How to Run Windows 7 on an HP Pavilion Media Center M7640N

The HP Pavilion Media Center m7640n desktop is shipped from the factory with the Windows Vista operating system, which may not be compatible with all the programs you want to install. If you have more recent software that doesn't run properly in Windows Vista, your Pavilion computer is capable of running Windows 7 instead. As long as you have the proper upgrade disk, you can manually upgrade the operating system without losing any of your current data.

• 1

  Unplug any peripheral hardware attached to your HP Pavilion, such as an external hard drive or printer. Close any software currently running, including any antivirus or firewall programs.

• 2

  Insert the Windows 7 installation disk in the Pavilion's DVD drive. Wait for the installation window to appear on the screen. Navigate to "Start" and "Computer" if the window doesn't appear and double-click the DVD drive. Click "Setup.exe."

• 3

  Select the "Install Now" option and choose your language from the language selection menu. Choose your local time and keyboard input format from the drop-down menus and choose "Next."

• 4

  Click the green icon labeled "Go online to get the latest updates for installation" and wait for the updates to finish downloading. Click the "I accept the terms" check box and choose "Next."

• 5

  Choose the green arrow icon marked "Upgrade." Read through the list that appears on the screen of currently installed programs that aren't compatible with Windows 7. Note down any programs you need to delete after the upgrade and click "Next."

• 6

  Type the Windows 7 product key in the text box. The key is listed in the packaging that came with the Windows 7 installation DVD. Click the "Automatically Activate Windows When I'm Online" box and choose "Next."

• 7

  Click "Finish" to complete the Windows 7 upgrade process. Open the "Start" menu and choose "Control Panel." Click "Programs" and choose "Programs and Features."

• 8

  Click the name of any program not compatible with Windows 7 and choose "Uninstall." Follow the prompts on the screen to remove the program. Plug in any hardware you unplugged earlier.