After hearing Leo Laporte and all the Buzz Out Loud listeners talk about Window7 I decided I’d give it a shot. I’m testing the lower end of the hardware range. I’ve got a P4 2.4GHz processor and only a gig of Ram. I don’t have an internal DVD so I am running the install from an External one. The iso was 2.4 Gigs and had to be run from a DVD.
I started about 15 minutes ago at and I still have a half empty progress bar at the bottom of a black screen telling me that Windows is loading files…
20 min later I’m at the GUI asking for Language, Time/Currency format, and Keyboard. I click Next and Install Now.
“Setup is starting.”
EULA accepted
For some reason I go against all my training and choose the “Upgrade” Install instead of the fresh installation option. What the heck its a new day… I’m told that in order to upgrade I need to restart the computer so that and existing version of windows is running. I backed up before I started so I’m going to back up and choose the “Custom (advanced)” install. Again, what the heck?
That sorted, the install has begun, the steps are listed out for me: Copying files (went quickly), Expanding files (started at 7:23 and is now at 1% 3min later. This may be the tedious bit… 7:28; quicker now, 20%… 7:36; up to 98% (this is actually getting exciting)), Installing features done 7:37 , Installing updates done , Completing installation done and rebooting at 7:37.
Ooo, USB controller error, but I was getting that before I started. “Starting Windows” throbbing windows flag/flower (very alien looking) Setup is starting services. Back to the same setup window before reboot with a message “Completing Installation” The green progress bar at the bottom of the screen is about 70% done. Hmm… 7:43 no change… screen blink, that’s usually a sign that the OS is dealing with video drivers or display settings. Progress bar has moved a bit about 85%… DVD spinning up a couple of times… 7:48 Setup will continue after a reboot of your computer…
Starting Windows throbbing blurry flag again. Setup is preparing your computer for first use, Setup is checking video performance and I’m at a Setup Wizard.
User name and computer name Password Product Key (Ooops I saved that under the XP install.. ha ha, and on my Mac, whew) Update Settings, Time zone and date, Home network discovery, Now this is new. Do you want to create a homegroup? A homegroup links computers on your home network so that you can share pictures, music, blah blah, Windows has had shared folders for a long time, curious to see how these “home groups” will be implemented. Choices are Next or Skip, I’m game “Next” wizard done. Preparing your desktop… Ahhh, that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen Microsoft do… the desktop wallpaper is a Beta– fish– like in a fish tank. That’s pretty good. Still looks like Vista, that’s gonna be hard to shake the association.
That done, now I’m going to go beat up on it. Don’t guess this post helps anyone but I was surprised at how quick the install took on a PC that’s on the lower end of the recommended specs.
