What to know before installing windows

Windows Vs. Linux

The battle for operating system supremacy is almost as old as computers themselves. Just like AMD Vs. Intel, each camp has a healthy following and claim their operating system is the best.

But how do we know which one is really the best? And, more importantly, which one is best for your needs?

These are the sort of questions that get left unanswered. Having said that, we’re going to try and shed a little light on the situation in an easy-to-digest kind of way.

For the most part, Windows is going to be a much more practical, more user-friendly, and overall more versatile operating system for your needs. However, Linux offers benefits in other areas, such as security, price, and stability.

To make the whole debate a little more digestible, below we’ve created a table which compares the two in numerous areas:

	WIndows	LINUX
Accessability	All users get given the same version of windows and are never given access to the source code.	Users have access to the source code and can alter the code according to their needs.
Customization	Windows has very few customization options	Linux comes with various distributions which can be customized to a users needs.
Licensing	The Microsoft license doesn’t allow users access to source code. Furthermore, you can only install Windows on a specific number of computers	According to Linux operating system, users are free to modify the software and can re-use it in any number of systems.
Usability	Windows is a very simple system to use and is extremely user-friendly	Linux is a fairly complicated O/S to install but does have the ability to complete complex tasks easier.
Support	You get an abundance of Windows support via online forums/ websites which is easily accessible	Linux, like Windows, has a massive amount of online support via communities and websites.
Updates	Windows updates come sporadically and at various times which can become an inconvenience.	Users have full control over updates and can install whenever needed.
Security	Lower levels of security and susceptible to viruses	Linux is much more secure than Windows. Hackers and viruses find it much harder to penetrate Linux.
Price	Much more expensive than Linux	Linux is completely free.

So, there you have it, our comprehensive guide to installing Windows. We’ve tried to cover every base and make this your one-stop-shop for everything relating to Windows installs. If you’re still having problems with the process, feel free to drop us a message in the comments section below.

5 What you need to know before installing Windows 7

Windows 7 RC will soon be available for download to everyone, and as such, there are a few things you may want to know before you decide to install it on your PC.

Things to know before installing Windows 7

April 2021 Update:

We now recommend using this tool for your error. Additionally, this tool fixes common computer errors, protects you against file loss, malware, hardware failures and optimizes your PC for maximum performance. You can fix your PC problems quickly and prevent others from happening with this software:

• Step 1 : Download PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (Windows 10, 8, 7, XP, Vista – Microsoft Gold Certified).
• Step 2 : Click “Start Scan” to find Windows registry issues that could be causing PC problems.
• Step 3 : Click “Repair All” to fix all issues.

1) This is a pre-version and should NOT be installed on computers and/or production systems that require high availability. If you do not have access to a second computer, you may want to boot with another operating system.

2) Make sure your critical information is backed up before installation. Windows Easy Transfer makes it easy to transfer files, user and application settings from one computer running Windows to another.

3) Windows 7 Beta upgrades are blocked. Microsoft recommends NOT bypassing this problem Valid test cases are clean installations and upgrades of Windows Vista. Upgrades from beta to RC servers are supported.

Upgrading from an earlier beta version is not supported. However, the following operating systems are fully supported:
Windows Vista SP1
Windows Vista SP2
Windows Vista SP2
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008 SP2

4) Problem report links have been removed from the user interface to get closer to a final product experience.

But you can run the Feedback Tool with the command’Run-ning’ :

5) You should only use Microsoft keys. You can reuse your product key from Windows 7 beta version 7000 for RC.

See also the hardware requirements for Windows 7.

I am sure you will enjoy installing and using Windows 7 RC. Installation takes about 20 to 30 minutes.

About Genuine Windows

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

Genuine versions of Windows are published by Microsoft, properly licensed, and supported by Microsoft or a trusted partner. You’ll need a genuine version of Windows to access the optional updates and downloads that help you get the most from your PC.

To learn how to activate Windows, see Activate Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. If you’re using Windows 10, see Activation in Windows 10.

Here are answers to some common questions about genuine Windows software.

Look for key features of genuine Windows software, such as the Certificate of Authenticity (COA), a proof of license label, and an edge-to-edge hologram. For more information, visit the What to look for page on the Microsoft How to Tell website. Your safest option is always to buy Windows from Microsoft, or to buy a PC with Windows preinstalled directly from Microsoft or a store you know and trust.

If you’re seeing these notifications, it’s likely that your copy of Windows wasn’t properly activated. Click the notification and follow the steps to repair Windows or buy a genuine version of Windows if you find out the software is counterfeit.

Until you correct the issue, you’ll receive periodic reminders that Windows is not genuine. Your desktop may also turn black to emphasize the messages. You can reset it, but it will return to black every 60 minutes until the issue is resolved.

Windows will always be able to get critical security updates, even if your version isn’t genuine. However, other updates and benefits are available exclusively for genuine Windows software.

Activation helps verify that your copy of Windows is used only on PCs that the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. It pairs your product key or digital entitlement with your hardware configuration. Usually, you only need to activate Windows once, unless you make a significant hardware change.

When your PC downloads updates, Windows checks to see if your product key or digital entitlement is valid. If it is, you’re eligible to receive the latest updates from Microsoft. If it’s not, your PC is running non-genuine Windows.

You can’t install Windows on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. Usually, a copy of Windows can only be installed on one PC. To learn more about licensing Windows on more than one PC, go to the Microsoft Volume Licensing website.

Yes. You’ll still be able to get critical security updates. However, many updates are exclusively for customers with genuine versions of Windows. We strongly recommend that you get genuine Microsoft software immediately to keep you safer while using your PC.

Validation is an online process. It verifies that your copy of Windows is genuine and that critical Windows licensing files haven’t been damaged, deleted, or removed. It takes only a few moments and lets Microsoft create a match between your PC’s hardware profile and your 25-character product key or digital entitlement.

Your copy of Windows may need to be validated before you can get downloads and the updates which are reserved for PCs that are running genuine Windows. Windows might also prompt you to run genuine validation if activation isn’t properly completed.

If your copy of Windows fails validation, you’ll see a results page that tells you why it isn’t genuine. You’ll also see info about how to resolve the issue.

There are a few common scenarios in which Windows running on a PC might be discovered to be non-genuine during validation.

Repairs. If your PC has been repaired, you might start to see messages on your desktop that Windows isn’t genuine. If the repairs required Windows to be reinstalled, the technician may have activated Windows with a different key than you used when it was originally installed. You might not see the messages until you try to download something from the Microsoft Download Center that requires validation, and validation fails. To fix the issue, you can properly activate Windows by reentering your original product key.

For other issues, you may need to buy a genuine version of Windows.

1 License = 1 PC. Another common cause of Windows validation failure happens when you try to install Windows on more PCs than your license allows. For instance, if you purchased a copy of Windows and installed it on more than one PC, online validation might fail because the product key has already been used on another PC. The rule for most copies of Windows is that only one copy of Windows can be installed on one PC. To learn about licensing more than one PC, go to the Microsoft Volume Licensing website.

Counterfeit software. Validation will also fail if you’ve inadvertently acquired and installed counterfeit Windows software. The Microsoft How to Tell website can help you identify counterfeit software and file a counterfeit software report if needed. Validation failure is common for versions of Windows that were purchased from an online auction site, or if Windows was on a used PC that you purchased. Remember to ask the seller for the Certificate of Authenticity and the original Windows disc, if there was one.

To file a counterfeit report, go to the Microsoft How to Tell website.

You can file an online report if you inadvertently bought or received counterfeit software, or have information about a person, business, or online site that might be selling counterfeit software. The report you submit will be treated as confidential. Microsoft devotes substantial time and energy to fighting software counterfeiting, and you can be assured that we will take appropriate action in response to your report.

