How do you install an operating system?

most operating systems you can freely download an ISO image which you then either burn to a dvd or make a bootable thumbdrive with it. these days it doesn't make sense to burn a dvd (your target computer might not even have a dvd drive!), so just use a USB thumbdrive.

When you're ready to install the OS on the target computer, connect the already prepared thumbdrive to a USB port, pwer on the computer and watch for a text message on the screen that tells you which key to press to get to the BIOS/EFI functions. Some use the escape key, some use one of the function keys (F12 is a common one). If you don't press the right key in time, the computer will proceed to try to boot up from the hard drive. Since nothing is on it, you'll get an error message. If you get that far, start over. When you know which key to be pressed, just repeatedly press it as the computer powers up. Maybe press it about every half second until the menu comes up -- then select the option to choose where to boot from, which is often F9. Then on the next menu, select the USB drive and following the operating system prompts to complete the installation.

Buy a copy with a disc if you have a dvd drive. Put the disc in and boot up your PC. Start pressing F1-F12 rapidly (to boot into your motherboards BIOS) and boot your computer from your dvd-rom slot. Then just follow the instructions given. The same goes for any copy on a USB, the only difference being to boot from USB instead of dvd-rom.

Save yourself a lot of trouble and download the Ubuntu or Mint iso file, then burn to a dvd....try to install that first. Its free and easy. If everything runs good.....then try windows.

YOu can install Linux in about 20 minutes, and update in about 10-20 depending version. If you try to install windows first.....you'll be screwing around all day.

Work all the bugs you can out with Linux....then "try" windows.

Buy the installer DVD and boot from it.

but a windows 7 disc....go into bios on computer and change the boot order to cd/dvd as first device..save and exit....pop in thw indows disc...reboot the pc and it will boot from the windows disc and allow you to install it....cheers