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To install Windows on a new PC with no operating system, create a bootable Windows installation USB on another working computer, start the new PC from that USB, and follow Windows Setup. For eligible new hardware, Windows 11 is the default choice: Microsoft says standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Installing Windows and activating it are separate steps; skipping a product key during setup does not give the PC a license.

What you need before you start

  • A second working PC with an internet connection to download and create the installer.
  • A blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of space. Microsoft’s media-creation process erases the drive, so copy anything important from it first.
  • Your Windows license details or purchase records, if you have them. The installed edition should match the license.
  • For Windows 11, hardware that meets Microsoft’s requirements. Check compatibility before making the USB.

Check Windows 11 compatibility

Microsoft lists these minimum requirements for Windows 11: a 1 GHz or faster processor with at least two cores that appears on Microsoft’s approved processor list; 4 GB of RAM; 64 GB of storage; DirectX 12-compatible graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver; and a display larger than 9 inches diagonally, at 720p or higher, with 8 bits per color channel. These are minimum technical requirements, not a guarantee that every application or peripheral will work. Check with the relevant software or device maker if compatibility matters.

Windows 11 Home and Pro for personal use also require an internet connection and a Microsoft account during initial setup, according to Microsoft’s requirements.

Create a Windows installation USB

On the working PC, open Microsoft’s Create installation media for Windows page. Choose the Windows version you want and follow the current instructions to download and run Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, then select the option to create installation media on a USB flash drive. The tool’s screens can change, so use the prompts shown on Microsoft’s page rather than relying on an older walkthrough.

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Microsoft also provides an ISO download route for uses such as virtual machines or DVD media. For a typical new desktop or laptop, creating the USB installer is the straightforward option. When the tool finishes, safely remove the USB and connect it to the new PC.

Boot the new PC from the USB

  1. With the PC powered off, plug in the installation USB.
  2. Turn on the PC. If Windows Setup appears, continue to the next section.
  3. If the PC starts into firmware or reports that no bootable device is available, restart and open the manufacturer’s boot menu or firmware settings. Select the USB installer as the boot device, or adjust boot order as the manufacturer directs.

There is no universal boot-menu key or identical firmware path for every computer. If the USB does not appear or the PC still does not boot from it, follow the PC or motherboard maker’s instructions. Microsoft likewise advises checking the manufacturer’s guidance when a device does not start from installation media. See Reinstall Windows with the installation media.

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Follow Windows Setup and choose the correct disk

Once Setup starts, choose the language and keyboard options requested on screen. Continue through the prompts, and select the Windows edition that matches the license you plan to use. Installing Home when your license is for Pro, or the reverse, can prevent activation with that license.

Select the installation location carefully

When Setup asks where to install Windows, identify the target drive before changing partitions. Deleting a partition removes its contents. If the PC has more than one drive, verify which disk is the intended Windows destination and leave other disks alone. A wrong selection can erase files on a separate drive.

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For Microsoft’s clean-install workflow and its setup guidance, consult Reinstall Windows with the installation media. If you are unsure which disk or partition is safe to change, stop rather than deleting partitions at random.

Can you install Windows without a product key?

Microsoft documents choosing “I don’t have a product key” during a first-time Windows 11 setup. That lets you proceed with installation, but it does not activate Windows or establish that you have a license. Microsoft says a valid product key is needed to activate Windows 11 on a device that has never had an activated copy of Windows 11; an applicable digital license may also activate it. See Microsoft’s Activate Windows guidance.

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Some PCs have a product key preinstalled, while other keys may be included in the PC’s packaging or provided on a Certificate of Authenticity. Check the device and your purchase documents; Microsoft explains where to look in Find your Windows product key. If the PC has no applicable key or digital license, Microsoft says a Windows 11 digital license can be purchased after installation. Check the edition and current seller terms before buying.

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Should a new PC use Windows 10 or Windows 11?

For a new PC that meets the requirements, Windows 11 is generally the better starting point. Microsoft says Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Its installation-media page explains that after that date Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 under standard support; Windows 10 can continue to work, but it is no longer receiving those standard support benefits.

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Use Windows 10 only if a specific compatibility need outweighs that support status, and confirm that the applications and devices you rely on support the version you choose. Also make sure the Windows edition you install corresponds to the license available for the PC.

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