If you got an error when you were activating Windows, you can find what it means. For details, go to Get help with activation errors.

You’ll need a product key when you install Windows. To learn more, go to Find a product key.

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What You Need To Know Before Installing Windows and Doors

George Fowler, owner of Heritage Windows, shares some important “do’s” and “don’ts” when it comes to installing windows and doors:

The two key questions that potential Heritage customers should ask themselves are, “What is the correct product for this application?” and “Who is the most qualified person to install this product?”

Never install a wooden window in your house!

Windows in older homes of 50 to 75 years were built out of trees that were 100 to 200 years old. The wood in today’s windows is usually only 10 to 15 years old. There is no sap in the wood that will protect windows from rotting out. I have seen windows in houses that are just 18 months old that have totally rotted out. You need a cladded wooden window or some other type such as vinyl to stand up to the elements.

Never install a “builder’s grade” window or door on the lakeside of a house!

Weather coming off a lake can be 10 times worse than the other side of the house. The wind and rain is usually hitting the house horizontally and “builder’s grade” windows and doors will not hold up. You need excellent architectural windows and doors. I recommend an “out swing” door with a high performance sill. The harder the wind blows, the tighter the door shuts. The same is true for windows; I recommend a casement window, which opens out, shuts back tight and locks down for minimal infiltration.

Never have a novice install your windows or doors!

I have often seen expensive windows or doors that have been installed by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing, and the window or door leaks. Just as bad as a poor installation is the wrong product installed in the wrong situation. You need someone who has been in the business for many years to advise you.

Never install a wooden door in a house that is not covered by some type of porch!

There are wooden doors in 100 to 150 year old churches and old buildings that look great, but what we are not aware of is that these doors were made from trees that were 100 to 200 years old. Some of today’s wooden doors are made from “young growth” trees that do not have the sap to withstand weather. They need to be protected by a porch or awning.

If your windows have failed or rotted out, do not replace them with the same kind of window again!

If the glass in your aluminum windows have fogged in just a few years, don’t replace them with more aluminum windows. Move up to a vinyl window. If your wooden windows have rotted out, replace with a cladded one. Do it correctly the second time around. Don’t waste good money by installing cheap windows. Also, only buy a window and door with at least a 10-year factory warranty. Anything less is not worth it.

Upgrade in glass quality whenever you replace!

Low-e glass was first introduced to the residential market in 1977. Low-e glass features transparent, microscopic layers of silver placed between layers of anti-reflective metal oxide coatings. These coatings block 83% of harmful UV rays and 96% of the sun’s infrared heat, so homes stay cooler in the summer and interior furnishings fade less. In the winter, Low-e helps keep homes warmer for improved comfort and reduces condensation. It also delivers greater visible light transmittance than tinted glass. When I was building houses 15 years ago, Low-e was expensive, so we just installed them on the south and west side of the house. Today the price is so reasonable that you should install them in the whole house.

Choosing the wrong product for your new home the first time will only hasten the demise of your home and cost you additional installation!

Talk to a professional windows and doors man before you buy anything. Find out about all the different glass options and windows types first. Don’t just go to the building supply store and buy whatever they are selling. Do your research.

There are basically six types of windows on the market today: Wood, Cladded Wood, Vinyl, PVC, Aluminum, and Fiberglass.

Wood windows are by far the most popular but also the most expensive to buy and maintain. As far as I know there is only one “all wood” window with a 20 years rot and termite resistance warranty. This is the only window I would recommend.

A cladded wood window is the best wooden window on the market. It is a true wooden window but has a heavy extruded aluminum cladding that completely covers the exterior surfaces for low-maintenance durability. They also come in 5 or 6 standard colors with a baked-on finish that doesn’t need to be repainted.

The best window for the money is a vinyl window. They are custom sized, have several color choices and many profiles and glass options. They are reasonably priced and some have a lifetime warranty that is also transferable to the new owner.

PVC windows are great windows. They too are priced economically and they look just like a wooden window.

I recommend aluminum windows only in commercial application.

Fiberglass windows are gaining in sales, they are stronger than vinyl and come in an additional darker color.

Windows Update: FAQ

Note: If you’re looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.

In Windows 10, you decide when and how to get the latest updates to keep your device running smoothly and securely. When you update, you’ll get the latest fixes and security improvements, helping your device run efficiently and stay protected. In most cases, restarting your device completes the update. Make sure your device is plugged in when you know updates will be installed.

If other questions come up when you update Windows 10, here are some other areas that might interest you:

When you only want info about updating Windows 10, you’ll find answers to many of your questions here:

When the Windows 10 May 2020 Update is ready for your device, it will be available to download and install from the Windows Update page in Settings. Choose a time that works best for you to download the update. You’ll then need to restart your device and complete the installation. After that, your device will be running Windows 10, version 2004.

To manually check for the latest recommended updates, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update .

To get help updating to the latest version of Windows 10, go to the Microsoft software download page and download the Update Assistant.

Some updates may not be available on all devices at the same time—we’re making sure updates are ready and compatible.

To stay up to date, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update , and then select Check for updates.

If a feature update is available for your device, it will appear separately on the Windows Update page. To install it, select Download and install now.

Here are a few things you can try if you’re having trouble installing updates:

Make sure that your device is connected to the internet. Downloading updates requires an internet connection.

If you’re connected the internet, try to install the updates manually. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update , and then view available updates.
Check for updates

Run the Windows Update Troubleshooter. Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot . Under Get up and running, select Windows Update.

The time required to download updates primarily depends on internet connection speed, network settings, and update size. Make sure your device is plugged in and connected to the internet to download updates faster.

You can’t stop updates entirely—because they help keep your device safe and secure, updates will eventually need to be installed and downloaded, regardless of your update settings. Here’s how to temporarily pause updates from being downloaded and installed. Note that after the pause limit is reached, you’ll need to install the latest updates before you can pause updates again.

In the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (version 1909) or later, or in Windows version 1809 for Pro or Enterprise, select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update . Then choose one of the following options:

Select Pause updates for 7 days.

Select Advanced options. Then, in the Pause updates section, select the drop-down menu and specify a date for updates to resume.

To finish installing an update, your device will need to restart. Windows will try to restart your device when you’re not using it. If it can’t, you’ll be asked to schedule the restart for a more convenient time. Or, you can schedule anytime by following these steps:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update .

Select Schedule the restart and choose a time that’s convenient for you.

You can set active hours to make sure automatic restarts for updates only happen when you’re not using your device. Learn about active hours for Windows 10.

Try deleting files you don’t need, uninstalling apps you don’t use, or moving files to another drive like an external USB drive or OneDrive. For more tips on freeing up disk space, see Free up drive space in Windows 10.

We recommend keeping devices like laptops and tablets plugged in when you’re not using them. This way, if updates are installed outside active hours, your device will have enough power to complete the installation. Windows updates don’t consume more battery than other typical system processes.

An update history is available so you can see which updates were installed, and when. You can also use this list to remove specific updates, although we don’t recommend this unless it’s necessary.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Windows Update > View update history .

For more info about what’s included in updates for Windows 10, see Windows 10 update history.

We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history > Uninstall updates.

Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.

Feature updates are typically released twice per year and include new functionality and capabilities as well as potential fixes and security updates. Quality updates are more frequent and mainly include small fixes and security updates. Windows is designed to deliver both kinds of updates to devices through Windows Update.

To double check that your device is up to date, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and see your update status and available updates.

To find which version of Windows you’re running, see Which version of Windows operating system am I running?

Reserved storage is not automatically turned on by Windows in any update scenarios. It is only turned on for new devices with the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) or later preinstalled, or devices on which a clean install was performed.

Note: If you’re looking for Microsoft Office update info, see Install Office updates.

