Windows 10 download clean install usb free download.What you need
After you've created the installation media, you can reset or reinstall Windows. To learn more, go to Recovery options in Windows. Windows 10 Windows 8. Need more help? Join the discussion. Was this information helpful? Yes No. Thank you! Any more feedback? All Windows 10 editions are available when you select Windows 10, except for Enterprise edition. Follow these steps to create installation media USB flash drive or DVD you can use to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows If you have Office or earlier and choose to perform a clean install of Windows 10, you will need to locate your Office product key.
For tips on locating your product key, check Find your Office product key or Enter the product key for your Office program. Select the language, edition, and architecture bit or bit for Windows After completing the steps to install Windows 10, please check that you have all the necessary device drivers installed. Note: Drivers for Surface devices may be found on the Download drivers and firmware for Surface page. To open a boot menu or change the boot order, you'll typically need to press a key such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc immediately after you turn on your PC.
For instructions on accessing the boot menu or changing the boot order for your PC, check the documentation that came with your PC or go to the manufacturer's website. If changing the boot menu or order doesn't work, and your PC immediately boots into the OS you want to replace, it is possible the PC had not fully shut down.
To ensure the PC fully shuts down, select the power button on the sign-in screen or on the Start menu and select Shut down. If you downloaded an ISO file for Windows 10, the file is saved locally at the location you selected. If you have a third-party DVD burning program installed on your computer that you prefer to use for creating the installation DVD, that program might open by going to the location where the file is saved and double-clicking the ISO file, or right-click the ISO file, select Open with and choose your preferred DVD burning software.
Right-click the ISO file and select Properties. Then right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image. This will perform an upgrade of your current operating system to Windows It's also important to make sure that the computer can boot from a USB flash drive.
On computers already running Windows 10 or 8. After you complete the steps, the computer should now be able to start from a USB bootable media. Once you complete the steps, the device will start from a USB flash drive to proceed with the installation process.
Once you complete the steps, the computer can now start from the USB flash drive to upgrade to Windows Typically, peripherals are among the most common reason for problems during a Windows 10 installation. If you have non-essential peripherals connected to the computer such as removable storage and other USB and Bluetooth devices, printers, scanners, cameras, and others , it's recommended to disconnect them.
You only need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and internet connection. After the setup, you can reconnect the peripherals one at a time to ensure they don't cause any issues. You will need a USB bootable media to perform a clean installation of Windows Once you complete the steps, the tool will download the files and create an installer with the latest installation files, which you can then use to start the device and configure a fresh copy of Windows Rufus is a free tool with many options to help you create a bootable media of Windows 10 faster.
However, it's important to remember that it's a third-party option, which Microsoft does not support. As a result, use it at your own risk. After you complete the steps, Rufus will download the ISO file from the Microsoft servers, and it'll create the bootable media to perform a clean install of Windows The installation process of Windows 10 has two main parts, including the setup and out-of-box experience OOBE.
In the setup process, that's where you will select some of the basic settings, and you'll find the options to erase the hard drive, configure the partitions, and clean install Windows The out-of-box experience happens after the setup is complete, and it's the stage where you'll configure your settings, such as region, network, account, privacy, and other settings.
Warning: This is another friendly reminder that this process will erase everything on the computer. Before proceeding, it's always recommended to make a temporary full backup of your PC. If you plan to decommission the computer, you do not need to continue with the out-of-box experience. If this is an upgrade, continue with the instructions below. After the setup, you have to continue with the out-of-box experience to configure your preferences and create a new account.
After you complete the steps, the settings will apply to the clean installation of Windows 10, and you should be able to see the default desktop experience. Once the installation is complete, it's also good to check that Windows 10 isn't missing any critical updates or drivers and is properly activated. Once you complete the steps, any available updates will automatically download and install. Also, a restart may be required to complete the update process.
If some hardware has problems, you may need to manually install the latest drivers from your computer manufacturer's support website. You can use this guide to install device drivers on Windows On Windows 10, drivers can also be part of the optional updates. If the computer doesn't have all the required drivers, you may be able to download them from Windows Update. After you complete the steps, Windows Update will download and install the missing drivers automatically.
In case Windows 10 didn't activate, the device will try to reactivate at a later time. If you're still having issues after a couple of days, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter to activate. It's now time to reinstall the apps, including your preferred web browser, such as Google Chrome , Mozilla Firefox , or Opera to browse the web.
If you use Spotify opens in new tab or iTunes opens in new tab to listen to tunes while working or surfing the internet, you can download these apps and others from the Microsoft Store. Also, it's now a good time to download and install the Microsoft Office apps opens in new tab to start working with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and managing your emails with Outlook. The last thing left to do is to restore your documents from backup. If you previously configured file backup with OneDrive, the data should already be available inside the OneDrive folder, but if the app didn't configure automatically, you can use this guide.
If you have a backup of your files on an external drive, reconnect the storage to restore the data into the default folders Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc. Although you can start a clean installation using the Media Creation Tool without a USB media and even the "Reset this PC" option from the recovery settings, these methods have their limitations and do not always work as expected.
The bootable media is the alternative if you want the best possible clean installation method. For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:.
Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. Windows Central Windows Central. Bulk storage If you're in the market for an external drive to store file backups, look no further than the Western Digital Elements Desktop Hard Drive.
Mauro Huculak. Topics Windows 10 Help. See all comments Still not getting windows 10 upgrade on my pc! Though i have reserved it and the get windows 10 notification appears. Help anybody? Please try our Windows 10 forums! You'll get much better answers there, thanks! Appreciate your help! It means that some peripherals in your PC are not yet compatible with Win This is why they did the whole reservation and wave release.
