Bootable Flash Drive

A boot disk is a removable digital data storage medium from which a computer can load and run (boot)
an operating system or utility program. The computer must have a built-in program which will load and execute a
program from a boot disk meeting certain standards.
While almost all modern computers can boot from a hard drive containing the operating system and other
software, they would not normally be called boot disks (because they are not removable media). CD-ROMs are the most
common forms of media used, but other media, such as magnetic or paper tape drives, ZIP drives, and more
recently USB flash drives can be used. The computer's BIOS must support booting from the device in question.
Uses
Boot disks are used for:
 Operating system installation
 Data recovery
 Data purging
 Hardware or software troubleshooting
 BIOS flashing
 Customizing an operating environment
 Software demonstration
 Running a temporary operating environment, such as when using a Live USB drive.
 Administrative access in case of lost password is possible with an appropriate boot disk with some operating
systems
 Games (e.g. for Amiga home computers)
Process
The term boot comes from the idea of lifting oneself by one's own bootstraps: the computer contains a tiny
program (bootstrap loader) which will load and run a program found on a boot device. This program may itself be a
small program designed to load a larger and more capable program, i.e., the full operating system. To enable booting
without the requirement either for a mass storage device or to write to the boot medium, it is usual for the boot program
to use some system RAM as a RAM disk for temporary file storage.
As an example, any computer compatible with the IBM PC is able with built-in software to load the contents of
the first 512 bytes of a floppy and to execute it if it is a viable program; boot floppies have a very simple loader program
in these bytes. The process is vulnerable to abuse; data floppies could have a virus written to their first sector which
silently infects the host computer if switched on with the disk in the drive.

Operating System (OS)

An operating system (OS), in its most general sense, is software that allows a user to run other applications on
a computing device. While it is possible for a software application to interface directly with hardware, the vast majority of
applications are written for an OS, which allows them to take advantage of common libraries and not worry about
specific hardware details.
The operating system manages a computer's hardware resources, including:
 Input devices such as a keyboard and mouse
 Output devices such as display monitors, printers and scanners
 Network devices such as modems, routers and network connections
 Storage devices such as internal and external drives
The OS also provides services to facilitate the efficient execution and management of, and memory allocations
for, any additional installed software application programs.
Operating System (OS)
Some operating systems were developed in the 1950s, when computers could only execute one program at a
time. Later in the decade, computers included many software programs, sometimes called libraries, which were linked
together to create the beginning of today's operating systems.
The OS consists of many components and features. Which features are defined as part of the OS vary with
each OS. However, the three most easily defined components are:
 Kernel: This provides basic-level control over all of the computer hardware devices. Main roles include reading
data from memory and writing data to memory, processing execution orders, determining how data is received
 and sent by devices such as the monitor, keyboard and mouse, and determining how to interpret data received
from networks.
 User Interface: This component allows interaction with the user, which may occur through graphical icons and a
desktop or through a command line.
 Application Programming Interfaces: This component allows application developers to write modular code.
Examples for OSs include Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Linux.

32 bit & 64 bit Operating System

Introduction
Up until 2006, all Windows operating systems have been written using 32-bit architecture. 32-bits is simply the
"width" of the data bus. (Think of it as lanes on a highway). As computer hardware technology as progressed, the need
for faster and more efficient data handling capabilities are quickly becoming a necessity. And as a result of these
increasing requirements came new hardware and software architecture for managing these advancements, the 64-Bit
processor and 64-Bit operating system. While 64-Bit technology is really nothing new, for most everyday users it has
never been practical. Now that costs have been reduced for the necessary hardware, 64-Bit operating system use is on
the rise.
In Windows you can see if you have a 32 Bit or 64-Bit operating system by going to control panel and opening
the system icon or use the Windows Key + Pause Hotkey
32 Bit Operating Systems
Only a few of the computers operating in the world today use an operating system that utilizes 32-bit memory
management architecture. (Data bus). These are commonly referred to an X86 systems. (This is in reference to the first
32 bit 286\386\486 systems). There are few remaining 32-bit operating systems on the market today. Here are a few
examples:
 Microsoft Windows: These include Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, and Server
 Linux: These include Red Hat, Mandrake, and Ubuntu
 Solaris: Versions 1-10
 Mac OS: Classic (84-2001) and OS X
 FreeBSD: Versions 1-8
64-Bit Operating Systems
In 2002, Linux and Microsoft released the first commercial 64-bit operating systems. Linux release Red Hat 7.1
and Microsoft introduced Windows XP 64-Bit Edition. These were first used by server administrators and for users with
high-end software, such as rendering applications. As larger data stores, such as 4.7 GB DVD’s, needed to be
accessed more efficiently, these 64-bit operating systems are being offered to the consumer user as well. In 2016, 64-
Bit operating systems are the standard.
So what is the difference?
The main difference between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems is the way that they manage memory. For
example, Windows XP 32-bit is limited to a total of 4 GB maximum of system memory to be allocated by the kernel and
applications. (This is why systems with 4 GB’s of RAM do not show the total system memory in Windows. Kernel = 1 GB
reserved, Applications = 3 GBs-viewable). Windows 64-Bit has a limit of 16 Terabytes maximum of system memory
allocation. This is extremely important for performance because data in memory is accessed thousands of times faster
than from a disk drive. Programs also load much faster into memory. There is also a better security in XP 64-Bit
because it is written from Server 2003 SP1 code base. Users of modeling, statistical, and rendering software really
benefit from the 64-Bit architecture because these programs are usually very processor and memory intensive.