The best way to keep Windows 8.1 up to date is to turn on automatic updates. With automatic updates, you don’t have to search for updates online or worry about missing critical fixes or device drivers for your PC. Instead, Windows Update automatically installs important updates as they become available.

To turn on automatic updates:

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. If you want to check for updates manually, select Check now.

Select Choose how updates get installed, and then, under Important updates, select Install updates automatically (recommended).

Under Recommended updates, select Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates.

Under Microsoft Update, select Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows, and then select Apply.

Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.

Note: If your PC is connected to a network where updates are managed by Group Policy, you might not be able to change settings related to Windows Update. For more info, contact your organization’s technical support.

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update. To check for updates manually, select Check now.

An update history is available so you can see which updates were installed, and when. You can also use this list to remove specific updates, although we don’t recommend this unless it’s necessary.

To see your PC’s update history, open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.

We don’t recommend that you remove any installed updates. However, if you must remove an update, you can do so in update history.

Open Windows Update by swiping in from the right edge of the screen (or, if you’re using a mouse, pointing to the lower-right corner of the screen and moving the mouse pointer up), select Settings > Change PC settings > Update and recovery > Windows Update > View your update history.

Select the update you want to remove, then select Uninstall.

Here are a few things to try if you’re having problems installing updates:

Make sure that your PC is connected to the internet. Some updates can’t be installed if you’re using a metered internet connection.

If you’re connected the internet and updates aren’t installed automatically, wait a few minutes and then try to install the updates manually.

See the Fix Windows Update errors guided walkthrough to try to fix the problem.

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

Click the questions below to see answers about how Windows Update keeps your device up to date.

One of the more popular sets of tutorials we’ve written are our walkthroughs for installing Windows. We have one for Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows XP (and we’re working on one for Windows 11).

Thanks to those tutorials, there’s no wonder that installation and upgrading questions are some of the more common ones we get.

Below are answers to some of those questions.

What Is a Clean Install of Windows?

Basically, a clean install means to erase the drive with the existing operating system on it during the process of installing Windows. This differs from an upgrade installation («moving» from a previous Windows version) and is basically the same thing, with a few extra steps, as a «new» install (an install on an empty drive).

Compared to an upgrade installation, a clean install is almost always a better way to install Windows. A clean install won’t bring with it any problems, software bloat, or other issues that may have plagued your previous installation.

You do not need a special Windows disc or any sort of other software or tools to do a clean install. All you need to do is remove the partition(s) that contain your existing operating system when you get to that step in the Windows installation process.

Here’s how to do it:

• How to Clean Install Windows 11
• How to Clean Install Windows 10
• How to Clean Install Windows 8
• How to Clean Install Windows 7
• How to Clean Install Windows XP

All of those tutorials cover 100% of the process and include screenshots for every step of the way. Also, please know that those walkthroughs cover every commonly available edition or version available in each major version of the OS.

What is the ‘Invalid Product Key’ Message With a ‘Code: 0xC004F061’ Error Mean?

Here’s the full error message, all inside an Invalid product key window:

The following failure occurred while trying to use the product key:

Code: 0xC004F061 Description: The Software Licensing Service determined that this specified product key can only be used for upgrading, not for clean installations.

The 0xC004F061 error appears during the Windows activation process if a) you used a Windows upgrade product key but you b) did not have a copy of Windows on the drive when you clean installed.

The message at the bottom of the window indicates that you can’t use this product key for clean installations but that isn’t entirely true. A Windows clean install is fine, but you must have had an upgrade-valid version of Windows on the computer prior to the clean install.

The Microsoft-supported solution to this problem is to reinstall the previous version of Windows and then clean install Windows. However, another solution is to do an in-place upgrade of Windows to the same version of Windows. Yes, it seems strange, but according to several sources, you’ll be able to successfully activate Windows after that process completes.

If neither of those solutions work, you’ll need to purchase a Windows System Builder disc (sometimes referred to as an OEM disc) which you will be able to install on an empty hard drive or clean install over a non-upgrade-valid version of Windows (e.g. Windows 98, etc.) or a non-Windows operating system.

How do I Move Windows Installation Files From a DVD to a Flash Drive?

This process isn’t quite as easy as it might sound, so some dedicated tutorials are required:

• How to Install Windows 10 From a USB Device
• How to Install Windows 8 From a USB Device
• How to Install Windows 7 From a USB Device

Unfortunately, just copying the files from your Windows installation disc to an empty flash drive won’t do.

How do I Get an ISO File on a DVD or Flash Drive so I Can Install Windows?

That ISO file you have is a perfect image of a Windows installation disc, contained in a neat one-file package. However, you can’t just copy that file to a disc or a flash drive and expect to use that to install Windows.

If you want to install Windows from a DVD, see How to Burn an ISO File to a DVD for instructions.

If you want to install Windows from a flash drive, you can follow one of the same tutorials we linked to in the last question.

Can I Install My Copy of Windows on a New PC as Long as I Remove It From My Previous Computer?

Yes. The biggest point being: you must remove Windows from the old computer before you activate it on the new one. In other words, you can only have your copy of Windows running on one computer at a time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you installed an upgrade licensed copy of Windows on a computer and then want to use it on another computer, the same «upgrade rules» apply: you’ll need to have a previous version of Windows on the computer before installing the upgrade.

Are There Limits on Reinstalling Windows on Different Computers?

There are no limits to the number of computers that you reinstall Windows onto so long as you follow the rules discussed in the last question.

Do I Have to Buy Another Copy of Windows If I Want to Install It on Another Computer?

The answer to this is probably clear if you’ve read the last few answers, but: Yes, you will need to buy a license to install Windows on each and every computer or device you plan on using it on.

Why Didn’t the Windows Setup Program Begin Even Though My Windows DVD (or Flash Drive) is in the Computer?

Chances are good that the boot order in BIOS or UEFI is not properly configured to look at your optical drive or USB ports for bootable media before it checks for the same from the hard drive.

See How to Change the Boot Order in BIOS or UEFI for help.

What do I do if my Computer Freezes (or Restarts or Gets a BSOD) During the Windows Installation Process?

Try installing Windows again. Sometimes problems during a Windows installation are temporary, so another shot is a good first step. If you’re doing a clean install, just start the process over again. Since part of a clean install involves formatting the drive, whatever issues might exist with this partial installation will be gone.

If just starting the Windows install over again doesn’t work, try removing/unplugging any unnecessary hardware from your computer before starting the installation process. The Windows setup process could stall or produce an error if it’s having an issue installing some piece of hardware. It’s much easier to troubleshoot an installation problem with a piece of hardware once Windows is up and running.

Finally, be sure that your computer’s BIOS or UEFI is updated. These updates by your computer or motherboard manufacturer often correct compatibility issues with operating systems like Windows.

How Does Windows Already Know My Phone Number?

Near the end of some Windows setup processes, if you choose to use a Microsoft Account to sign in to Windows, you’ll be asked to provide or verify your phone number.

If your phone number is already listed, it just means that you’ve previously provided it to Microsoft when you created your Microsoft Account. You probably have a Microsoft Account if you’ve ever logged in to another Microsoft service in the past.

Is There a Price Difference Between a Download and a Boxed Copy of Windows?

The majority of what you’re paying for is the license to use Windows, so downloading it isn’t advantageous from a cost standpoint as much as it is from an ease-of-use or quick turnaround perspective.

Are the Major Windows 11 Updates Free?

Yes. All Windows 11 updates are free. Learn how to check for and install Windows updates.

Thanks for letting us know!

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Installing Windows 10 may be required if you bought a laptop without a preinstalled operating system. Also, you may need to reinstall Windows 10 in case of problems with the OS. In any case, you need to know how to install Windows 10 yourself, so as not to overpay the computer masters. In fact, installing Windows 10 is a very easy process. The main thing is to understand the main points.

