How to Install Windows 10

Want to install a fresh version of Windows 10 on your PC? If you're running another operating system or setting up a new PC, you can easily install Windows 10 from an installation disc or USB flash drive.

Upgrading from an earlier version like Windows 7 or 8.1 is even easier—no flash drive or DVD required! This wikiHow article will walk you through installing or upgrading to Windows 10 on any PC.

Connect a blank USB flash drive or insert a blank writable DVD. You can install Windows 10 by creating a bootable USB flash drive or DVD that contains the Windows 10 installation files. You'll need a USB flash drive that's at least 8GB, or any blank DVD to get started.^[1]

If you alread

y have Windows 10 installed on the PC and just want to reinstall it, it'll be easiest to reinstall it from within Windows 10 instead of creating installation media.
If you want to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you won't need to create an installation disc or drive. However, you will need to follow most of this method to start the
2
Make sure you have a product key. If you bought Windows 10 through Microsoft using your Microsoft account, your product key is already linked to your account. If you bought Windows 10 from another retailer, you'll have a 25-character product key that you'll need to have handy to activate Windows.^[2]
- If you don't have a product key or you're installing Windows 10 on a new hard drive, make sure you've linked your Windows 10 digital license to your Microsoft account before you start the installation.^[3] Head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation from the current installation—if the activation status says Windows is activated with a digital license, click Add an account and follow the on-screen instructions to link your Microsoft account.
- If you're upgrading from an earlier version and your PC qualifies for a free upgrade, you won't need a product key.
- 3
  Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10%20. This is the official download site for Windows 10.
  
  4
  Click Download tool now. This is a blue button in the middle of the page. This downloads the Media Creation Tool, which you'll use to create your installation media (or start your upgrade).
  
  5
  Double-click the downloaded file. Its name begins with "MediaCreationTool" and ends with ".exe." You'll find it in your default download folder, which is usually called Downloads.
  Click Yes when prompted to allow the installer to run.
  
  6
  Click Accept to accept the license. It's in the bottom-right corner of the window.
  
  7
  Select "Create installation media" and click OK. This option lets you create a Windows installation disc or drive that will work on any compatible PC, not just the one you're using now.
  If you're updating your PC from an earlier version of Windows, select Upgrade this PC now instead, and then follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10. You're done!
  
  8
  Select your preferences and click Next. If you're installing Windows on the current PC, you can keep the default options. If you need to install on a different PC, make sure you choose the language and edition for which you have a license, and select the architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) that matches the PC you're going to install on.
  If you're not sure about the architecture, you can choose Both from the menu.
  
  9
  Choose an installation type and click Next. An ISO file is a type of file that can be burned to a DVD, so choose that option if you plan to create a DVD. Otherwise, choose the USB flash drive option.
  
  10
  Create your installation media. The steps are a little different depending on what you're doing:
  Flash drive: Select your flash drive from the list, click Next, and wait for the installation files to install. When the process is complete, click Finish.
  DVD/ISO: Click Save to save the ISO file to your computer—it may take a while because the file is large and has to be downloaded. Once downloaded, you'll see a progress screen that monitors the download. When the download is complete, click Open DVD burner on the "Burn the ISO file to a DVD" screen, select your DVD burner, and then click Burn to create your DVD.
  
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  Part 2
  
  Part 2 of 3:
  
  Booting from Windows 10 Installation Media
  
  1
  Connect your Windows 10 installation media. If you created a flash drive, connect it to the PC on which you want to install Windows 10. If you made a DVD, insert it into the drive now.
  
  2
  Boot the PC into the BIOS. If your PC is not already set up to boot from your flash or optical drive, rebooting from your installation media won't work. You'll need to make a quick change in your BIOS to change the boot order. There are a few ways to get in:
  Windows 8.1 or 10: From Windows, open Settings, select Update & Recovery or Update & Security, and go to Recovery > Restart now > Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
  Any PC: Reboot the PC and immediately start pressing (over and over again) the keyboard key required by your PC to enter "Setup," or the BIOS. The key varies by computer, but here are some of the most common keys:
  Acer and Asus: F2 or Del
  Dell: F2 or F12
  HP: ESC or F10
  Lenovo: F1, F2, or Fn + F2
  Lenovo ThinkPads: Enter + F1.
  MSI: DEL
  Microsoft Surface Tablets: Press and hold the volume-up button.
  Samsung and Toshiba: F2
  Sony: F1, F2, or F3