Here are some of the possible obstacles of using a 32-Bit operating system:
Applications. Just like any legacy technology, vendors no longer develop applications for 32-Bit operating
systems.
Hardware. The many processors require a 64-Bit operating system.
Drivers. Manufacturers often do not offer 32-Bit driver versions for their hardware due to lack of market demand
or their product.

Conclusion
Before purchasing a 32-Bit operating system, it is important to define what you will be using the system for, is the
current hardware in place, and are there 32-Bit versions of the device drivers and any applications that will be used.
 WINDOWS 7, 8, 10
Windows 7
Windows 7 is an operating system released by Microsoft on October 22, 2009. It follows the previous (sixth) 6th
version of Windows, called Windows Vista. Win 7 is the 7th version released by Microsoft.
Like previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 has a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows you to interact
with items on the screen using a keyboard and mouse. However, Windows 7 is also includes a feature called "Windows
Touch" that supports touchscreen input and multitouch functionality. For example, you can right-click a file by touching it
with one finger and tapping it with another. You can also zoom in on an image by touching it with two fingers, then
spreading your fingers apart. Windows 7 is bundled with several touch-ready programs that are designed for
touchscreen use.
Windows 7 also includes several new multimedia features. One example is "Play To," a program that allows you
to stream audio and video to different computers or devices within your house. The "HomeGroup" feature makes it easy
to share media files and other data between computers. It also makes it possible to share printers on a home network.
The "Remote Media Streaming" feature allows you to access the music, video, and photo libraries on your computer
from remote locations.
The search feature in Windows 7, called "Windows Search," allows you to see results of searches as soon as
you start typing in the search box. Windows Search categorizes the results by file type and displays text snippets that
indicate where the search phrase was found in each result. After the search results are returned, it is possible to narrow
the results by filtering them by date, file type, file size, and other parameters. You can search local drives, external hard
drives, and networked drives all using the standard Windows Search interface.
Windows 7 is available in the following editions:
 Windows 7 Home Premium - the standard version installed with most home PCs and includes all of the
features listed above.
 Windows 7 Professional - typically installed on business computers and includes all the Home Premium
features as well as additional features such as Windows XP mode (XPM) and Domain Join.
 Windows 7 Ultimate - the most complete version, which has all of the Professional features as well as
BitLocker data protection and additional language support.
The system requirements for Windows 7 are:
 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
 1 GB of RAM or 2 GB of RAM for the 64-bit version
 16 GB of available hard disk space or 20 GB for the 64-bit version
 DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Windows 8
Windows 8 is the latest version of Microsoft's Windows operating system. It was released on October 26, 2012,
and is the first major update to Windows since Windows 7, which was released over three years earlier.
While Windows 7 offered several performance improvements over Windows Vista, there were few changes to
the look and feel of the operating system. Windows 8, on the other hand, provides an entirely new user interface
compared to its predecessor. This interface (initially called "Metro," but now labeled the "Modern UI" style) displays a
collection of tiles rather than a traditional desktop environment. These tiles provide access to commonly used programs
and tools, such as Internet Explorer, Maps, Weather, Photos, Videos, Music, and the Windows Store. Several of the
tiles, such as the Weather and social networking tiles are updated in real-time.
The goal of the new Windows 8 interface is to function on both traditional desktop PCs, such as desktop
computers and laptops, as well as tablet PCs. Windows 8 supports both touchscreen input as well as traditional input
devices, such as a keyboard and mouse. This flexibility allows Windows 8 to run on a wide range of desktop and
portable devices and it is especially well-suited for hybrid computers that include a touchscreen as well as a keyboard
and mouse.
For users that don't need the touchscreen functionality, Windows 8 still includes the traditional Windows
desktop and Windows Explorer, which can be accessed from the home screen. In other words, if you don't want to use
the new tile-based interface, you can simply bypass that "layer" of the interface and access the Windows desktop you
are used to. Microsoft has also provided several performance improvements to Windows Explorer and added a few new
interface elements, such as "File," "Home," "Share," and "View" tabs to the top of each window. Each of these tabs
include one-click access to multiple options. For example, the "View" tab allows you to show hidden files and show or
hide file extensions, two options that used to require several steps to change in previous versions of Windows.
 Windows 10
Windows 10 is a major version of the Microsoft Windows operating system that was released on July 29, 2015.
It is built on the Windows NT kernel and follows Windows 8.
Part of the reason Microsoft decided to name the 2015 release "Windows 10" (and skipped "Windows 9") is
because the operating system is designed to be a new direction for Microsoft. One of the primary aims of Windows 10 is
to unify the Windows experience across multiple devices, such desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones. As part of
this effort, Microsoft developed Windows 10 Mobile alongside Windows 10 to replaces Windows Phone – Microsoft's
previous mobile OS. Windows 10 also integrates other Microsoft services, such as Xbox Live and the Cortana voice
recognition assistant.
While Windows 10 includes many new features, it also brings back the Start Menu, which was dropped in Windows 8.
The new and improved Start Menu provides quick access to settings, folders, and programs and also includes tiles from
the Windows 8 interface. The bottom of the Windows 10 Start Menu includes a search bar that allows you to search
both your local PC and the web.
Another major change in Windows 10 is the introduction of the "Edge" web browser, which is designed to
replace Internet Explorer (IE). While the OS still includes IE, Edge is the default browser in Windows 10. Other new
features include Continuum, which automatically optimizes the user interface depending on whether you are using an
external keyboard or touchscreen, and Action Center, which is similar to the Notifications bar in OS X. Windows 10 also
supports multiple desktops on a single monitor and provides Snap Assist, a feature that helps organize windows on the
screen.
One of the biggest differences between Windows 10 and previous releases of Windows is that the Windows 10
upgrade is available for free to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. However, Microsoft still charges a licensing fee for
copies of Windows 10 shipped with new computers and for non-upgrade purchases. The full version of Windows 10
Home is available for $120 and Windows 10 Pro costs $200.