Before you start looking at the most complete guide to installing Windows 10 on a computer and apply the knowledge gained in practice – take a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of memory in your hands. When the flash drive is in your hands, you can start installing the distribution kit.

Our team tried to write the most complete instructions for installing Windows 10. But if you have any questions, you can always ask them in the comments!

Installing windows 10 – preparation stage

The flash drive is the main tool with which the operating system will be installed. The first step is to prepare the USB stick. There is no difference whether the flash drive will be 3.0 or 2.0, and this will not affect anything else except the write / install speed. The next stage is the presence of an image from which you will need to write the system to the drive. The image, or as it is also called, the installation files of the Windows 10 system can be found on various Internet resources. Most often, Windows images that “walk on the Internet” are supplemented with various modifications. Such images can limit the functionality of Windows 10 or are crammed with software that does not bring anything good to the end user.

The danger of installing pirated Windows was and will be. If you have no experience of interacting with them and you do not want to become an “accidental victim” of cybercriminals, it is recommended to install a legal version of the OS.

But you can find a clean, legal or original Windows 10 “without modifications” and write it to a USB flash drive in this way:

1. Insert the flash drive into the USB port of the computer (it will be displayed in the system with a characteristic sound and can be seen through the explorer).
2. Open any browser (Edge, Mozilla, Google and others). The computer or laptop from which you enter the browser must be connected to the Internet.
3. In any address bar / search engine in Russian, write “Download Windows 10”.
   
4. The only place that has a clean, legal image is at microsoft.com. You can download the Windows 10 installation right here. No other sites will give the desired result, but the search engine algorithm will give it, and you will receive a link to the desired page.
   
5. Then press the button “Download the tool now”.
   
6. And you download MediaCreationTool.
   
7. The browser is no longer needed, you can close it. Next, run the tool as administrator. The next stage is the preparation of the flash drive itself. If the flash drive is 3.0, then the preparation time on an average computer takes about 15 minutes.
8. Accept the license agreement after reviewing its contents.
9. Wait a while until the program offers you several options.
10. If you have Windows 10, 7 or 8 on this PC, the first item allows you to update your OS to the latest current version. To create an installation USB drive, select Create Installation Media. Choose the second item and click “Next”.
11. Uncheck the “use recommended settings” checkbox. And if required, choose your language, bit depth (if in doubt, or make a USB flash drive universal, put “both” in the bit width field). But remember that 32-bit Windows is needed only for some ancient devices with less than 4 GB of RAM. That is, always install 64-bit Windows 10.
12. Next, you have a choice between an ISO file or a USB device. If you don’t want to make a bootable USB flash drive now, but you need a system image, choose the ISO file. This will save the image in ISO format to your PC’s hard drive so you can use it in the future for recording without having to go back to the Internet.
13. To write the system to a USB flash drive, you need to select “USB device”.
14. You need to be careful here. If several drives or flash drives are connected to the computer, you should choose the correct one, because before recording, the program will completely format the flash drive into the FAT32 file system necessary for operation.
15. You can make sure that the desired drive is under the same letter, you can use the explorer.
16. Next comes a long procedure for creating the media itself, divided into two stages. The first step is downloading the image. The second stage is installing the distribution kit on a USB flash drive.
17. After complete installation, the files will be on the media, and the data carrier itself can be used to install Windows 10 from a USB flash drive to a laptop or PC.

In addition to the official program Media Creation Tools, you can use other popular utilities for recording the system image to a USB flash drive:

• Ultra ISO;
• Rufus;
• WinToFlash;
• Universal USB Installer.

You can even use the command line to write the Windows 10 distribution to a USB flash drive.

But the easiest way to understand and implement is the way to work with the official Media Creation Tools, so stick with it.

Installing Windows 10: Different Ways to Install

In general, installing Windows 10 from a USB flash drive comes down to one thing – you run the system installation file and use the installation wizard to install Windows on your computer. But, there are differences in how and in what “environment” you can run the installer. The next method should be chosen based on the needs of what the computer provides you.

Clean install of Windows 10

The mistake of many newbies is that to install the system, they turn on the computer, wait for Windows to load (which needs to be reinstalled) and try to start the installation from the flash drive. It is not advisable to do this, since this method will more often lead to a failed installation of the system.

For a complete and high-quality installation of the OS, it is recommended to do a clean installation of Windows 10. “clean” means the installation of the operating system on a drive prepared and formatted for this task.

The drive can be a hard drive, an SSD, or a dedicated “area” of a drive that you can create from a drive before or during a clean install. Installation sequence:

1. Connect the USB flash drive with the distribution kit to the computer prepared for reinstalling Windows.
2. Choose to launch the flash drive through a different boot environment (Boot menu, UEFI, BIOS).
3. Select the correct installation options and format the hard drive for subsequent installation on it.
4. Run the installation and wait for it to complete.

Operating system boot environment BIOS and UEFI

Below is a list of interfaces from which to download the OS installer. The easiest way to work is through the Boot menu.

Installing Windows 10 via UEFI

As soon as you turn on the computer, the motherboard emits a short signal, and information about the manufacturer of the motherboard, PC or laptop appears on the screen, with the help of a certain key you can enter the UEFI interface.

All modern motherboards contain this interface by default. And thanks to him, you can download the installation distribution from a USB flash drive. Installing Windows 10 via UEFI starts like this:

• In the turned off computer, insert the installation USB flash drive with Windows 10 into the USB port.
• Press the Power button to turn on the PC.
• As soon as you heard a squeak and saw the motherboard splash screen, press the Del key on the computer (press continuously until UEFI opens). You can also log in using the F2 or F1 keys. On laptops, this is also F1 and F2. HP notebook PCs enable UEFI with the F10 key.
• In the UEFI interface that opens, find the advanced menu (Advanced mode). Depending on the interface, it can be placed at the bottom or top of the screen. Also, the extended menu can be called with the F7 key.
• Working with an ASUS motherboard, press F7 – go to the “Boot” section – in the Boot Option # 1 line, select USB Flash.

• If your PC has an MSI motherboard – press F7 – Setting – Boot – select “Boot option” from below – set USB: Key “name of the connected flash drive”.

• Booting from AsRock is easier – click on the “Boot” tab and set the Windows flash drive to “Boot Method # 1”.

• For Gigabyte – go to the “Setting” section and click “Boot Option # 1” on your flash drive.

If the Boot Option offers a choice between “name of the stick” and “UEFI: name of the stick”, always choose UEFI. After changing the boot priorities, press F10 and select “Save and Exit”. The download will go from the storage medium you specified.

Installing Windows 10 via BIOS

If your PC motherboard works with BIOS, this means that you are installing Windows 10 through the BIOS. In this case, you can encounter various difficulties both with operation and during the installation process.

It should be understood that only the keyboard works in the BIOS, and all manipulations are carried out through it. Remember:

• Movement – arrows up, down, left, right;
• Apply / Expand – Enter;
• Cancel / go back – Esc;
• Save parameters and exit – F10.

There are various types of BIOS such as Award, AMI, and Phenix-Award.

Due to minor changes in the interface, there is a difference in setting download priorities, but using the AMI example, it is easy to figure out where the required parameter is located:

1. Connect the USB flash drive and start the PC.
2. After a short sound, press the button to enter the BIOS (computers – Del, laptops – F2, F12, Fn + F2, etc.).
3. Go to the “Advanced” – “USB Configuration” section.
   
4. In this section, next to the “USB Function” and “USB 2.0 Controller” parameters, check that “Enabled” is selected.
5. Use Esc to go back and go to the “Boot” – “Hard Disk Drives” tab.
6. Put your USB flash drive as the first in the list of loading media.
7. Install boot from HDD to the second location.
8. Then press F10 to save the changes and click “OK”.
9. The system will offer to reboot the system while saving the specified parameters. Click OK. The reboot will start automatically. You don’t need to touch anything. We are waiting for the download from the USB flash drive to occur.

Boot-menu

We repeat almost everything that we did when loading UEFI, with a difference in the keys pressed:

• Plug in your USB flash drive and start your computer.
• As soon as the logo of the motherboard appears, press the keys to call the Boot menu. They are different for each motherboard. If your motherboard is from Asus, press F8, F11-F12 if MSI, Gigabyte motherboards are installed, and F9 if Asrock.
• If Windows 8 or 10 is currently installed on the computer, then select the USB flash drive as the bootloader with the inscription “UEFI: USB flash drive name”.

Windows 10 setup wizard

Installation of Windows 10 takes place in several stages: preparation for installation, installation, settings after installation. Thanks to the installation wizard, it’s easy:

1. Loading data from a USB flash drive starts a window where you select the language, time format and input method.
2. If everything suits you, click “Next” and then “Install”.
3. The OS offers to go through activation now. If there is no key, click “I do not have a key.” You can activate Windows 10 later, or even use it without a digital license.
4. Next, select the OS you want to install. The “Home” version is sufficient for standard work on a computer. The Pro version is installed because of the additional functions for configuring Windows required in the IT field. Education is an OS focused on learning and students.
5. Then read the license terms and accept them.
6. To start a new installation of Windows 10, click “Custom”.
7. Here you need to choose which drive Windows 10 will be installed on and prepare this drive for installation. To do this, select your hard drive and click “Format”. The formatting function will erase all data from the disk. Then click “Create”.
8. At this stage, you set the number of GB for your system and set the necessary markup for its deployment. If you select less than the maximum GB, the drive will be divided into multiple parts. One of these parts (or a whole disk) can be implemented for OS installation. After choosing the number of GB, click “Apply”.
9. Then click “OK” that the OS has created a system subkey to save its initial settings.
10. After creating the “System” and “Main” section, select “Main” and click “Next”.
11. Done. The installation process has begun. The installation time of Windows 10 directly depends on the speed of reading the flash drive and the speed of writing to the hard drive or SSD. On average, if you install an operating system from a USB 3.0 flash drive to an SSD drive via a USB 3.0 port, the installation time will take about 10 minutes. If it works via USB 2.0 and the distribution is deployed to an old hard drive, it can take up to an hour.

Typical Windows 10 installation

You can install Windows 10 on an SSD or hard drive directly from a running OS of the same family. If everything is done correctly, and this OS does not crash, then you can install the distribution kit even on the disk from which your Windows is running now. There will be no mistakes.

The only difference is that a Windows.old folder will be created, which will contain data for restoring the previous operating system.

If this method suits you, then the installation proceeds according to a similar principle:

1. Connect the USB flash drive with the distribution kit to your computer and run “Setup.exe”.
2. After checking for updates, checking your PC, and accepting the license agreement, Windows 10 Setup will start the installation process.
3. Wait for updates to check.
4. Then close everything on your PC and click Install.
5. Also, you can click on the “Change the components selected for saving” button and choose whether to save or not save your data.
6. The installation proceeds in the same way as described for a clean installation of Windows 10. You need to select the disk on which the OS will be recorded. If this is the same drive from which Windows is currently running, you do not need to format it. Just select the drive and click “Next”. The installation wizard will notify you that a Windows.old folder will be created with the files and folders of the current OS. Click “OK”.
7. As soon as you decide on the drive, the installation of the OS on the PC will begin. At some point, the PC will restart and the installation will continue outside of Windows 10. Everything will complete in the same way as if you installed the system from scratch.

Additional ways to install Windows 10

There are several other ways to install Windows. All of them are related to the fact that Windows 10 is already installed on your PC and you want to reinstall it.

For these purposes, there are several functions from the recovery section (Win + I – Update and Security):

1. Reset the PC to its original state – rollback to the initial settings of the computer if it fails. In this case, the loading of the primary parameters will be pulled up from the recovery environment. If the PC fails to do this, you can connect a USB flash drive with Windows 10 boot files so that the PC can do a recovery via a flash drive.
2. Revert to previous version – the option to install the previous version of Windows 10 from the Windows.old folder or alternative backup folders that the OS created. A good solution in terms of if the previous version worked well and the new one works with a lot of bugs.
3. The “Windows Security” section in the defender, the “New Start” option is the same as launching the installer from a USB flash drive in Windows 10 itself, only without bootable media. If an option is available, you can work with it.

The disadvantage of all methods of restoring or installing the operating system is that such a process does not give a 100% guarantee of installing Windows. Since the system is being reinstalled due to unstable operation, this could affect these functions as well.

In the end, often, instead of a “successful rollback”, you get a return to this state, a wasted time and a “Problem when returning a PC to its original state” window.

Also, these methods do not allow you to change the type of system. If you need to change “Home” to “Pro” – do a clean install.

Problems installing Windows 10

Sometimes there may be problems before starting the installation or during the process. In this section, we will analyze the errors during the installation of Windows 10 that users most often encounter.

The selected disk contains an MBR partition table

A common problem that is solved by converting MBR to GPT partitions when installing Windows 10. The bottom line is that now for hard drives and their interaction with a modern OS, you need GPT partitioning. An outdated MBR is not suitable, so it needs to be converted. In this case, all data on the disk will be deleted:

1. In the local disk selection window, press Shift + F10. Enter the command “diskpart” to launch a special program for working with disk partitioning.
   
2. Run the “List Disk” command which will show all active disks on the PC.
   
3. Select the disk with the MBR partition and run the “clean” command.
4. Then enter the “convert GPT” command followed by the “exit” command.

When everything goes well, you can use the “mark up area” or partition the drive through the disk setup and start installing Windows 10 on a GPT partition.

Could not create new or find existing section

An error during the installation of Windows 10 manifests itself in the event that the system has nowhere to create system files or there are partitions on the only hard disk that you created manually. The solution to the problem is quite simple:

1. Delete the main partition where you plan to install the OS.
   
2. If there are several partitions, and the data on them is not valuable, delete them all.
3. Allocate unallocated space, create the desired partition (or several partitions) and continue installation on one of them.
4. If it doesn’t work, just restart your computer and try again to install the OS of the partition you just created.

Installing Windows 10 – error codes

If the installation of Windows 10 is interrupted and an error appears with a specific code, try to solve it using the following methods:

0x8007025d – problem with installation files, reading or writing them.

You need to check the availability of space on the hard disk, whether the hard disk is working properly, whether the OS image and the flash drive itself are working correctly.

You can also do the:

• run the USB flash drive according to the instructions for a clean installation if this condition is not met;
• disconnect all unnecessary USB devices from the PC before installation;
• use a different flash drive with a distribution kit or a different image;
• disconnect the Ethernet cable during the OS deployment period.

0x80070570 — Indicates that there may be installation problems due to hard disk failure or RAM failure

1. 1. Disconnect the PC and remove the RAM sticks. Wipe dust off them and ports. A regular eraser works well for this, with which you erase a pencil. Also, you can swap the bars and put them in free slots. You can check the RAM using MemTest86 +. Write the utility to a USB flash drive and run it through the Boot-menu. Press “1” to start scanning.
      
   2. If there are problems with the image or USB flash drive, reinstall the bootable USB flash drive or change the USB flash drive.
   3. You can check the hard disk for errors using the Viktoria program. It can be downloaded and installed on a USB flash drive, then run under boot-menu. If there are bad ones, they can be eliminated by the program itself, if there are bad sectors, everything leads to the fact that the disk is crumbling and needs to be replaced.
      

0xc0000005 – the error appears at the very beginning, and it seems that the installation of Windows 10 is frozen.

It manifests itself most often if the computer already has one Windows of the previous version installed on the second hard disk, for example Windows 7. To solve, just physically disconnect the second disk with the operating system during installation.

