How to Clean Install Windows 10 and Configure It
This tutorial shows how to install a clean copy of Windows 10 and configure it for first time use. First of all, you have to download Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft’s website. After that, create bootable installation media.
You can create bootable DVD disc or a bootable USB disk depending upon your requirements. Once you have created installation media, you can continue the installation process. Let’s take a look at system requirements to install Windows 10.
SEE ALSO: How to Clean Install Windows 11 on your PC with Unsupported Hardware?
System Requirements for Windows 10
- Processor: 1 Gigahertz (GHz) or faster.
- RAM: 1 Gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit Windows 10
- Free hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit or 32 GB for 64-bit version.
- Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
We have divided Windows 10 installation process into two parts – Windows 10 OS installation and Windows 10 Configuration for the first time use. So, let’s start with the first part, i.e. Windows 10 OS installation.
A) Install Clean Copy of Windows 10 on New Computer
Step 1: Boot from USB
First of all, download Windows 10 if you haven’t downloaded it already. Next, setup your PC to boot from desired installation media. Click the links below to see how to setup BIOS:
After setting up BIOS, insert Windows 10 Installation Media into your PC and restart it. Here, we are taking example of USB. Press any key when you see “Press any key to boot from USB or CD/DVD…“.
Windows 10 setup will start loading necessary files. After that Windows Setup will start. Select Language, Time and currency format, Keyboard and click Next.
Next, click on Install Now to install a clean copy of Windows 10.
Step 2: Enter Product Key and Select Windows 10 Version
You will be prompted to enter your Windows 10 product key. If you have the key, type it in the space provided. And if you want to do it later, click on “I don’t have product key“.
NOTE: If your computer has built-in digital license for Windows 10, you might not see this screen.
If you are using a multi-version installation media, you might be prompted to select desired version of Windows 10. Now, select the version you want to install and click Next.
NOTE: If your computer has built-in digital license for Windows 10, it will automatically select Windows 10 version based on the license and you may not see this screen.
Step 3: Accept License Agreement and Select Install Type
Now you will see license terms, Check the check-box next to “I accept the license terms” and click on Next.
You will now see two options for installing Windows 10: Upgrade and Custom. Select Custom to clean install Windows 10. Upgrade is used to install Windows 10 over previous versions of Windows.
NOTE: You can select Upgrade option only when you are running Windows 10 setup from existing Windows. If you are running setup from BIOS, you won’t be able to upgrade.
SEE ALSO: How to Upgrade from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10?
Step 4: Create New Partition from Unallocated Space
Now you will see list of hard disk partitions on your PC available for installation. If you don’t have partitions already created, you can create new partition here. First, select unallocated space and then click on New.
Next, enter the size of new partition and click on Apply. In this tutorial we have created 50 GB (51200 MB) partition for installing Windows 10.
You might see a warning about additional partitions being created by Windows 10 setup for system files. Click OK to proceed.
New partition of selected size and default System Reserved partition will be created. We will use this newly created partition for clean install of Windows 10.
Step 5: Start Clean Install of Windows 10
Now that we have partitions ready for Windows 10 installation, select newly created partition other than System Reserved and click Next.
Windows installation will start. This is going to take some time, sit back and relax.
After successful installation of Windows 10 OS, your PC will restart. After the reboot, Windows will show you configuration steps. It’s time to configure your Windows 10 for the first time use.
B) Configure Windows 10 for First Time Use
Step 1: Region and Keyboard Settings
After the reboot, Windows 10 will show you configuration options. So, it’s time to personalize your Windows 10. Let’s start with Basics. Select your region and click Yes.
Next, you will select the keyboard layout for your Windows 10. So, select desired layout and click Yes.
Furthermore, you will see option to add another keyboard layout, simply click Skip if you need only one keyboard layout.
Step 2: Network Settings
Now, is the time to configure the network. You will see the list of available connections on Network screen. If you wish to connect a network, you can do so here.
NOTE: If you connect internet during setup, you won’t be able to create local account on your Windows 10. To create local account on Windows 10, disconnect your network first.
To continue Windows 10 configuration without internet, first disconnect internet and click on “I don’t have internet” in the bottom-left corner.
You will see possible options you can do with internet, but click on “Continue with limited setup“. Otherwise, you won’t be able to create local account in the next step and Windows 10 will force you to login with Microsoft account.
SEE ALSO: How to Skip Network Check in Windows 11 Home and Create Local Account during Initial Setup?
Step 3: Create First Account in Windows 10
After configuring network settings, it’s time to create accounts. Type the username for creating first account in Windows 10 and click Next.
Next, you will be prompted to create password for your user account. Enter the password and click Next. Again, you will be prompted to re-enter your password, enter same password and click Next.
After creating the password, Windows 10 will ask you to setup 3 security questions. Select 3 security questions of your choice and save your answers by clicking Next.
Step 4: Configure Privacy and Cortana settings
It’s time to configure your Privacy settings. Select desired settings by enabling or disabling switches and click Accept.
Next, you may be prompted to configure Activity History settings. If you wish to use Activity history, click Yes otherwise click No.
After that, it’s time to configure Cortana. You can click on Accept to setup Cortana settings. And if you wish to do it later, simply click on Not now.
SEE ALSO: How to Setup and Use Cortana on Windows 10?
Step 5: Windows 10 Desktop
After configuring settings, Windows 10 will prepare your profile. It may take few minutes. After profile setup is complete, you will finally see Windows 10 desktop. Your new Windows 10 is now ready to be used and played with. Clean install of Windows 10 is complete now.
Clean Install and Configure Widows 10
Now you have successfully installed Windows 10 on your PC. You can now start installing your favorite programs. We recommend that you run Windows Update first to get latest Windows patches and drivers. Remember you can change Themes and other personalization settings only after activating your Windows 10.
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NOTE: This tutorial is for installing Windows 10 on new PC, if you wish to upgrade your existing Windows to Windows 10, check Windows 10 upgrade tutorial here.