Common Problem or Error During Installation

Many people are posting in this category with the same problems, so I have put together a guide listing
common scenarios and their solutions. One thing to note is that while an In-Place Upgrade may seem easier, there is a
greater chance that something may go wrong. Most of the users on this forum agree that doing a clean install is the
safer option.

One tip does not fall into any category. If you created the disc yourself (e.g. you downloaded the files, and
created a bootable disc from them), try burning at the slowest speed possible.

Make sure the power cable is plugged in, as well.

Problem: Setup is stuck at X%
What to try:
Disconnect all unnecessary hardware from the system. This includes hard drives, video cards, USB devices,
and expansion cards. Remove all but one stick of RAM.

Use the VGA output on your card if possible.

These problems can also be caused by bad RAM. Run a memory diagnostic overnight, using Memest86 or
something similar.
If nothing above works, you may have bad installation media. What condition is the disc in? Verify your copy of Windows
came from a reputable source. Try burning a new DVD, using the slowest speed possible.

Problem: Error message “Setup was unable to create a new system partition or locate an existing system partition.”
What to try:
Make sure that the partition is primary, active, and formatted with NTFS.
Instructions for marking a partition as active using Diskpart:
Open an elevated command prompt:
Method 1: From Windows
Click on Start and type “command prompt”
Right-click on the application and select “Run as administrator”
 Choose “Yes” when asked to confirm

Method 2: From a Windows install/repair disc

Boot into the install/repair disc and wait for it to load
Choose “Repair my computer”
Select “Command Prompt”

Type diskpart and press enter.

Enter list disk and note the number of the disk you want to install on.
Enter select disk n n is the number of the disk.
Enter list partition and note the number of the partition you want to install on.
Enter select partition n n is the number of the partition.
Enter active
You can now close the command prompt and re-attempt installation.

Problem: Setup does not recognize hard drive during installation

What to try:
If possible, boot into the install disc and run the installation from there, as opposed to running setup.exe from
withing Windows.

Make sure that the HDD is detected in BIOS.

Try changing the SATA setting in the BIOS to AHCI, or IDE if AHCI is already set.

As a last resort, because this will erase your data, try this tutorial.

Problem: Setup forces computer to reboot, and never finishes installation

What to try:
Sometimes setup fails when recovery partitions are still present. For example, Acer and HP both put a special
recovery partition on their systems, that cannot be easily deleted.

To delete the partition using Diskpart:

Open a copy of Diskpart following the instructions given earlier.
Enter list disk
Enter select disk n
Enter list partition
Enter select partition n
Enter delete partition override

Now try reinstalling Windows.

Problem: Missing CD/DVD Drivers...

What to try:
Change the BIOS setting from IDE to AHCI or RAID (if your planning to use RAID).

AHCI is for SATA components, HD, DVD etc.

If AHCI or RAID is set in the BIOS it will install the drivers.

Windows 7 is trying to find IDE drivers for a SATA DVD.

Change the BIOS and try the install again.

Some users have also reported that they solved this problem by deleting the recovery partitions that came with the
computer.

If you still have problems with the DVD drive try installing with a USB memory key: USB Windows 7 Installation Key
Drive - Create

Thanks to Dave76 for the last solution, in this post.

If nothing is working, try clearing your CMOS. There is usually an option in the BIOS to reset to defaults, or something
along those lines.

If none of the above suggestions work for you, please create a new thread in the Installation section. DO NOT reply to
this post with your question.