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Question

setup windows 7

Jul 22, 2014 7:21AM PDT

i have an hp laptop with windows XP. I want to install Windows 7. I have downloaded a licensed product but I am not sure which application to click on since there are many in the list.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The main concern is drivers
Jul 22, 2014 7:34AM PDT

Do you have the necessary drivers for Windows 7 on your computer? Have you run the Microsoft upgrade advisor to make sure your hardware is compatible? If you have less than 2 GB of RAM, you'll need to increase it for decent performance because Windows 7 takes at least double the RAM required for XP.

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Answer
Re: downloaded
Jul 22, 2014 7:48AM PDT

Not clear what you downloaded from where and not clear at all what list of applications you mean. Can you tell?

Kees

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Answer
Additionally to other posts
Jul 22, 2014 10:17AM PDT

Windows 7 will install from a DVD. If it's a legitimate copy, it should have an .iso file extention. You need to select a program that will burn the file to DVD. You then boot from the DVD to start the installation process. Know that if you don't put a new hard drive in the laptop first, you're going to lose everything on the drive that's in it.

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Answer
What type file did you get?
Jul 22, 2014 11:07PM PDT

Typically OS downloads are images with .ISO extension. ISO are compressed files that are decompressed using a tool and copied to a DVD. The DVD is placed in the drive and usually boot into the install. Doing it this way it runs before the installed OS runs. Now typically there are setup.exe on the DVD that can be executed but I've always used a DVD to do an upgrade.