0x80300001 – ошибка проявляется в случае, если на диск с разметкой MBR устанавливается Windows 10 разрядностью x64.

You can fix it by converting MBR to GPT. If this does not fix the problem, you should start compatibility mode in UEFI:

1. 1. Open the settings called “BIOS Features”.
      
   2. Then select “Windows 10 Features” or Windows 8.
      
   3. Next click on “Boot Mode Selection -” UEFI Only “.
      
   4. Do a similar operation for the “Storage Boot Option Control”.
      
   5. Click F10, click “Yes” and repeat the installation process anew.

0x80300024 is a problem with hard drives.

You should either manually format the disk on which you are installing or disconnect the drives not used for recording, if there are several of them. This is implemented through weaning drives in UEFI or physically disconnecting them in the system unit. Additionally, it is worth checking if the AHCI mode is enabled. It must be active. If it does not help, check the disk or try to install the OS on a different media.

0xc1900101 – the error often occurs when installing the OS from the update center to Windows 10.

The easiest way to fix the error is to run a clean boot of the Windows. Also, you should check if there is enough space for the installation. If there are many drives, they should be deactivated.

Installing Windows 10, error code 0x8007000d – manifested due to the inability to read or damage the installation files of the operating system

Try putting a different image on a USB flash drive, replace the USB flash drive and also make sure that the USB port you are using is working if you are installing Windows 10 on a laptop.

Required driver not found

If you see the error “no drivers found when installing Windows 10” when installing the OS, then you are doing something wrong.

To avoid the error, follow these steps:

1. Connect the USB stick with the distribution to USB 2.0 and start the installation.
2. Write down the installation files with any other program mentioned in the first section of this article.
3. Please use a different USB drive.
4. Re-download the installation file and write to the media.

If you’re trying to deploy an OS on a PC with older hardware, USB 2.0 can play a key role in a successful Windows 10 installation.

Windows 10 installation failed – this can happen when the computer is quite old and cannot install the OS via USB 3.0 without proper help (drivers). Also, the error appears if there was an attempt to install the OS from a DVD-R that is damaged or poorly readable by the drive.

Final stage of installation

After installing Windows 10, the window with the primary settings is pulled up. Go through all the steps to complete the settings:

1. Select the country in which you are staying (this is necessary in order to correctly define the interface at least).
   
2. Choose a keyboard layout too.
   
3. You can choose several language packs for the keyboard.
4. The installation of Windows 10 updates will start automatically. Provided that the computer is connected to the Internet. If you do not want to install updates, then at this stage it is better to disconnect the router or Ethernet connection from the PC.
   
5. Wait while the system installs the latest updates. Do not turn off your PC to avoid compromising system stability.
   
6. Wait until the end of the update procedure.
   
7. After that, Windows 10 will report the success of the update installation and you will find yourself on the settings screen.
   
8. At this point, select “Configure for personal use.”
   
9. Then you need to sign in to your Microsoft email account or create one. If you don’t want to pull up the profile, you can create a local account with administrative rights. Later, you can authorize the Microsft account on the local profile. To create a local profile with admin rights, click “Offline account”.
   
10. Click on “Limited Features”.
    
11. Give a “Name” to the account. Some programs may not install correctly or work if the name is not in English. Therefore, it is recommended to work with a profile linked under an English name.
    
12. Then come up with a quality password. If you do not use a password, then access to the desktop will be provided unimpeded after pressing the Power button to turn on the PC.
    
13. The telemetry stage is very important. Review each item and decide if you want to leave it on or deactivate it.
    
14. After pressing the “Accept” button, wait a couple of minutes.
    
15. Done. The desktop will boot with only one basket and a control panel.

Once the installation is complete, you can start configuring Windows.

Windows 10 configuration settings

The Windows 10 operating system has a lot of settings that will be needed in certain circumstances of using Windows. But first you need to go through the main ones, which will come in handy in any case.

Account

There are two types of account that are used in Windows:

1. Local is an account that is not tied to Microsoft services. It is limited by the OS itself in many ways, and it is best used if security and interaction with services and the Microsoft store are not critical during operation.
2. Microsoft Profile – Provides a complete set of features for interacting with the OS. The downside of working through a Microsoft account is the multiple data provided to the company about the user. Most of this data can be turned off, though.

Setting up a profile, setting passwords and transferring from local to Microsoft profile and vice versa is done in one place: “Profile” – “Accounts” – “Your data”.

For example, to change your account to a local one, you should click on “Sign in with a local account instead.”

The password can be set or changed in the Login Options section. In addition to the password, there are other ways for further authorization.

A pin code is convenient for a PC. You can configure or change it without leaving the “Parameters” interface.

Telemetry

Microsoft uses a variety of options to collect information. You can control those that do not affect the security of the system and, if unnecessary, disable:

• Location

If you use a laptop or tablet on Windows 10 and often travel with it, then it makes sense to leave for some applications and the OS itself to access your location.

Applications such as maps, device search programs, weather data will provide relevant information for you. If you work on a stationary PC, you can simply disable geotagging, in most cases it is not needed.

To disable, go to “Options” – “Privacy” – “Location” – “Edit” – “Off”. Below you can pull up programs that can be provided with access to your geodata.

• Synchronization of data.

When you work with the OS through a Microsoft account, there are many options that need to be synchronized with the account. At the same time, data is stored not only on a PC, but also on Microsoft servers.

If you do not need synchronization, you can turn it off: Win + I – Accounts – “Synchronize your settings” – completely disable “Synchronization settings” or selectively for each item.

Additionally, you can disable your Microsoft account and go to local. This will de facto deactivate synchronization, but will deprive you of many different aspects, including access to the Microsoft Store, some security settings, and working with the cloud.

• Cortana – voice assistant

To enable Cortana: go to “Settings” – “Time and Language” – in the “Country or Region” line, select the United States.

It should be remembered that the voice assistant has its own telemetry parameters, which are adjusted independently of the others in the “Coratana Search setting” section.

• The lock screen is a space that can be seen not only by you, but also by other people in the vicinity.

Если вы не хотите, чтобы экран блокировки показывал лишнюю и личную информацию, нужно его изначально настроить: зайдите в «Параметры» – «Система» – «Уведомления и действия».

In the section, you can turn off everything that you do not want to see on the lock screen. If you work with Cortana, you can prevent the voice assistant from working when your PC is locked.

• Advertising identifier – used by the system to target advertisements based on interests for the user.

Naturally, this is a common practice among large corporations, and if you want to turn off the collection of information and the recommended, then you can do it simply: “Options” – “Privacy” – “General” – “Turn off”.

Installing drivers for Windows 10

Installing drivers after installing Windows 10 is done automatically, along with updates. The advantage is that there is always the right driver in the Microsoft databases for modern hardware.

But it is not always possible to install the correct device driver automatically. In this case, you need to refer to another database. For example, to the official website of the manufacturer of a PC, laptop or its component.

It is important to work and download drivers only from the manufacturers’ official websites. Otherwise, you can install the necessary driver, but in the bargain, pick up malware on the newly installed Windows 10.

It is not recommended to download software and drivers for the device from unverified sources!

Required drivers for Windows 10

1. Network;
2. CPU + Integrated Graphics;
3. Controllers;
4. Audio;
5. Video adapters.

The OS finds all the necessary drivers on its own, and for video cards, they often use programs from the supplier in order to constantly keep abreast of the latest versions.

For NVIDIA, the GeForce Experience program is used. For AMD, it is recommended to go to the official website and download the driver from there.

You can see what drivers are required for installation in the device manager.

If the driver is not installed, an exclamation mark will be displayed next to the device icon, or it will be located in the “unknown device” section. Device Manager opens by right-clicking on Start and selecting from the context list by name.

