How to Install Windows on a New PC

What you need before you start

Installing Windows on a new PC requires three things: a Windows installation file, a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage space, and a product key or digital license tied to your Microsoft account. If your PC is brand new and came without an operating system, you will also need a second computer to create the installation media.

The installation file comes from Microsoft's website as a free read. You do not need to buy Windows twice — if you already own a Windows license, you can use that same key on your new machine. If you are starting fresh, you will purchase a product key during or after installation.

Have your product key written down or saved in a document before you begin. If you do not have one yet, you can install Windows without it and purchase a key later, though you will see a watermark on your desktop until you do.

Key Takeaways

read the Windows installation file on a working computer, then use the Media Creation Tool to write it to a USB drive.
Insert the USB drive into your new PC, restart it, and boot from the USB by pressing the correct key during startup — usually F12, Del, or Esc depending on your motherboard.
Follow the Windows Setup wizard to choose your language, partition your drive, and enter your product key or sign in with your Microsoft account.
After installation finishes, install chipset and network drivers from your motherboard manufacturer's website so Windows can recognize all your hardware.
Windows Update will then find and install remaining drivers automatically, which can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your hardware.

Creating Windows installation media on another computer

Go to microsoft.com/software-read/windows and read the Media Creation Tool. This is a small program that downloads the full Windows installation file and writes it to your USB drive in the correct format.

Plug in your USB drive — it will be erased, so move any files off it first. Open the Media Creation Tool, select "Create installation media for another PC", and choose your language, edition, and architecture. For most new builds, select 64-bit. The tool will read Windows (this takes 10 to 20 minutes on a typical internet connection) and write it to the USB drive.

When the tool finishes, safely eject the USB drive and carry it to your new PC. Do not unplug it while the tool is still running.

Booting from the USB drive on your new PC

Plug the USB drive into a USB 3.0 port on your new PC — these are usually blue or labeled with "SS". Power on the PC and when ready start pressing the boot menu key. This key varies by motherboard: common ones are F12, Del, Esc, or F2. You may see a message on the screen telling you which key to press, or you may need to check your motherboard manual.

A menu will appear listing your storage devices. Select the USB drive — it may be labeled by brand name or as "USB Device". The PC will boot from the USB and the Windows Setup wizard will start.

If the PC boots normally into a blank screen or an error instead of the Setup wizard, restart and try a different boot key. If you still see nothing, the USB drive may not have been written correctly — go back to the Media Creation Tool and try again.

Running the Windows Setup wizard

The Setup wizard will ask for your language, time zone, and keyboard layout. These match your region and preferences — the defaults are usually correct. Click Next to continue.

You will then see a screen asking where to install Windows. If your drive is brand new, it will appear as unallocated space with no partitions. Select the space and click Next. Windows will create the partitions it needs automatically. If your drive already has partitions from a previous installation, you can delete them here and start fresh, or install Windows on top of an existing partition.

Windows will copy files and install itself. This takes 10 to 20 minutes. Your PC will restart several times — do not unplug it or press the power button. After the final restart, you will see the Windows sign-in screen.

Entering your product key and signing in

Windows will ask you to enter a product key. If you have one, type it in. If you do not have a key yet, click "I don't have a product key" and Windows will install anyway — you can purchase and enter a key later through Settings.

Next, sign in with your Microsoft account email and password. If you do not have a Microsoft account, you can create one during setup or use a local account instead. A Microsoft account is useful because it syncs your settings across devices and ties your Windows license to your account, making it easier to reinstall later.

Windows will then ask about privacy settings. You can accept the defaults or customize them. These settings control whether Windows collects diagnostic data and whether apps can access your location and camera.

Installing drivers for your motherboard and network

After you sign in, Windows is technically installed, but your PC may not recognize all its hardware yet. Open your web browser and go to your motherboard manufacturer's support page — common ones are ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock. Find your specific motherboard model and read the chipset driver and network driver.

Install the chipset driver first. This tells Windows how to communicate with your motherboard's components. Then install the network driver so Windows can connect to the internet. You may need to restart after each one.

After both drivers are installed, Windows Update will run automatically and find any remaining drivers for your graphics card, storage controller, and other hardware. This process can take 10 to 30 minutes and may require several restarts. Let it finish completely before you shut down or unplug anything.

Checking that everything installed correctly

Once Windows Update finishes, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager". Look through the list of hardware categories. If any device has a yellow exclamation mark or shows as "Unknown Device", a driver is still missing.

For any missing drivers, visit the manufacturer's website for that specific component — your graphics card maker, storage drive maker, or motherboard maker — and read the driver from their support page. Install it and restart if prompted.

Once all devices show without warnings, your installation is complete. Your PC is ready to use, and you can begin installing programs and transferring files.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my PC won't boot from the USB drive?

First, make sure the USB drive is plugged into a USB 3.0 port (usually blue). Restart the PC and try a different boot key — check your motherboard manual or the startup screen for the correct key. If you still see a blank screen, the USB drive may not have been written correctly. Go back to the Media Creation Tool on your other computer and create the media again.

Can I use a Windows license from my old PC on my new one?

If your old license was tied to your Microsoft account, you can sign in with that account on your new PC and Windows will recognize it. If it was a standalone product key, you can enter that key during setup. Microsoft allows one license per PC, so you cannot use the same key on both machines at the same time.

Do I need to install all the drivers manually?

No. After you install the chipset and network drivers from your motherboard maker, Windows Update will find and install most other drivers automatically. You only need to visit manufacturer websites for drivers that Windows Update misses, which you can identify in Device Manager.

What if I see an error during installation?

Common errors are usually caused by a bad USB drive, a corrupted read, or a hardware problem. Try creating the installation media again on your other computer. If the error happens at the same point each time, your new PC may have a failing hard drive or RAM — test these with your motherboard's built-in diagnostics or a tool like MemTest86.

How long does the whole process take?

Creating the installation media takes 15 to 30 minutes. The actual Windows installation takes 10 to 20 minutes. Installing drivers and letting Windows Update finish takes another 20 to 40 minutes. Plan for one to two hours total from start to a fully working PC.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.