Installing Windows 7
25/09/09 16:14 Filed in: Windows 7
This is a highly-polished installation of Windows 7. It has been used mostly on Dell laptops, but is not hardware-specific at all. This will produce a very nice, usable installation of Windows 7 containing the basic software that most people need for everyday office and travel use.
Customising a Windows 7 Enterprise Installation
Boot off Windows 7 Enterprise DVD
Choose English (United Kingdom)
Custom install
Advanced drive options, delete all partitions
Leave it to install
User account
- Username "User"
- Computer name: "Dell " + the model number
- Password "password"
Updates
- Use recommended settings
Time Zone
- UTC
Wireless Network (if presented)
- Use ECS-WLAN, tick "Start this connection automatically"
- Work Network
Start / Computer / Properties
- / Advanced / Computer Name - Change suffix to ecs.soton.ac.uk
- / Remote - Untick Allow Remote Assistance Connections
ECS VPN
- staffvpn.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Name "ECS vpn"
- Allow other people to use
- Don't Connect
- No username or password, leave all blank
Start Menu Properties
- Power button: Hibernate
- Untick "Store and disp... and the taskbar"
- Customize
- Control Panel - menu
- no Default Programs
- no Music
- no Open submenus when I pause
- no Pictures
- yes Run Command
- System Administrative Tools on All Programs menu
- Toolbar tab
- no Lock the taskbar
- Notification area: customise and Always show all icons
Control Panel / Personalization
- Window color / Advanced Appearance settings
- Border Padding = 0
- Active Title Bar = minimum allowed
- Desktop background
- Picture location = Top Rated Photos
- Untick all except penguins
- Left-hand pane / Change desktop icons
- Hide all
Control Panel / Action Center
- Left-hand pane / Change User Account Control settings
- Change to bottom level + 1
Control Panel / Autoplay
- no Use AutoPlay for all media and devices
Control Panel / Folder Options
- Navigation Pane / yes Show all folders
- View tab
- Hidden files and folders - Show hidden files
- no Hide Empty Drives
- no Hide Extentions
- no Hide protected operating systems files
Control Panel / Internet Options
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Search / Settings...
- Find more search providers...
- IE8
- yes Use Suggested sites
- yes Use express settings
- Search the gallery for "google"
- Search with Google United Kingdom
- Add to Internet Explorer
- Google Search Suggestions
- Add to Internet Explorer
- yes Make this my default
- yes Use search suggestions
- Close IE
- yes Prevent Programs
- Tabs / Settings...
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes Always switch to new tabs
- yes Always open pop-ups in a new tab
- Security tab
- Custom level
- Display mixed contents = Enable (just over half way down)
- Programs tab
- HTML Editor = Notepad
Control Panel / Power Options
- Require a password on wakeup
- When I press the power button = hibernate, Shut down
- Change settings that are currently unavailable
- Don't require a password
- Choose when to turn off the display
- Plugged in = never, never, never
Control Panel / Programs and Features
- Turn Windows features on or off
- Printing and Document Services
- no Internet Printing Client
- no Windows Fax and Scan
- no Remote Differential Compression
- no Tablet PC Components
- yes Telnet Client
- no Windows Gadget Platform
- no XPS Services
- Restart later.
Control Panel / User Accounts
- Change your picture
- Choose the kitten
Restart Windows.
Start Windows Explorer
- Organise / Layout / Menu bar
- find Recycle Bin / Properties
- no Display delete confirmation dialog
Firefox
- www.mozilla.com
- Standard Install
- yes Launch on completion
- Don't import anything
- Tools / Options
- Main
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Tabs
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes When I open a new tab
- Quit Firefox
- Quit and restart IE
- When it asks about being default browser
- no Always perform this Check
- Click "No" button
- Right-click on Favorites bar and untick the Favorites bar
Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- Allow the add-on to install
Adobe Flash Player
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- At end of installation manager, Firefox will start and need to install Flash plug-in.
- Quit Firefox and IE
Office 2007
- Install from DVD
- Get activation code from https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Thump the big Install button
Sophos
- Use IE to go to www.sophos.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Install and run "Sophos 7 Remote Installer for Windows" (35MB)
- Allow to put temporary files in c:\savwsa
- In user details page of wizard:
- Address = http://www.update.ecs.soton.ac.uk/esxp/
- Username = ecs2000\your-username
- Password = your-Password
- no Access the update source via a proxy
- yes Remote third-party security software
- Right-click tiny Sophos taskbar icon and "Update now"
Putty
- Google for "putty" and download Putty, pscp, psftp & pageant
- Download into C:\Users\User\Downloads
- Move then into C:\Windows
- Right-click Putty.exe, paste a shortcut in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start menu\Programs
- Rename shortcut to "Putty"
Device drivers
- Open Device Manager
- Check for unknown devices
- If mouse is just a PS/2 mouse, get Vista driver from www.synaptics.com
- Dell Mini 12 Vista drivers often work on a Windows 7 Dell Mini 9
- You can only download 1 driver at once from Dell!
