Install Windows 7 from an original disk image or DVD

Right click on the desktop > Screen resolution

Right click on the desktop > Personalize > Change desktop icons

Open Control Panel > Taskbar and Start Menu and set options

Open Control Panel > System > Advanced Settings and set Computer description and Workgroup under Computer Name

Open Control Panel > Folder Options and set options

Open Control Panel > AutoPlay and set options

Run Control Panel > Windows Update and install all important and recommended updates. Do not install any hardware updates. Disable automatic updates so Windows Update does not run after system startup. You can enable this later if you wish, after following the rest of this guide.

Install System Update Readiness Tool for Windows 7 (KB947821)

Install Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932). After clicking the download link, you need to download file windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe and run it to install Service Pack 1.

Reboot, then install Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3102810). This updates Windows Update and fixes the extremely slow windows update response times.

Reboot, then start Windows Update from the Control Panel. Reboot and repeat until all important and recommended updates are copied to your system.

Adjust the power configuration. To enable hibernation, run CMD as an administrator:

powercfg.exe /hibernate on

Modify Desktop Icon size by pressing <CTRL> and moving the mouse wheel (see How To Resize Desktop Icons In Windows 7)

Install older Windows Help program driver from Microsoft

Organize your Start Menu in the following paths:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu