Undoubtedly, Windows10 is gaining popularity these days. More and more users choose to install Windows 10 when they have got a PC to install. How to install Windows 10 on new PC/new hard drive? And how about reinstalling Windows 10? In this post, we show you the full guide along with pictures.
 

How to Install Windows 10

 
Important note:
You can’t get a fresh system install without all of your apps and personal data being erased, so be sure to back up all of your important information before you begin this process. Here is the best free backup software for Windows 10.
 

Step 1. Buy Windows 10

 
*Do this on a normally running computer.
 
Today you can no longer upgrade 10 for free, so buying Windows 10 should be your first move. Please go to Microsoft Online Store to finish this process. In fact, what you are buying is a license code to activate Windows 10. Anyone can download and use Windows 10 for 30 days, but for permanent access, a license is required.
 

Step 2. Create Windows 10 Installation Media

 
*Do this on a normally running computer.
 
Traditionally, users download the ISO files of Windows 10, burn them to DVD via third-party software, and then install Windows 10 from DVD. Now things get much easier, Microsoft offers a user-friendly Microsoft Media Creation Tool to help you get the installation media ready.
 
1) Click Here to download this tool and run it. When asked, accept Microsoft software license terms and then choose “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” before you click Next.
 

 
2) The wizard will ask you to select Language, Windows Edition and Architecture. You can accept the recommended options or make your own choice. Then click Next.
 

 
3) In this step, you need to choose either to create Windows 10 install USB or to extract the ISO file (you will need to burn it to a DVD later by yourself). It’s up to you. Here take the former one for an example. Just prepare a USB drive that is large enough and click Next.
 

 
4) Select the removable drive from the list when asked, and make sure you’ve copied any files you want to keep off it because it will be formatted during the process of creating Windows installation media. Click Next to continue.
 

 
5) The tool will start downloading Windows 10 as well as any available updates to your USB drive and make it bootable, which allows you to install Windows 10 later.
 

 
6) When the process is successful, you’ll see a message that reads “Your USB flash drive is ready”. At this time, click Finish to exit.
 

 

Step 3. Install Windows 10

 
*Do this on the target computer.
 
With Windows 10 installation media, how to install Windows 10 from USB? Please follow the detailed instructions below:
 
1) Insert the drive into the PC or laptop onto which you want to install Windows 10. Then turn on the computer and it should boot from the flash drive. If not, enter the BIOS and ensure the computer is set to boot from the USB drive (using the arrow keys to put it in the first place in the boot sequence).
 
2) When the computer does boot from the USB drive, you’ll see a Windows logo, followed by a language selection. Confirm the language to install, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method. Then click Next.
 

 
3) Click Install now.
 

 
4) You will be asked to enter the license key, do as you are required. (You can also click “I don’t have a product key” to skip and choose the Windows 10 edition you want. By ignoring, you will be required to enter the license key later.)
 

 
5) Accept the license terms and click Next.
 

 
6) Here you need to make your own choice. We just take the latter one for example.
 
For your info:
[Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files, settings and applications]: This option will keep all your files, settings and applications saved in the system partition there. However, note that it is only available when a supported version of Windows is already running on the computer. [Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)]: This will remove all your files, settings and applications and give you a clean install of Windows 10. Choose this option if you want to wipe your hard drive and make a fresh start; or you are installing Windows 10 on a new hard drive. We recommend backing up your files before you continue.
 

 
7) What you’ll see in the next screen depends. If you only have a new drive connected, you will see a Drive 0 Unallocated Space listed there. Then how to install Windows 10 on a new hard drive? Just select it and click Next. Windows will then start the installation process.
 

 
If you have got more than one hard drive connected to your PC, you’ll be shown a screen with several drives called “Drive 0”, “Drive 1” and so on. And if one of the drives already contains some partitions, you will see “Drive 0 Partition 1”, “Drive 0 Partition 2”, and so on. In these cases, you’ll need to delete all these partitions by selecting each one and clicking the Delete icon. This will erase all data on the partitions, so double-check that you’re deleting partitions from the correct drive and you’re absolutely sure you’ve already backed up everything you need. Once you’ve finished deleting partitions, make sure the drive you want to use for Windows 10 installation is selected and press Next to install.
 

