If you bought a new computer or built one yourself, you may need help installing Windows. This article will guide you through the process step by step.
Start by downloading Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool and running it. You’ll need a USB drive that’s 8 GB or larger (any contents on the drive will be erased during this process). Accept the software license terms.
Create a Bootable USB Drive
If you plan to install Windows 10 professional on a new computer, it’s important to ensure you have the proper installation files. To begin the process, first, create a bootable USB drive using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, which is available for free. You can locate this tool on Microsoft’s download page under the option “Create installation media for another PC.”
Once you have the program downloaded, launch it and agree to the terms of use. Select the option that says Create installation media (USB flash drive or DVD) for another PC. On the next screen, choose the language and edition corresponding to the computer you want to install. Also, select the architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) that matches the computer’s processor type.
Your computer is downloading essential files, and the download duration will depend on the file size and the speed of your internet connection. Once the download concludes, you will be prompted to format your USB drive. It is essential to back up any crucial data before formatting, as it will be erased.
Boot from the USB Drive
Without an operating system, a computer won’t work. And while most people know how to use computers, fewer understand how to install an OS independently.
Microsoft provides a simple and easy-to-use tool for those looking to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 installation. You can access this tool by visiting the Windows 10 download page and selecting the “Download tool now” option. After the download, run the tool and accept Microsoft’s terms to proceed.
Once the Media Creation Tool has finished creating your Windows 10 installation media, choose the drive you want to install it on and select Next. Then, choose Upgrade an existing installation of Windows or Custom. The latter option lets you specify the partitions on the drive where you’d like to store the Windows files.
If you have a tower case, inserting the USB drive into one of the backports instead of the front panel is recommended. Once you have done this, restart your computer and press the function key that launches your BIOS or UEFI. Wait for a moment and the Boot Menu will appear. From there, choose the USB device and press Enter to begin starting the PC from the USB drive.
Install Windows 10
Whether buying a prebuilt computer or building one yourself, you’ll want to install the latest version of Windows 10 onto it. Thankfully, the process is relatively straightforward.
You’ll need to download and use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool. Once you’ve done this, follow the prompts to agree to Microsoft software license terms and select Create installation media (USB flash drive or DVD). When asked what language, edition, and architecture you want, keep “Use the recommended options for this PC” checked, then click Next.
Once you download the correct Windows version for your computer, the tool will automatically start creating a bootable USB drive. This process may take a few minutes to complete. Once it’s finished, you’ll receive a notification that your USB flash drive is ready. All you have to do is click “Finish” to close the window.
Insert the flash drive into the PC or laptop you’re installing Windows on, then power it up. When it boots from the USB drive, the Windows setup window will appear. You’ll be prompted to confirm the language, time, currency format, keyboard input method, and other settings here.
Set Up Your Preferences
To access certain system settings, you may need to use the Control Panel, while others are available in the Settings app. If you want to access Settings quickly, you can create a desktop shortcut by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting New > Shortcut. Type “ms-settings:” in the destination field in the Create Shortcut interface. This method can also create shortcuts for other apps, files, and folders. Additionally, you can access the Windows 10 Settings menu through the Action Center, search for settings with Cortana, or press Win+R to launch Run. Within the Personalization section, you can choose a theme for your desktop background image, color, sounds, and screen saver. You can also customize the fonts and colors used on your computer.
This menu’s Power and Sleep settings let you change how your computer uses power, conserve battery life, or both. You can also adjust how the system wakes up or goes to sleep automatically. The Privacy section of this window gives you a view of what data Microsoft collects as you use Windows 10, and it lets you limit access on an app-by-app basis.
Create a User Account
The new account will be created as a standard user account without admin privileges if you don’t connect a Microsoft account. To create a local account that can install apps and change system settings, you must change the account type to administrator from the Windows 10 menu. To do this, click on the account picture and select “Change account settings.”
Once you choose this option, a new window will pop up. You must select three security questions that will help you reset your password if you forget it. Moreover, you can also add a password hint in the same window to help you remember your login details.
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