PC Builds

Official Windows Installation, Upgrade Choices and USB Media

Get Windows installation media directly from Microsoft's download pages below. Match the edition to your valid license and check hardware requirements before starting. An official installer and activation rights are separate parts of the setup.

Official Windows 11 and Windows 10 downloads

Use Microsoft's Windows 11 download page for its installation assistant, media creation tool and disk-image choices. For a device that specifically needs Windows 10, use the official Windows 10 download page.

Home and Pro are license editions. The 32-bit and 64-bit choices associated with Windows 10 describe processor architecture; they do not make an ISO a free full-version license. Follow the options Microsoft offers for your system. Windows 11 has different hardware requirements and no general 32-bit PC installation route.

Decide whether the PC is supported

Microsoft's Windows 11 requirements are the starting point. Check the processor, firmware, security features and the PC maker's driver support. Do this before wiping a working system. Our PC build compatibility guide helps with the hardware side.

Microsoft states that ordinary Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. An eligible Extended Security Updates arrangement is a separate, limited option; consult its current Windows 10 support guidance. A working installation is not proof of continued security support.

Before making a bootable USB drive

Save documents, photos, browser data and any app-specific exports to a separate place. Open several copied files to check them. Keep encryption recovery information and confirm you can sign in to your accounts without relying solely on the PC being replaced.

Prepare an empty USB drive that meets the size shown by Microsoft. The media tool erases the selected drive, so identify it carefully. Disconnect unrelated removable storage if you are unsure which drive is which. Microsoft's installation-media instructions describe the official process.

Clean install, repair or an in-place installation?

Running setup from a working Windows system can offer options to keep files and apps. Booting into an installer for a clean installation has different consequences. Read the exact option shown; do not assume that a button called install preserves your files.

Microsoft's reinstall guide explains those choices. A clean install removes personal files, apps, settings and maker customizations. If the target drive or partition is unclear, stop and get help identifying it. An installation guide cannot see your disk layout.

On a used PC, check the hardware and license history before relying on the seller's Windows setup. Our used gaming PC checks cover the wider purchase.

Activation after installation

Use the edition covered by your valid license. A digital license can let the same device activate again, but a hardware change or a different edition can change the result. Consult Microsoft's activation guide rather than trying random keys or bypass tools. Downloading an ISO does not replace activation.

Free upgrades and choosing whether to upgrade

Check the upgrade options offered for your device on Microsoft's Windows download pages above. Media availability and activation rights are separate questions. Confirm the installed edition and license before choosing an upgrade.

If you want to avoid an upgrade, use the supported controls for your installed edition and consider its remaining support. Do not disable all updates or remove security features to preserve an obsolete OS. Back up, check compatibility, then make a deliberate supported-system choice.

Running Windows from USB is a different task

A bootable installation drive starts setup. Running a portable Windows workspace is a separate task: Microsoft's Windows To Go overview describes the enterprise feature removed from Windows 10 version 2004 and later. For everyday use, choose a supported installation on hardware suited to the workload.

Budget and finish the setup

Include a valid license in your PC build budget. After installation, use the device maker's drivers, complete supported updates and open a sample of your backed-up files. Keep the installation drive clearly labeled so you can identify it when you need repair media.