Day 3: The Install
Ok, yesterday I found my Nero CD, and installed it. Today, I worked late, but I decided to press ahead anyway. I burned the ISO (took forever
), and got ready to start. Oh, wait, I better write down the CD key, since I won't have access to it later. Ok, now I'll boot into the DVD, and begin the install.
...
Hey, that's a pretty nifty boot up screen. Followed soon by some regional settings. Not sure why these are here, but I guess it's good to get it out of the way. And, there's the start page. I've got three options: "Install now", "Repair previous installation" and "Cancel" ("Note: Choosing cancel might cause the computer to restart." Oh, you don't say?). Well, I don't have a previous installation (of Windows 7), so I'll just hit Install. Next is the EULA. Pretty standard stuff, although since this is a Beta, it reads a bit more like an NDA...
So, yeah. I'm planning to install this side-by-side with Windows XP, since I'm pretty sure this is a time-limited demo (maybe not, I dunno). In older versions of Windows (XP, at least. I dunno about Vista), this was accomplished by installing into a separate folder than the existing one. It would then prompt you at boot which to use. The process is a bit different here.
First, it asks you whether you want to Upgrade a previous installation or Install a new one. In earlier versions, this choice was implied by the installation directory. If you tried to install overtop of an existing Windows, then you must want to Upgrade. Otherwise, it was a clean install. This is a fairly workable model, and reasonable too, so I'm not sure why they give us the choice here. I mean, I get to choose the install folder, right? Right?
After you choose your install style, it then asks you to which drive you want to install. I have two partitions, "Windows" and "Data". I bet you can guess which partition is my normal C: drive. So, I'll just click on Windows, and change the path to something like "C:\Windows7". *click*
"There appears to be an existing installation of Windows on this drive. If you continue, the existing installation of Windows will be moved to C:\Windows.old. The files will still be accessible, but you will no longer be able to boot into this version."
OWAT?! Hey, that's not what I want to do! That's why they ask how you want to install: They don't give you the choice of path anymore! *grumble grumble* Well, whatever. Since I want to keep XP for now, I guess I'll install onto my D: drive. (Future Note: This will haunt me later)
Ok, so, now, I answer a series of inane questions about installation opti- oh, no, no I don't. It's started copying files. Ok, that's fine. Sooo... Now I wait.
*plays Pokémon Crystal for 15 minutes*
Ok, so that's done. It rebooted at some point during the install, so now it's running off the Hard Drive. When it boots up again, it asks me to create a login, and to name the PC. I, of course, name myself Mike, and christen my PC "Mikescomp". See, it's creative~!
Next it asks for my password and hint ("it's my password, duh"). After that, it finally asks for the CD key (politely, and optionally), which I dutifully provide. It then asks what security settings I want. "Recommended", "Less" and "None". Well... that's a pretty loaded question. No sane person would choose anything but Recommended. If it turns out to be too restrictive, I'll fine tune it later. Next, it asks about the Time and Date settings (The clock was okay, but it always defaults to GMT-08:00! I'm in GMT-05:00, damnit!). Then, it gets awesome.
Now, for various logistical reasons, my Desktop PC uses Wireless for its networking. I was fully expecting to be without Internetz for a bit while I hunted down a compatible driver. But, my fears were unfounded, as Windows 7 has a good driver built in! I was totally blown away, as XP was a bitch about this card. So, the next step in the installation was to pick which Wireless Network was mine, and to enter the WEP key. Nice, I'm impressed at this point.
The next question was about my "HomeGroup". Now, I don't know if this was part of Vista, but I had no idea what a HomeGroup is. And, actually, still don't. I think it has something to do with file sharing on your network, but since my room mate doesn't run Windows 7 (or Vista (or even XP...)), this was pointless. So, I just picked the default settings, and wrote down the password it generated just in case.
The next question w- oh, wait, that was it. It then proceeded to configure itself and present my new Desktop to me.
Altogether, it was about 30 minutes from start to finish (roughly as long as it took to write this post!).
Pros: Very easy install process, wireless driver built in, quick install!
Cons: Can't choose the install directory, only drive, WTF is a HomeGroup