Windows 10 security

There are three main areas of Windows 10 security to follow and tweak right away:

• Login password – protects your data from prying eyes when the computer is locked (Win + L);
• Restore point – protects the system from damage, as it saves a backup copy of the working OS, to which you can “roll back”. If you give an analogy, then this is a kind of preservation, to which you can return if “something went wrong” in the system.
• Network security + activity on the PC – regulated by Windows Defender or an alternative antivirus, if you install one on the system.

Setting a Windows 10 login password

If you linked your Microsoft account, then you should have the default password. It can and should be made complex to improve security. But in order not to constantly enter it in the unlock field, use the pin code. You can configure it like this:

1. Open Options – Accounts – Login Options.
   
2. Select a Pin code and set it.
3. Now, in the blocking window, you can choose whether to enter using a pin code or password.

There are also other identification methods that are best used on laptops or laptops.

Recovery point

You can configure a restore point so that it is done automatically, or you can remember to do it manually. The first option is preferable and is configured like this:

1. In the Start search bar, type “create a restore point”.
2. Select your local disk (system) and click Configure.
   
3. Click “Enable System Protection” and select the percentage of disk space that can be used by the system for this function.
   
4. If you need to restore the system, click “Restore” here. The OS will pull up the last recommended restore point.
   
5. But you can choose another point.
   

Antivirus

If you adhere to the canons of safe surfing the Internet, use only white programs in your work, do not go to phishing pages from mailing lists, and so on – leave Windows Defender as the main one.

Otherwise, it is recommended to adopt one of the paid antiviruses, which will provide complete protection against network attacks and prevent attempts of malicious activity on the PC.

Here are the top five AV-Test home antiviruses:

1. AhnLab V3 Internet Security 9.0;
2. Avast Free AntiVirus 20.8;
3. AVG Internet Security 20.8;
4. Avira Antivirus Pro 15.0;
5. Bitdefender Internet Security 25.0.

Based on the latest report for October 2020: Eset ranks 8 in the top, Kaspersky Anti-Virus – 12, and Windows Defender – 15.

Our recommendation is to use the paid version of Malwarebytes antivirus. There will be no problem. For some reason, it was not included in the rating, although it detects many more threats.

Tips for caring for Windows 10

So that the installation of Windows 10 from a USB flash drive does not become a habit, you should take good care of the operating system and from time to time rake the data stream that passes through the computer. Unnecessary – delete, necessary – sort. For this, various processes are used on the PC.

Defragmentation Windows 10

If fragmentation is the removal of all information from the media, then defragmentation is the search and collection of all the divided parts of a file on disk into one place. The procedure allows the hard disk to work more efficiently. It can be done manually, or you can schedule it to be repeated at least once a month:

1. To start defragmentation, open Explorer, right-click on the disk and select Properties. Then, go to “Service” and click “Optimize”.
   
2. Select the drive and click “Optimize”.
   
3. To configure the execution according to the schedule, click “Change parameters”, select the frequency “monthly” and click “OK”.
   

Scanning System

From time to time, you need to check all files and folders on your computer for malware or the consequences of its operation. Antiviruses or the built-in Windows Defender will help with this:

1. In the search box, enter “Windows Security” and select the found environment.
   
2. Go to the “Virus and threat protection” section and click “Scan options”.
   
3. Click “Full Scan”.
   
4. And below the button “Scan now”.
   

Get rid of all detected viruses and potentially unwanted software immediately or work with them through the sandbox.

Browser cache

Cache data can take up a lot of disk space. Therefore, they can be cleaned up once a month. This is how it is done for the Google Chrome browser:

1. Press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + H.
2. Then click “Clear History”.
3. Select a period and “Pictures and other files saved in the cache”.
   
4. Click “Delete data”.

Cleaning the Windows 10 Registry

There are programs that allow you to optimize your PC in a few mouse clicks. One of these programs is Auslogics Boostspeed, which allows you to:

• Clear cache and cookies in any browsers at once;
• Delete junk entries from the operating system registry;
• Erase temporary files;
• Fix various bugs.

The main thing is to download the utility from the official site and use it periodically to optimize and clean it from garbage.

All in all, installing Windows 10 today is a pretty straightforward process

The Windows 10 installation process does not require any special knowledge or computer skills. To create bootable media, you need a USB flash drive and Internet access.

To install, you need to find out how to enter the UEFI or boot menu and load a USB flash drive from it. And before starting the installation, specify the correct drive.

After installing Windows 10 on your PC, take care of the stable operation of all components in the system and adjust the security settings. For long-term use, remember to optimize your operating system so that you can use it for many years.

Итак, начнем установку операционной системы Windows 7. Я рассмотрю процесс установки с нуля, т. е. все данные на логическом диске, на который будет установлена операционная система, будут уничтожены. Этот вариант рекомендуется как наиболее оптимальный и обеспечивающий максимальную эффективность работы Windows.

1. Убедитесь, что все резервные копии, пользовательские файлы, различная необходимая информация и другие данные сохранены на логическом диске, отличном от используемого для установки операционной системы Windows 7 (обычно это диск C:).
2. Перезагрузите компьютер любым доступным способом.
3. Загрузите программу настройки BIOS, нажав клавишу на клавиатуре, указанную в нижней части экрана в строке вида Press Del for BIOS setup (Нажмите клавишу Del для настройки BIOS). Обычно для этого используется клавиша . Если загрузить программу настройки BIOS с первого раза не получилось, и началась загрузка операционной системы, перезагрузите компьютер и попробуйте нажать указанную на экране клавишу еще раз.
4. В появившемся меню настройки BIOS перейдите на вкладку вида Boot Devices (Устройства загрузки) и в группе First Boot Device (Первое загрузочное устройство) установите значение CD-ROM.
5. В группе Second Boot Device (Второе загрузочное устройство) установите значение HDD.
6. Перейдите на вкладку вида Save & Exit (Сохранить и выйти) и выберите пункт Save & Exit (Сохранить и выйти). На экране появится диалоговое окно с запросом подтверждения сохранения внесенных изменений.
7. Нажмите кнопку Yes (Да). Изменения будут сохранены, программа настройки BIOS закроется, а компьютер будет перезагружен.

Таким образом будет установлен порядок загрузки устройств компьютера. Первым будет загружен привод оптических дисков и, при наличии загрузочного диска с дистрибутивом Windows, после подтверждения будет запущен процесс установки Windows. Вторым будет загружен жесткий диск компьютера. Разумеется, если загрузочный диск в привод оптических дисков не будет установлен, сразу будет происходить загрузка операционной системы с жесткого диска.

Следует учитывать, что названия элементов управления программы настройки BIOS приведены примерные, и в большинстве случаев появившиеся на экране вашего компьютера надписи будут отличаться от приведенных. В случае если по смыслу не удается определить элементы управления, определяющие приоритет загрузки устройств, вы можете обратиться к документации, прилагаемой к материнской плате вашего компьютера, или к более сведущему человеку. Изменять параметры BIOS, если вы точно не уверены в результате совершаемых действий, строго не рекомендуется! Это может привести к невозможности загрузки компьютера.

