Why do we need to install operating system in a computer

Updated: 05/02/2021 by Computer Hope

Table of Contents Show

Purchase the operating system
Install the operating system
Running the operating system
There is a malfunction in the operating system
Your computer is infected with viruses, malware or spyware
There is not enough free space on the computer’s hard disk
Replacing the motherboard
Need help with computer repair?

The steps for installing an operating system, like Linux or Microsoft Windows, depending on the operating system version you are installing. Each version has different steps, requirements, and options that are unique to that operating system. Also, each operating system has different requirements for your computer to be able to run correctly.

On this page, you'll find general steps and guidelines for installing an operating system on the hard disk drive of your computer.

Purchase the operating system

First, you need to purchase the operating system that you want to install on the computer. The best place to purchase the operating system from is a retail store, like Best Buy, or through an online store, like Amazon or Newegg. The operating system may come on multiple CD or DVD discs, or it may even come on a USB flash drive.

Downloading a copy of the operating system is usually the most convenient way to obtain it. However, be sure you obtain the operating system from the publisher, like Microsoft. Downloading it from another source may result in an unusable or illegal copy of the software.

Install the operating system

To install the computer's operating system using a CD or DVD, you need to configure your computer to boot from the CD/DVD drive. You can change the boot sequence in your BIOS setup, and setting the CD/DVD drive to be the first boot device. Some computers may also allow you to access the boot sequence directly at computer start up, without entering the BIOS, by pressing a specific key on the keyboard. The key to press differs for each computer, but is often the Delete key or one of the function keys.

How to enter and exit the BIOS or CMOS setup.

If the operating system software came on a USB flash drive, you need to configure the computer to boot to a USB device as the first boot device.

Once the computer is configured to boot to the proper device, the computer should load the operating system installation program and guide you through the install process. You will be asked questions along the way for configuration of basic settings, like date and time, user account name, and if you want to enable automatic operating system updates. Go through the installation steps, answering questions and selecting the preferred options.

Note

If you are installing a newer version of an operating system that is already on your computer, the installation process should ask if you want to upgrade. If you do not want to install the operating system as an upgrade, you can choose the option to erase the current operating system start fresh. For more information, see: How to erase my hard drive and start over.

Running the operating system

After the operating system has been installed, the computer should load into the operating system. You may then proceed with installing software that you want on the computer and updating any settings you want.

Many computer problems can be resolved by reinstalling the operating system, whether it is Windows, MacOS, Linux or anything else. While many computer users do it regularly to clean up and speed up the computer from unnecessary programs, it is actually quite tedious and time consuming. To do this, you need to back up your data, reinstall your operating system, download your favourite programs, and reload your backup data to your computer. Is it necessary to reinstall the operating system regularly? And for what problems should it actually be done?

Indeed, computers often become slower. This is caused by the accumulation of files and programs, many of which want to use computer resources and thereby make the computer run slower. These are usually:

Startup programs that open up when you start your computer and quietly run in the background, although they often don’t need to be running
Complex security software (such as Norton) that requires a lot of resources from your computer to perform all of its functions. Normal virus protection, such as ESET or Bitdefender, is usually enough
Web browser toolbars that unintentionally involve, for example, downloading a program. When ordinary browser extensions already consume enough computer resources, some toolbars with quick searches and other relatively inactive features make the computer much slower.
Computer cleaning programs, many of which are actually scam products – in general, regularly running Disk Cleanup and cleaning your web browser’s cache is enough to keep your computer well running daily.
Other junk programs, such as poorly programmed applications, which, even after removal, leave unused files on your computer.

Fortunately, all these concerns can be solved without the need to reinstall the operating system. Startup programs can be closed, web browser toolbars can be deleted and automatic Disk Cleanup sessions can be set.

However, if there is a lot of junk and manual cleaning seems to be overwhelming, it may be wise to back up important files and reinstall the operating system – but first and foremost, try the simpler and more convenient methods for speeding up your slow computer.

There is a malfunction in the operating system

If the operating system has not been upgraded or reinstalled for a long time, logical errors may occur during updates or the installation of new programs. These errors prevent the computer from working correctly, making it run slower. To resolve this issue, you can try to remove unused programs, but the most secure way to restore your operating system is to reinstall it.

Your computer is infected with viruses, malware or spyware

Is your computer behaving weird? Do ads appear even when the web browser is closed? Are pop-up windows constantly interfering when you use your computer? If your computer is infected with viruses or other malicious software, it is wise to try to fix the problem with a high-quality antivirus program. However, if the viruses are already deeply rooted and the work of the computer is severely disrupted, then you must reinstall the operating system, to truly get a clean start.

There is not enough free space on the computer’s hard disk

In smaller hard drives, such as those found on old computers, there may be situations where there is not enough free space left to install new files and programs. In this case, it is wise to first check whether all the programs and files on your computer are necessary, or some can be removed. If you have a lot of necessary material on your computer, we recommend installing a larger new hard drive, or if possible, backing up your files, such as onto an external hard drive or onto the cloud (the internet). Reinstalling your operating system gives you a fresh start without your old files, naturally freeing up plenty of space, so be sure to make sure the files you want to keep are backed up elsewhere so you can use them in the future!

Hard disk inspection is performed to detect problems with the hard disk. In the case of hard disk failure, repairs are generally not reasonable, feasible or in many cases possible, and the best way to restore your computer is to replace the hard disk. But with a new hard drive, it is also necessary to reinstall the operating system – which means that in case of a hard disk failure, reinstalling the operating system is not just necessary, but inevitable.

Replacing the motherboard

Many computer users discover after switching to a new motherboard that their computer is slower than before. This may be because the device drivers are not compatible with the new motherboard. The safest way to avoid this problem is to reinstall the operating system together with the motherboard. However, if you do not want to do this, you should determine if the drivers for all devices are correct and updated.

Need help with computer repair?

Netiabi will help you identify any of your computer’s problems, and offer the most sensible ways to fix them. If the best way to resolve an issue is to reinstall the operating system, we will reinstall it if necessary and backup the data that was on your computer. Is a computer suffering from some other software or hardware problem? Our experienced technicians will detect the problem and help solve it quickly. Initial diagnostics of laptops and desktops is FREE, when you let us repair your device at Netiabi!