How to install a new windows 10
Installing a new copy of Windows 10 is a relatively straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:
Before You Begin
- Backup your data: Make sure to backup all your important files and data to an external hard drive or cloud storage service, as installing Windows 10 will erase all data on the computer.
- Check system requirements: Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster
- RAM: 2 GB or more
- Free disk space: 20 GB or more
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 2.0
- Download the Media Creation Tool: Go to the Microsoft website and download the Media Creation Tool (MCT) to create a bootable USB drive or ISO file.
Installing Windows 10
Method 1: Installing from a Bootable USB Drive
- Create a bootable USB drive: Use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive. Insert a blank USB drive with at least 8 GB of free space and follow the prompts.
- Restart your computer: Restart your computer and insert the USB drive.
- Boot from the USB drive: Enter your computer's BIOS settings (usually by pressing F2, F12, or Del) and set the USB drive as the first boot device. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
- Start the installation: Your computer will boot from the USB drive and start the Windows 10 installation process.
- Follow the installation prompts: Follow the installation prompts to select your language, time zone, and other settings.
- Accept the licensing agreement: Accept the Windows 10 licensing agreement.
- Choose the installation type: Choose whether to perform a clean installation, upgrade from a previous version of Windows, or create a new installation.
- Partition your hard drive: Choose how you want to partition your hard drive. You can choose to erase the entire drive, shrink the existing partition, or create a new partition.
- Install Windows 10: The installation process will begin, which may take around 30-60 minutes depending on your computer's specifications.
- Set up your account: Once the installation is complete, you'll be prompted to set up your account, including creating a Microsoft account or using a local account.
Method 2: Installing from an ISO File
- Download the ISO file: Download the Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website.
- Create a bootable USB drive: Use a tool like Rufus or Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive from the ISO file.
- Restart your computer: Restart your computer and insert the USB drive.
- Boot from the USB drive: Enter your computer's BIOS settings and set the USB drive as the first boot device. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
- Start the installation: Your computer will boot from the USB drive and start the Windows 10 installation process.
- Follow the installation prompts: Follow the installation prompts to select your language, time zone, and other settings.
- Accept the licensing agreement: Accept the Windows 10 licensing agreement.
- Choose the installation type: Choose whether to perform a clean installation, upgrade from a previous version of Windows, or create a new installation.
- Partition your hard drive: Choose how you want to partition your hard drive. You can choose to erase the entire drive, shrink the existing partition, or create a new partition.
- Install Windows 10: The installation process will begin, which may take around 30-60 minutes depending on your computer's specifications.
- Set up your account: Once the installation is complete, you'll be prompted to set up your account, including creating a Microsoft account or using a local account.
After Installation
- Activate Windows 10: You'll need to activate Windows 10 using a valid product key or by connecting to a network with a valid license.
- Update Windows 10: Windows 10 will automatically update to the latest version. You can also check for updates manually by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Install drivers: You may need to install drivers for your computer's hardware, such as graphics cards, sound cards, or network cards.
- Install software: You can install software and applications from the Microsoft Store or download them from the internet.
That's it! You should now have a fresh installation of Windows 10 on your computer.