[Shift Development] ashasaur:
Hey people. Think you have seen a thread like this before? Well, that's because you have. But THIS thread is different! For two reasons:

1-It's written in GOOD English. No offense folks, but spell checking is really not that hard.

and

2-It deals with EVERYTHING you need to do to get Windows 7 retail up and running on the Shift.

If you see something that needs to be changed/corrected/updated then please feel free to let me know!

HOW-TO INSTALL WINDOWS 7 RETAIL VIA USB ON THE HTC SHIFT X9000 SERIES

Now, before we begin, this guide assumes a few things:

1-that you are using a RETAIL or RTM copy of Windows 7. This guide WILL NOT work with beta or RC versions of Windows 7 OR versions that are N-lited, stripped or altered in anyway. You MUST be using a retail image, either made from a disc you own or from other sources. Please note that we at XDA do not support piracy and suggest that you buy a legal copy of Windows.

2-That you are using a GSM version of the Shift, IE the X9500 or X9501. While these instructions will work with the CDMA version of the Shift, I personally do not have one so I cannot confirm if/how the CDMA radio works using this installation method.

3-That your version of Windows 7 ISN'T Home Basic. While Home Basic will work, it doesn't support touchscreens. I personally installed Ultimate, as the requirements are the same no matter what version you use.

To install you will need:

1-A Shift(duh!)

2-A copy of Windows 7 RTM or a retail disc

3-A USB drive that is 4GB or greater, but no larger than 32GB for Windows

4-A USB drive(any size really) for the storage of HTC drivers for post installation

5-Some time on your hands

6-Either another PC with a CD drive or a USB CD drive

Now onto the good stuff!

1-Let's begin. Insert your Windows 7 DVD into your CD drive. If you are using an ISO image, skip to step 4.

2-Make a folder on your desktop called Windows 7.

3-Copy ALL the files from your Windows 7 DVD into the folder you just made. Be patient as this process will take some time, especially if you are doing this on your Shift.

4-While the files are copying(or after they are done, whatever) go ahead and insert your USB drive into a free port.

5-Open "My Computer" and locate your USB drive. Right click on it and select "Format". Click the menu which says-"File System" and select "NTFS" from the options. Then click Format and let it finish. It should take just a few moments.

6-Once your USB drive has been formatted, open a command prompt and type the following command:

BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 H:

Where "H" is your the letter of your USB drive.

7-Your USB drive should now be ready to use!

8-Insert your USB drive into your Shift's USB port, press the power button and repeatedly press F10 as it starts to be brought to the Boot Menu and select your USB drive and hit enter.

9-Windows should begin loading setup information now. It should take around 5-ish minutes to get to the graphical part of the installer.

10-When you are presented with the graphical portion, select your country and whatnot, then a username and such, and when it asks you if you want to Upgrade or Custom install, select Custom.

11-You will now need to format your Shift's harddrive. Select the partition that is displayed and select "Format". PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WILL DELETE WINDOWS VISTA FROM YOUR SHIFT. YOU CANNOT RECOVER ANYTHING THAT IS DELETED. Your recovery partition however is not touched in anyway, so if Windows 7 doesn't work for you, you can reinstall the stock Vista from the recovery partition.

12-Once it is finished formatting, select that partition to install to and continue on with the installation.

13-When it finishes you SHOULD be presented with the Windows 7 desktop. And that's about it. No WiFi. No sound. Pretty much nothing. Now, you DID download the drivers and put them on another USB drive right? Right? GOOD!

14-Insert your USB drive and let Windows install it. Now, ALL of the drivers that we are about to install MUST be installed in the same fashion as I am about to describe. Right click each one and select properties. Click the compatability tab and select the option to have the installer run in compatibility mode for Windows Vista. This MUST be done or the drivers WILL NOT install.

15-Once you have done that, go ahead and install the following drivers. Don't worry about the other ones for right now. Install them IN THIS ORDER OR ELSE THEY WILL NOT WORK:

1-Vista Intel Chipset driver

2-Vista ECD

3-HTC Touchscreen

4-HTC ShagCTRL

5-Marvel SDIO WiFi

After you have installed those 4 drivers, restart your Shift.

16-Once your Shift has restarted, go ahead and press the Comm. Manager button. Shift Control Center should pop-up and your WiFi card should begin installing. If it doesn't, click on the button for WiFi and make it say "ON" and it should then start installing.

17-Once your WiFi card is succesfully installed, click Start->Windows Update.

18-Click on "Check for updates" on the left hand side and let Windows do it's thing. It should find 60-ish updates for download, around 6 of which are drivers for your various devices such as sound and Bluetooth and the like. Don't worry, your screen resolution WILL get better!

19-After Windows has installed updates..you are pretty much done! EVERYTHING should now be working in Windows 7!

20-ENJOY 3(!) HOURS OF STOCK BATTERY LIFE ON YOUR SHIFT RUNNING WINDOWS 7!

That's about it folks. I worked for 2 days straight to devise this method for installing Windows 7 on my Shift, and it couldn't work any better. If you find a mistake, or have a suggestion please let me know!