A few months ago, I had to get a new laptop when my old one crashed. After getting it, I realized it was not equipped with Windows 10, so I had to install it myself. The process was a little bit tricky, and I certainly made a few mistakes, but I was able to do it.
To make sure you do not make the same mistakes, and also to make the installation process as seamless as possible, I have put together a step-by-step guide on how to install Windows 10 on a new PC without an operating system. Enjoy!
How to install Windows 10 on a new PC without an operating system – step by step
To install Windows 10 on a new PC without an operating system, you are going to need a Windows 10 installation disk or flash drive/USB. After you have gotten the OS you need, follow these steps to install Windows 10.
- Step one: Insert the Windows 10 installation CD or USB into your PC.
- Step two: Reboot the computer. To do this, go to the start icon. Click on the power icon, and click restart.
- Step three: After rebooting the PC, you will want to open the BIOS page. Here is how you can do that. You just need to press and hold the DEL or F2 keys on your keyboard.
- Step four: Once you open the BIOS page, find the “Boot” or “Boot Order” section. Click on Boot.
- Step five: You will now be faced with a few options. You’ll have to select the device to boot from. Choose the installation media you decided to go with. It could be a CD, a USB flash drive, etc.
- Step six: Save your bios settings by pressing the prompted key on your keyboard. After pressing the “save and exit” key, your PC will automatically restart.
After restarting you may need to press the “Enter” key to confirm your changes. Then you’re good to go!
Tips for getting the most out of your new operating system
So now you have installed your new OS, there are so many features and neat tricks you can do with it. But we’ll only show you a few to get you started.
Optimized Windows Searches
If you realize that searching for stuff on your laptop is taking too long, you can optimize your search to make it quicker. Open your PC settings, go to search, and then “search Windows”. Set your search settings to “classic” instead of enhanced. With the enhanced option, you index your entire computer. This consumes power and can be a real-time-waster. By switching to classic, you can cut things down, spend less time, and save more power.
Declutter your display
A messy display can be quite distracting. Luckily, you can get rid of all that clutter by simply selecting the window you do like and shaking it on your screen. Doing this will minimize all the other windows. Your display is clear now! To bring the other windows back, just repeat the same process.
Windows Master Control Panel shortcut
IT professionals or other users who would like access to all control panels from one folder will appreciate what creating the Windows Master Control Panel shortcut can do. To enable this, create a new folder on your desktop and rename it with the code below.
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Double-click and have fun with it!
Customize the Command Prompt
You can change the controls, font, layout, colors, and cursor in the command prompt of your PC if you’re into that. Open the Command Prompt and right-click on the top bar. Click on “Properties” and have fun personalizing your experience!
Dark and Light Mode
With Windows 10, you have control over what color themes you would like on your PC. To change the theme, open your settings, go to personalization, and then open “colors”. You can juggle between light and dark mode from this section, depending on your preference. Whichever setting you choose will affect your computer’s Start menu, taskbar, action center, File Explorer, settings menus, etc.
Best laptop and desktop specs to run Windows 10
To be able to effectively run Windows 10 on your computer, it will need to have these specs.
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
- Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display: 1024 x 600 or above
Of course, having an internet connection is a prerequisite. A viable Microsoft account is a must too.
Read also: Sound Only Coming Out of One Speaker On iPhones and Windows 10 laptops? Best Fixes
How do I reinstall Windows 10 without losing data or programs?
If you’d like to reinstall Windows 10 but you do not want to lose any of your files, then don’t worry. Simply follow this step-by-step guide.
- Step one: Open your PC settings and click on “Update & Security.”
- Step two: On the left side of your screen, you’ll see the “Recovery” option. Click on it.
- Step three: Select “Reset this PC” and click “Get started.”
- Step four: You’ll see a pop-up message. Be sure to select the “Keep my files” option to retain all your existing data.
- Step five: If you are currently running an old Windows version, you’ll get a warning message. Simply click on “Next”.
- Step six: In the next interface, select the “Reset” icon. Your computer will restart and reinstall Windows 10.
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John follows everything happening in the tech industry, from the latest gadget launches to some of the big-name moves in the industry. He covers opinionated pieces and writes on some of the biggest names in the industry. John is also a freelance writer, so he shares articles on freelancing every now and then. email: john@tekpip.com