If the validation tool detects something the will not work it prevents the windows 10 upgrade. You will have to wait untill they sort our the drivers and you'll get your windows. If you force Win10 install you might end up with your PC not working. If it's a camera the problem isn't so big but if you have a SATA controller that is not yet supported you won't even be able to install Win Seriosly, just wait untill you get it through Windows Update. Just use the Microsoft upgrade tool I waited for a couple of days but my reserved invite still hasn't come through so I manually updated as it mentioned in this article.
I would recommend fully downloading as an ISO file first though as my install failed twice when directly installing from the website. The ISO file did it perfectly. One more thing, make sure you disable any antivirus programs you have running. Now I have Windows 10 Pro working well although I had to update some drivers manually afterwards too. Hope this helps guys. The upgrade never asked for any key. Fresh installation will ask. If you're upgrading your current operating system, the upgrade will take the licence key of the current version of Windows your upgrading from.
If you do a clean install as per the instructions in this article you will need to enter the key. Part of the clean install is formatting the hard drive, which will remove your current operating system. Did you check the product key after the upgrade to 10? Are you sure out is not the generic key? It's not a generic key, because all of my windows devices upgraded from the disc, all have a different product id.
Check the media creation tool. You will see the option to "Upgrade Now" I did that. Make sure that your windows update is set up to install updates automatically not download and warn you first or warn if there are updates available before download and install, just set it to install automatically.
Try this it worked for me. If those folders don't exist, type this at the command line: wuauclt. If you have to hit Windows Update with a hammer, try this: 1. Uninstalled the KB In an elevated cmd prompt 1.
We're not upgrading any time soon. Just use the upgrade tool on the ISO page. Search for "windows 10 ISO" and you'll find the page with the downloads. You can run the upgrade from there. Good luck! Just download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, google it you'll find it, and then choose upgrade once it has downloaded, after that you are free to do a clean install, this article should help Same process for Insiders? Because, the key used to activate my Windows 10 seems to be a generic one as confirmed by many Reddit users.
So, if I clean install Windows 10, would it get activated by itself? Have the same question here Even my other computer that didn't have the insider version on it, got a generic product key after upgrading I too posted my query on the forums but no one knows about it I guess. Yup, I had already tried the "slmgr" command a few days ago. It said my machine was permanently activated. I have been an Insider since the very first build was released.
I had, then, upgraded from Windows 8. Finally, that means I am eligible for a clean install :D The Mail app doesn't sync at all, the Start menu often crashes and the WiFi goes haywire all of a sudden without warning.
This has compelled me to clean install Windows I went through the same, I just did a clean install and it let me use the generic key. I haven't checked whether my Windows is activated though lol.
Tried a clean install in the surface pro 2 and failed to activate, the generic key stored in the bios didn't worked. The key is a default key that is blocked from being activated in another machine. What gets registered in the server is your hardware ID so if you connect to the internet to activate, it will search for your Hardware ID.
This also means that any major change on the machine's hardware components will revoke your license for the free upgrade as a major hardware change will cause significant change on the hardware ID of the machine. Geez 16 GB of ram! Hell of a machine!
It's a lot, but if you use virtual machines, it's a bless : Also, in the Win10 case, helps you to monitor how agressive the OS is with the RAM. Yesterday Groove was using Hell if you have a discrete video card it will gobble ram. The most frustrating is the disk usage. RAM is cheap today. This is mainly because I also use Hyper-V. I've installed the update through Windows update with no hassle. I'd recommend waiting to upgrade until some minor quirks are ironed out, though.
Btw very helpful guide, WCentral team, thanks. I did a clean install, but my Windows 10 Pro was missing everything. No Edge, no store, no calculator, no people, no mail, calendar, nothing Any ideas? Do a reinstall again. Try updating all the apps from the store. They might be corrupted or hidden. There is no store in my Win10 version, not even one "metro" app You gotta download the apps separately.
But edge should've been there. Don't know what the actual problem is. As I said, there is not Store in mz Win10 version Try resetting your PC from recovery once.
Did reset again, same thing Will try a clean upgrade from win 8. I have the 32bit edition installed. Can i use this key to activate the 64bit edition? Maybe for Win7, after Windows 8 the x86 and x64 use the same key, you can choose. I haven't tested it.
My Windows isn't activated anymore after doing a clean install on my venue 8 pro. I forget the error given, but apparently some keys don't immediately get activated due to high server loads from Microsoft. It took my key a few hours to be activated. I'd give it a few hours before contacting Microsoft. CC is the error code. I have the same. Clean install from Build TP. Bern waitin since the release and im yet to activate the bastard. After the upgrade and your machine is activated you can then do a clean install as the next time around the MS servers already have the hardware ID logged.
Also check for and do any BIOS upgrade that is available for the machine - it's making a big difference in how well things work. If you did the upgrade first and activated it, then clean installed, just click the "go to store" button in the activation screen, then click "try again" from within the store app. I've upgraded my main Windows machine that means my Key will now activate Windows 10 if I clan install?
Select Change what to keep to set whether you would like to Keep personal files and apps , or Keep personal files only , or choose to keep Nothing during the upgrade.
It might take some time to install Windows 10, and your PC will restart a few times. Before you download the tool make sure you have: An internet connection internet service provider fees may apply. Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download. System requirements. Make sure the PC meets the system requirements for Windows We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer's website for additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility.
Language in Windows. You'll need to choose the same language when you install Windows Edition of Windows. You should also choose the same edition of Windows. For more info, go to the Volume Licensing Service Center. Microsoft Office products. If you just purchased a new device that includes Office , we recommend redeeming installing Office before upgrading to Windows For more information, check How to upgrade to Windows 10 on new devices that include Office Using the tool to create installation media: Select Download tool now , and select Run.
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