Windows 7 RC is out, and you can get it for free. BUT it may harm your computer if you install it as another operating system. Here is how to download, install and test this OS safely, and better yet, you don't have to pay anything!
Steps
- Download VirtualBox here and install it. Unless if you want to risk harming your PC, you will need this. It will say something about Windows Logo testing but, unless if you are worried, ignore it. If you are worried you can either contact Sun Microsystems (the vendor) or download an alternative.
- Once installed, register an account with Sun. VirtualBox can now be used, but for the time being, close it.
- Now you have everything to run Windows 7, you must now install Windows 7. Start here.
- Scroll down the page and you will see two versions of the OS, one 32-bit and one 64-bit. To determine which bit version you need, you would want to know which bit version your PC is now. This page has all you need to know about finding out your bit-version.
- Click on the link corresponding to you. Remember to choose your language first (English, German, Japanese, Spanish or French).
- You will be asked to enter your Windows Live ID. If you have Windows Live Messenger (MSN), it will be exactly the same as that, and should be (name)@hotmail.com or (name)@live.com (if you live in another country than the USA, .com will be the main domain suffix (e.g. the UK would be hotmail.co.uk, France would be hotmail.fr, Canada would be hotmail.ca, etc.) ).
- Answer the questions on the next page. Your e-mail address can be the same as your Live ID or anything different.
- Once completed, check your e-mail inbox. There should be one from Microsoft. Click on the link in the e-mail.
- You will eventually end up at a screen with a product key and the download link. Note down the product key (or print thr page if you have a printer connected) and click on the download link. If you do not have Java, you can download it for free from the Sun Microsystems website here.
- Allow anything which pops up. You can click on "Details" to see how long it will take. If you are on high-speed broadband, this download will take 1-2 hours. If you are on a dial-up connection, I recommend you cancel this download immediately, as your dial-up will most likely be switched off, plus it will take around all day to download.
- Once you have downloaded the .iso file (wait until it says 'Download complete', do NOT do anything with the .dlm file, as it is only a partial download file), open Sun xVM VirtualBox. You should already have a Sun account.
- Click on the 'New' icon. This will load up a wizard to create a new virtual machine.
- Click on Next. Name the machine something like 'Windows 7 RC'. The Operating System is 'Microsoft Windows', and the Version is 'Windows 7'.
- It says that the recommended base memory is 512mb. It should be at least 1024mb. If your computer has less than 1.5gb (1536mb), the PC on which you are running on will crash, so you cannont install Windows 7 virtually.
- The next page is asking you to create a virtual harddisk. Make one. Name it something like 'HardDisk', make it an expanding hard drive, and let it have 160gb of disk space (if your physical drive has enough space itself).
- The last screen will be a summary of your new virtual machine. It should look exactly like this:
Name: Windows 7 RC OS Type: Windows 7 Base Memory: 1024 MB Boot Hard Disk: HardDisk.vdi (Normal, 160.00 GB)
- Press Finish, and you will see your virtual machine, powered off, in the menu. You now need to associate the ISO with your machine.
- You should see a setting called 'CD/DVD-ROM', under it 'Not Mounted'. Click on it. Ignore the orange text below, and tick Mount CD/DVD Drive. Click on ISO Image File, then the folder, then Add. Locate the ISO image file. Click on OK. You have now mounted the OS with your virtual machine, meaning it will be like an Installation disc.
- You'll see the VirtualBox startup image, then a line of text telling you to press any key to boot from CD. Press any key, and you will see a bar saying that Windows is loading files.
- Once loaded, you'll see the Windows 7 startup screen. At this point you may see a dialog saying you need to free up memory. Go into Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Delete) and look at the PF usage. Close all the programs you can in the taskbar, then go into processes and End the ones you know are safe to end, such as iPodService.exe, firefox.exe (if you can understand the rest), iTunesHelper.exe, etc. Try not to end any saying that the User Name is SYSTEM or LOCAL SERVICE.
Tips
- Remember to note down the product key.
- As VirtualBox has not passed Windows Logo testing, your PC may say that you should cancel the installation and contact the vendor. Although VirtualBox does no harm, there is another Virtual PC program called Virtual PC 2007, which you can download from the Microsoft website here
Warnings
- The creator of this article used a 32-bit version of Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3. Take caution if you do not have this version.
- There is a small possibility that, if you restart your PC with the Windows 7 CD inserted, the PC may boot from CD, meaning it will attempt to install Windows 7 as the main OS. Always remove the CD before rebooting your PC.
- This is a Release Candidate, meaning that there are most likely glitches in the Operating System. If you do not want to install the OS virtually, you can wait until around December 2009 and buy the full version for around $100-175.
Things You'll Need
- VirtualBox 3.0.2 (there are different versions for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris and OpenSolaris)
- A Windows Live ID
- An e-mail address (your Windows Live ID can substitute as one)
- A 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows XP Home Edition/Professional (it can be older but is highly recommended)
- At least 160GB of drive capacity. You can install it on any drive you like, so if you are really desperate you can buy a new drive and fit it in.
- Some technical knowledge and a lot of patience.
- A pen and paper, or a printer.
source : www.wikihow.com