 
Tip: you may receive some errors in this process, such Windows cannot be installed to this disk or Windows could not format a partition on disk 0. The following two guides should be helpful:
Windows Cannot Be Installed to a Disk? Here Are Solutions
Windows Could Not Format a Partition on Disk 0 Error Code 0x80070057
 
Mostly, the installation is automatic, but keep an eye on it and answer any questions you’re asked.
 

 
Knowing how to install Windows 10 from USB, do you know how to install Windows 10 from CD/DVD? In fact, the process is just the same. Connect the CD/DVD to your PC and the computer should boot from it. The following operations are just the same.
 

Step 4: Sign in

 
*Do this on the target computer.
 
Once the installer has done its job, Windows 10 will boot, get available updates, ask you a few questions, sign in with your Microsoft account, and get everything ready. It’s well worth reading through the initial questions and options, since opting for the defaults means a fair amount of personal data will be sent to Microsoft’s servers for convenience. For example, data is stored so Cortana knows about you and can be more helpful. This isn’t sinister, but some people think different and they would refuse.
 
When you finally get to the Windows 10 desktop, connect to the network and allow a bit of time for Windows 10 searching for drivers for your hardware. The screen resolution may be wrong but will be all right after drive update. And you will have to manually transfer your files and install the apps once Windows 10 is installed.
 


 

Second-choice: Clone Windows 10

 
In addition to using Windows 10 installation disc, there is another way to install Windows 10 to another hard drive. By using professional disk cloning software, you can easily clone Windows 10 from one drive to another without having to reinstall. It’s better for you to choose this way if one of the situations is true:
 
● Your hard drive is failing and it’s urgent for you to replace the failing drive.
● Your hard drive is running out of disk space, and transferring all data to a larger one is what you prefer.
● You are intending to migrate Windows 10 to a speedy SSD.
● You have got another computer that has the same configuration to install.
 
Here MiniTool Partition Wizard Free is strongly recommended for its user-friendly interface and outstanding performance. Download the freeware and begin. (Works well on Windows 10/8/7 all editions.)
 

 
Preparatory job:
 
● Boot your PC from Windows 10 that you want to clone.
● Connect a hard drive that has the same sector size with the Windows 10 system disk to your PC (better via SATA) and make sure it is successfully recognized. Besides, ensure that the key files have been backed up and this drive can be overwritten.
● Install and launch MiniTool Partition Wizard to get the main interface.
 
Step-by-step tutorial is also shown as follows:
 
1) Select the disk which needs copying and choose Copy Disk from the action panel.
 

 
2) Select the disk you just prepared as the target disk and click Next to continue. You will receive a warning message saying all data on the target disk will be destoryed if it is not empty. Click Yes to confirm since you have finished the prepatory job.
 

 
3) Confirm the copy options by clicking Next or change some copy options before that. No matter you choose “fit partitions to entire disk” or “copy partitions with resize”, you can further move the slider bar in the lower part to customize the partition size. (Tip: the option “Use GUID Partition Table for the target disk” helps Clone MBR to GPT and is a feature only available in the paid editions.)
 

 
4) Read the information showing on the next page and keep it in mind. Then click Finish.
 

 
5) Finally, click Apply to start the Windows 10 cloning process. When you are prompted to restart your PC, do as you are told.
 

 
When all is done, set your computer to boot from the newly Windows 10 installed hard drive.
 
Tip: in addition to copying disk, you can also use MiniTool Partition Wizard to migrate OS to SSD/HD instead of cloning the whole system disk. This way is useful when you have got a smaller SSD to speed up system. (Read Migrate OS to SSD/HD VS. Copy Disk in Partition Wizard to know their differences). Here is the simple guide:
 

 
1) After doing the preparatory job mentioned above, select “Migrate OS to SSD/HD” from the toolbar on MiniTool Partition Wizard.
 

 
2) On the next page, select option B – copy the system required partitions only and click Next.
 

 
3) Next, select the prepared disk as the destination disk. Click Next to go on.
 

 
4) Here customize the copy options and preview changes that will happen on the destination disk. Click Next to continue.
 

 
5) Read the “how to boot from the new disk” tip and click Finish.
 

6) Click Apply to carry out the pending operations. Allow restarting your PC to help Partition Wizard complete its job.
 

 

 

Now It’s Your Turn

 
Reading here, you must know how to install Windows 10 to a new hard drive/used drive, and how to clone Windows 10 to another hard drive for instant usage. If you have any question towards using MiniTool software or any suggestions of Windows 10 installation, don’t hesitate to contact us via support@minitool.com.