Install: Windows On Hard Drive

4 GB minimum for Windows 11 (2 GB for Windows 10 64-bit).

Turn on the computer and immediately start tapping the system setup key. Common keys include: or Delete: For entering BIOS/UEFI settings. install windows on hard drive

With preparations complete, the physical and low-level software setup begins. The computer is powered off, and the bootable Windows USB drive is inserted. The user then enters the system’s BIOS or UEFI firmware (usually by pressing a key such as F2, Del, or Esc during startup). Inside this firmware interface, two critical changes are made: first, the boot order is modified so that the USB drive precedes the internal hard drive; second, if using a modern system, the SATA mode is set to AHCI (rather than IDE) for optimal performance, and Secure Boot may be enabled for security. After saving these changes and rebooting, the computer loads the Windows setup environment. The installer prompts for language, time, and keyboard preferences, followed by a license key entry. The key moment arrives on the “installation type” screen: the user must select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced),” not “Upgrade,” because a fresh start on a hard drive requires a clean partition layout. 4 GB minimum for Windows 11 (2 GB for Windows 10 64-bit)

+-------------------------------------------------------+ | Where do you want to install Windows? | +-------------------------------------------------------+ | Name Total Size Free Space | | Drive 0 Unallocated Space 931.5 GB 931.5 GB | | | +-------------------------------------------------------+ | [Refresh] [Delete] [Format] [New] [Load Driver] | +-------------------------------------------------------+ Scenario A: Brand New Hard Drive Inside this firmware interface, two critical changes are

Log in with your Microsoft Account. If you prefer a local account on Windows 11 Pro, disconnect your internet before this step or use the oobe\bypassnro command in the command prompt (

After the final reboot, Windows will present the initial setup customization screens.

Confirm your country or region, and verify your keyboard layout.