- Download any drivers necessary from www.dell.co.uk to make all unknowns vanish
- Install ControlPoint if necessary to make fingerprint reader work
Control Panel / Folder Options
- View tab, yes Don't show hidden files, folders or Drives
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Check for updates
- Optional Updates
- Don't install Windows Live Essentials or any Language Packs
- Install all other updates
- After updates are complete, retry if any failed
- Restart Windows
- Check for updates again and install all new updates (there will be some)
- Rinse and repeat until no new updates are found
Control Panel / System
- Change product key (right at the bottom)
- Get activation code
- Staff: https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Students: Microsoft e-Academy
- That will activate Windows
- System Protection (left pane of window)
- Configure... / Delete
Taskbar
- Right-click on Windows Media and IE in the taskbar and "unpin"
- Firefox and Outlook
- Right-click on them in the Start menu
- Pin to taskbar
- Make order (left to right) Start, Firefox, Outlook, Windows Explorer
Start Menu
- Right-click Firefox and "Pin to Start Menu"
- Right-click Outlook and "Pin to Start Menu"
Clean Up
- Start menu
- Right-click on each icon, select "Remove from this menu" for most
- Leave only Getting Started, Connect to a Projector
- Control Panel / Internet options
- Browsing history / Delete... / tick all boxes
- Firefox
- Tools / Clear Recent History... / Everything
- Desktop
- Delete all icons, files and directories
- Filesystem
- Delete C:\Dell, C:\savwsa, C:\PerfLogs
- Windows update
- Start / Administrative Tools / Services
- Stop "Windows Update"
- Delete the whole of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
- Start "Windows Update"
- Recycle Bin
- Empty Recycle Bin
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Optional Updates
- Right-click on each Language Pack and "Hide update"
- Okay and close window
Restart the PC
Backup system image to external hard disk (Control Panel / Backup and Restore / Create a system image), having checked there is no "WindowsImageBackup" dir in the root directory. If there is, first move it back to its home in a sub-dir if present. Backup will create a new "WindowsImageBackup" directory in the root directory of the external disk.
You're done!
Customising a Windows 7 Enterprise Installation
Boot off Windows 7 Enterprise DVD
Choose English (United Kingdom)
Custom install
Advanced drive options, delete all partitions
Leave it to install
User account
- Username "User"
- Computer name: "Dell " + the model number
- Password "password"
Updates
- Use recommended settings
Time Zone
- UTC
Wireless Network (if presented)
- Use ECS-WLAN, tick "Start this connection automatically"
- Work Network
Start / Computer / Properties
- / Advanced / Computer Name - Change suffix to ecs.soton.ac.uk
- / Remote - Untick Allow Remote Assistance Connections
ECS VPN
- staffvpn.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Name "ECS vpn"
- Allow other people to use
- Don't Connect
- No username or password, leave all blank
Start Menu Properties
- Power button: Hibernate
- Untick "Store and disp... and the taskbar"
- Customize
- Control Panel - menu
- no Default Programs
- no Music
- no Open submenus when I pause
- no Pictures
- yes Run Command
- System Administrative Tools on All Programs menu
- Toolbar tab
- no Lock the taskbar
- Notification area: customise and Always show all icons
Control Panel / Personalization
- Window color / Advanced Appearance settings
- Border Padding = 0
- Active Title Bar = minimum allowed
- Desktop background
- Picture location = Top Rated Photos
- Untick all except penguins
- Left-hand pane / Change desktop icons
- Hide all
Control Panel / Action Center
- Left-hand pane / Change User Account Control settings
- Change to bottom level + 1
Control Panel / Autoplay
- no Use AutoPlay for all media and devices
Control Panel / Folder Options
- Navigation Pane / yes Show all folders
- View tab
- Hidden files and folders - Show hidden files
- no Hide Empty Drives
- no Hide Extentions
- no Hide protected operating systems files
Control Panel / Internet Options
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Search / Settings...
- Find more search providers...
- IE8
- yes Use Suggested sites
- yes Use express settings
- Search the gallery for "google"
- Search with Google United Kingdom
- Add to Internet Explorer
- Google Search Suggestions
- Add to Internet Explorer
- yes Make this my default
- yes Use search suggestions
- Close IE
- yes Prevent Programs
- Tabs / Settings...