После того как порядок загрузки устройств определен, можно приступить собственно к установке Windows:

1. Установите диск с дистрибутивом Windows 7 в лоток привода оптических дисков и закройте его.
2. Начните загрузку компьютера.
3. После появления на экране надписи вида Нажмите любую клавишу для загрузки с диска CD или DVD (Press any key to boot from CD or DVD) нажмите любую клавишу на клавиатуре, например Enter. Начнется процесс считывания установочных файлов операционной системы, сопровождаемый сообщениями о загрузке файлов и операционной системы. Через некоторое время на экране появится диалоговое окно Установка Windows (Install Windows), изображенное на рис. 2.1. Диалоговое окно Установка Windows (Install Windows) предназначено для выбора пользователем первостепенных параметров устанавливаемой операционной системы, таких как язык интерфейса операционной системы и формат времени. Как правило, в зависимости от дистрибутива и настроек компьютера эти параметры определяются автоматически. Тем не менее, при необходимости вы можете их изменить.
4. Убедитесь, что в открывающемся списке Устанавливаемый язык (Language to install) выбран пункт Русский (Russian).
5. Убедитесь, что в открывающемся списке Формат времени и денежных единиц (Time and currency format) выбран пункт Русский (Россия) (Russian (Russia)).
6. Убедитесь, что в открывающемся списке Раскладка клавиатуры или метод ввода (Keyboard or input format) выбран пункт Русская (Russian).
7. Нажмите кнопку Далее (Next). Вид диалогового окна Установка Windows (Install Windows) изменится (рис. 2.2). На этом этапе вы можете приступить к установке операционной системы Windows 7 или же выполнить две другие задачи. Щелкнув мышью на ссылке Что следует знать перед выполнением установки Windows (What to know before installing Windows), вы откроете окно справочной системы Windows с подробными сведениями о процессе установки операционной системы Windows 7. Переход по ссылке Восстановление системы (Repair your computer) вызывает окно инструмента восстановления, предназначенного для восстановления уже установленной, но неработоспособной операционной системы.



Рис. 2.2. Подготовка к установке Windows 7

8. Щелкните мышью на кнопке Установить (Install now). Запустится процесс установки операционной системы Windows 7, о чем свидетельствует появившееся сообщение Начало установки (Setup is starting). Спустя некоторое время на экране появится диалоговое окно с текстом лицензионного соглашения.
9. Прочитайте лицензионное соглашение и, если вы согласны с его пунктами, установите флажок Я принимаю условия соглашения (I accept the license terms). В противном случае необходимо прекратить установку операционной системы.
10. Нажмите кнопку Далее (Next). В появившемся диалоговом окне будет предложено выбрать тип установки операционной системы Windows 7 (рис. 2.3). Как видно из рис. 2.3, типов установки два: Обновление (Upgrade) и Полная установка (дополнительные параметры) (Custom (advanced)). Первый из них предназначен для обновления уже установленной операционной системы Windows версии не ниже Vista. При этом все настройки, файлы и установленные программы будут сохранены.

    

    Рис. 2.3. Выбор типа установки Windows 7

    Важно отметить, что тип установки Обновление (Upgrade) доступен, только если вы запустили процесс установки Windows 7 из загруженной обновляемой системы. Проще говоря, вам нужно запустить компьютер обычным способом, загрузить уже установленную операционную систему, и уже из Windows начинать процесс установки. Хотя описываемый способ удобен, т. к. позволяет автоматически сохранить пользовательские данные, рекомендуется установить операционную систему «c нуля», выбрав пункт Полная установка (дополнительные параметры) (Custom (advanced)).

    Таким образом вы сможете достичь максимальной производительности новой операционной системы вследствие отсутствия старых неиспользуемых файлов и фрагментации диска, очень похожа на разборка крайслер. Также тип установки Полная установка (дополнительные параметры) (Custom (advanced)) следует выбирать, если Windows 7 устанавливается на новый компьютер, необходимо установить Windows 7 в другой раздел жесткого диска или же обновление не поддерживается установленной (старой) версией операционной системы. Кроме того, при выборе пункта Полная установка (дополнительные параметры) (Custom (advanced)) вам станут доступны инструменты управления разделами жесткого диска, которые вы можете создавать, удалять и форматировать.

11. Щелкните мышью на кнопке Полная установка (дополнительные параметры) (Custom (advanced)). Содержимое диалогового окна изменится, и вы увидите таблицу с разделами вашего жесткого диска. Если жесткий диск не распознается программой установки, вы можете вручную установить драйвер для него. Для этого следует перейти по ссылке Загрузка (Load driver). Появится диалоговое окно с предложением подключить устройство, содержащее драйвер (это может быть дискета, CD-, DVD- или Flash-диск), и нажать кнопку OK. Если же драйвер не обнаруживается, вы можете вручную выбрать файл с драйвером, нажав кнопку Обзор (Browse). После установки драйвера может потребоваться обновление содержимого таблицы с разделами жесткого диска. Для этого служит команда Обновить (Refresh).
12. Щелкните мышью на ссылке Настройка диска (Drive Options (advanced)). Под таблицей с разделами жесткого диска появятся команды, позволяющие управлять разделами (рис. 2.4). Команда Создать (New) предназначена для создания новых разделов в незанятом месте (Unallocated Space) жесткого диска. После ее выбора появятся поле ввода Размер (Size), предназначенное для указания размера создаваемого раздела в мегабайтах (значение максимально доступного размера раздела уже установлено), и кнопки Применить (Apply) и Отмена (Cancel), позволяющие подтвердить создание раздела или отменить операцию. Следует отметить, что при создании нового раздела Windows автоматически создает дополнительный раздел небольшого объема, предназначенный для хранения некоторых системных данных, необходимых для корректного функционирования системы. Команда Форматировать (Format) предназначена для форматирования (уничтожения всех данных) раздела. Команда Расширить (Expand) служит для увеличения объема созданного раздела за счет неразмеченного пространства. Разумеется, если неразмеченное пространство отсутствует, то и эта команда недоступна. Команда Удалить (Delete) позволяет удалить созданный раздел.

    

    Рис. 2.4. Команды, предназначенные для управления разделами жесткого диска

    Также вы можете не создавать разделы самостоятельно, а оставить пространство неразмеченным. В этом случае операционная система Windows разметит пространство жесткого диска за вас, и после загрузки будет доступен один раздел с объемом равным емкости вашего жесткого диска.

13. Нажмите кнопку Далее (Next). Начнется процесс установки операционной системы Windows 7 (рис. 2.5). Любые операции с разделами жесткого диска указанными командами приведут к уничтожению всех данных (файлов и папок) на жестком диске! Если вы намерены удалять старые разделы и создавать новые — прежде необходимо сохранить все пользовательские файлы (документы, резервные копии программ и т. п.) на внешний носитель, например, CD- или DVD-диск, внешний жесткий диск или Flash-устройство. Следует учитывать, что если вы намерены установить операционную систему в раздел (диск) C:, причем все резервные файлы скопированы в иной раздел (например, E: или D:), то можно и нужно отформатировать раздел C: перед установкой Windows командой Форматировать (Format).

Как видно из списка задач, процесс установки операционной системы Windows 7 состоит из пяти этапов: Копирование файлов Windows (Copying Windows files), Расширение файлов Windows (Expanding Windows files), Установка компонентов (Installing features), Установка обновлений (Installing updates) и Завершение установки (Completing installation). В процессе установки компьютер будет автоматически перезагружен несколько раз.

Важно отметить, что после перезагрузки, произошедшей во время установки Windows, следует проигнорировать предложение вида Нажмите любую клавишу для загрузки с диска CD или DVD (Press any key to boot from CD or DVD) и продолжить загрузку компьютера со следующего устройства — жесткого диска. Также, во время перезагрузки вы можете снова загрузить программу настройки BIOS и вернуть параметры загрузки устройств, например, установив первым жесткий диск.

О процессе установки операционной системы Windows 7 также информирует зеленый индикатор в виде полосы, расположенный в нижней части экрана. Индикатор разделен на две части: Сбор информации (Collecting information) и Установка Windows (Installing Windows). Исходя из уровня заполнения индикатора, можно судить о примерном времени завершения установки. В зависимости от производительности и типа комплектующих компьютера установка может продолжаться различное время, в среднем составляющее примерно 30 минут. Как правило, процесс установки не требует вмешательства пользователя и будет завершен автоматически.