-left corner of the screen, then click the arrow to the right of Shut down and click Restart.
  4. Picture 16 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Start pressing your computer's BIOS key. You'll need to do this as soon as your computer begins to restart. This key is usually the Esc, Delete, or F2 key, though your computer's BIOS key may be different. Don't stop pressing the key until the BIOS is open.
    1. If you miss the BIOS activation window, you'll need to restart your computer and try again.
    2. For a brief moment, you can usually see the key that you need to use listed at the bottom of the screen in a "Press X to enter startup" message.
    3. You can check your computer's manual or product page online to confirm the BIOS key.
  5. Picture 17 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Find the "Boot Order" section. Each computer's BIOS varies slightly, but you'll usually see a "Boot Order" or "Boot Options" tab that you can navigate to using the arrow keys.
    1. On some BIOS layouts, you'll find the "Boot Order" options in the Advanced Options tab.
    2. Some BIOS layouts have the "Boot Order" section right on the initial page.
  6. Picture 18 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Select your installation tool's option. Using the arrow keys, select either Removable Storage (or something similarly descriptive of a flash drive) or CD Drive (or something similar). This will depend on whether you used a flash drive or a DVD to create your installation tool.
  7. Picture 19 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Move the installation tool to the top of the section. Usually, you'll press the + key while the tool's option is selected to do this. With your installation option at the top of the "Boot Order" list, your computer will be able to find and recognize the Windows 7 installation file.
    1. There's normally a key legend that tells you which keys perform which actions in the lower-right side of the BIOS page.
  8. Picture 20 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Save and exit the BIOS. Press your BIOS' "Save and Exit" key (check the key legend), then wait for the BIOS to close.
    1. You may have to confirm this decision by selecting YES and pressing a key.
Part 3 of 3:

Reinstalling Windows 7

  1. Picture 21 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Press any key when prompted. Doing so will begin the installation process.
  2. Picture 22 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Check the "I agree" box and click Next. Checking the box indicates that you agree to Microsoft's current terms of use, while clicking Next in the bottom-right corner of the window takes you to the next page.
  3. Picture 23 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Delete the current Windows 7 installation. Select the hard drive on which Windows 7 is installed, then click Delete below the storage window.
  4. Picture 24 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Click Yes when prompted. Doing so will completely erase your old copy of Windows 7 from the hard drive.
  5. Picture 25 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Select an installation location, then click Next. Click the now-empty hard drive to select it as your installation location.
  6. Picture 26 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Allow Windows 7 to install. This may take several minutes to an hour, depending on how fast your computer is.
    1. Your computer will restart multiple times during the installation process.
  7. Picture 27 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Enter your preferred username, then click Next. Type your preferred username into the text field at the top of the window.
  8. Picture 28 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Create a password, then click Next. Fill out the following fields:
    1. Type a password (recommended) - Type in your preferred password.
    2. Retype your password - Re-type in your preferred password.
    3. Type a password hint - Create a password hint (optional).
  9. Picture 29 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Click Use recommended settings when prompted. This will allow Windows to set up your security for you.
  10. Picture 30 of How to Reinstall Windows 7 Without CD
    Wait for Windows 7 to finish installing. Once Windows 7's installation is complete, you should be on the desktop.
Update 04 March 2020
keywindowsinstallationcomputer

You should read it

Maybe you are interested

Category

System

Mac OS X

Hardware

Game

Tech info

Technology

Science

Life

Application

Electric

Program

Mobile