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes Always switch to new tabs
- yes Always open pop-ups in a new tab
- Security tab
- Custom level
- Display mixed contents = Enable (just over half way down)
- Programs tab
- HTML Editor = Notepad
Control Panel / Power Options
- Require a password on wakeup
- When I press the power button = hibernate, Shut down
- Change settings that are currently unavailable
- Don't require a password
- Choose when to turn off the display
- Plugged in = never, never, never
Control Panel / Programs and Features
- Turn Windows features on or off
- Printing and Document Services
- no Internet Printing Client
- no Windows Fax and Scan
- no Remote Differential Compression
- no Tablet PC Components
- yes Telnet Client
- no Windows Gadget Platform
- no XPS Services
- Restart later.
Control Panel / User Accounts
- Change your picture
- Choose the kitten
Restart Windows.
Start Windows Explorer
- Organise / Layout / Menu bar
- find Recycle Bin / Properties
- no Display delete confirmation dialog
Firefox
- www.mozilla.com
- Standard Install
- yes Launch on completion
- Don't import anything
- Tools / Options
- Main
- Home page = https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/community/
- Tabs
- no Warn me when closing multiple tabs
- yes When I open a new tab
- Quit Firefox
- Quit and restart IE
- When it asks about being default browser
- no Always perform this Check
- Click "No" button
- Right-click on Favorites bar and untick the Favorites bar
Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- Allow the add-on to install
Adobe Flash Player
- Button on right side of www.adobe.com
- Scroll down the download page and untick all "Also install"s
- At end of installation manager, Firefox will start and need to install Flash plug-in.
- Quit Firefox and IE
Office 2007
- Install from DVD
- Get activation code from https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Thump the big Install button
Sophos
- Use IE to go to www.sophos.ecs.soton.ac.uk
- Install and run "Sophos 7 Remote Installer for Windows" (35MB)
- Allow to put temporary files in c:\savwsa
- In user details page of wizard:
- Address = http://www.update.ecs.soton.ac.uk/esxp/
- Username = ecs2000\your-username
- Password = your-Password
- no Access the update source via a proxy
- yes Remote third-party security software
- Right-click tiny Sophos taskbar icon and "Update now"
Putty
- Google for "putty" and download Putty, pscp, psftp & pageant
- Download into C:\Users\User\Downloads
- Move then into C:\Windows
- Right-click Putty.exe, paste a shortcut in C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start menu\Programs
- Rename shortcut to "Putty"
Device drivers
- Open Device Manager
- Check for unknown devices
- If mouse is just a PS/2 mouse, get Vista driver from www.synaptics.com
- Dell Mini 12 Vista drivers often work on a Windows 7 Dell Mini 9
- You can only download 1 driver at once from Dell!
- Download any drivers necessary from www.dell.co.uk to make all unknowns vanish
- Install ControlPoint if necessary to make fingerprint reader work
Control Panel / Folder Options
- View tab, yes Don't show hidden files, folders or Drives
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Check for updates
- Optional Updates
- Don't install Windows Live Essentials or any Language Packs
- Install all other updates
- After updates are complete, retry if any failed
- Restart Windows
- Check for updates again and install all new updates (there will be some)
- Rinse and repeat until no new updates are found
Control Panel / System
- Change product key (right at the bottom)
- Get activation code
- Staff: https://secure.ecs.soton.ac.uk/kb/entry/68/
- Students: Microsoft e-Academy
- That will activate Windows
- System Protection (left pane of window)
- Configure... / Delete
Taskbar
- Right-click on Windows Media and IE in the taskbar and "unpin"
- Firefox and Outlook
- Right-click on them in the Start menu
- Pin to taskbar
- Make order (left to right) Start, Firefox, Outlook, Windows Explorer
Start Menu
- Right-click Firefox and "Pin to Start Menu"
- Right-click Outlook and "Pin to Start Menu"
Clean Up
- Start menu
- Right-click on each icon, select "Remove from this menu" for most
- Leave only Getting Started, Connect to a Projector
- Control Panel / Internet options
- Browsing history / Delete... / tick all boxes
- Firefox
- Tools / Clear Recent History... / Everything
- Desktop
- Delete all icons, files and directories
- Filesystem
- Delete C:\Dell, C:\savwsa, C:\PerfLogs
- Windows update
- Start / Administrative Tools / Services
- Stop "Windows Update"
- Delete the whole of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
- Start "Windows Update"
- Recycle Bin
- Empty Recycle Bin
Control Panel / Windows Update
- Get updates for other Microsoft products
- Agree and install
- Optional Updates
- Right-click on each Language Pack and "Hide update"
- Okay and close window
Restart the PC
Backup system image to external hard disk (Control Panel / Backup and Restore / Create a system image), having checked there is no "WindowsImageBackup" dir in the root directory. If there is, first move it back to its home in a sub-dir if present. Backup will create a new "WindowsImageBackup" directory in the root directory of the external disk.
You're done!