step of clean installation of windows 7

USB stick with installation files is ready．
windows 7 License is ready
Back up of important files is done.

What is the next step of clean installation of the whole system?

I haven't done this for many years. I 've forgot the steps.

Now, I've got an SSD, which is new, do I have to "format" it first? (It's connected now, but I can't see it in My Computer, why?)

Do I have to set up any boot priority or configure anything else?

Please highlight me the critical steps to clean the current partition and re-install windows 7


by the way, the license I have is for windows 7 home. I am now using windows 10 which was upgraded for free. Would I be able to use windows 10 again for free??

 

So how do you have Windows 10 stored now? And did you activate Windows 10 during that time? If your USB can't be seen in explorer then you got problems try other ports that aren't USB3 ports. Needs to get some basic down first.

 

Windows install should detect SSD and format it accordingly.

If you can't see storage device in my computer that may be of a variety of reasons, but it's an SSD. Install it's software, you want it, once installed it do not need to run, your computer will be setup with specialized settings for SSD and remember to manually turn off defragment. Never defragment SSD's.

I don't understand what you are going to re-install on a SSD that you can't get to work.. Just have to assume you're looking to do a fresh install on the SSD and "dump" your current OS which is already on a different HD.

Your options really depend on the computer. You want a clean windows 7 install, but you want to upgrade it to windows 10. You know how to confuse people! Sound more like a clean win10 install is what you really want. Such a thing does not exist, win10 is malware to the core.

If you are having trouble booting from USB you may need legacy support, which doesn't always play nicely all depending on what your hardware is specialized for. Sound like it's a laptop that came shipped with win7 which you have upgraded to win10, in that case it should be a breeze to re-install. Just remember win10 have taken full control of your computer. You need to take back control.

Truly getting a clean win7 install require some major steps, all depending how clean you want it. Most steps are focused upon in the top stickied thread.

Is there any windows that's not free? I really don't care if apps and tabs aka win10 are.

 

Hi Never defragment SSD?? why?

It does not look like there is a software that comes with the box set of my SSD (Transcend)

I just checked, in the windows setting of defragment, it looks like it would schedule to defragment by itself every week but I 've just turned it off. My SSD is not seen on my computer but seen in the list of the defragment windows. Could it be already defragmented??

 

You could google a little ;p

Well I'll do it for you: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2047513/fragging-wonderful-the-truth-about-defragging-your-ssd.html (And i see i have managed to block out social buttons on that site, absolutely no ads. Very clean and nice )

Shortened: Your SSD have a lifespan, you do not want to spend this on useless defragmenting. Depending on the SSD you may even damage it.

Download and install this to optimize your ssd:
https://www.transcend-info.com/supports/special.aspx?no=10

I do however have no experience with Transcend or that software, but it's how I optimize my Samsungs.

To disable defragment: click start, search program and files, enter: defrag, open it. Turn off scheduled defragment. Assume it's like it for win10 also.
Check if your normal HD want defragment manually about twice a year depending how much data traffic it have had.

 

My SSD is still not yet actually used. It's only connected. I could not see its drive on my computer. But I could see it on the list of defragment. Was it already defragmented?

 

That's a great sign of that all your missing is the SSD's software.

You could consider it already defragmented. In that case it will never need to be defragmented again, ever. Your windows can't report defragment status without checking it, i wouldn't even check it. I don't know whether that process can be harmful, any info you need to know about the SSD comes with it's software. Windows is stupid until you teach it..