How to install windows 10 on a computer or a notebook? This operating system can be installed in the same way as its previous versions of this system. But there is some nuances in the installation process of Windows 10. This article describes the whole installation process.
How to start? At first, you have to find out which version of Windows 10 to install - 32-bit or 64-bit. If your computer has a 32-bit processor (just like Athlon 64, Athlon II and so on), you'll need 32-bit version of Windows 10, otherwise you can install any version of Windows 10, but, of course, it is better to install 64-bit version because the 64-bit version allows you to utilize more memory.
How to find out what processor you have - 32-bit or 64-bit? It is described in the article "How to find out if your CPU is 32-bit or 64-bit", but this is suitable only for computers with already installed operating system.
There are minimum hardware requirements for Windows 10:
Be sure that your system complies to these specifications. Note the WDDM 1.0 or higher driver - if your graphic card doesn't support it, you could use only low-resolution mode without acceleration using a standard Microsoft driver.
Where to get Windows 10? You can download it from the Microsoft site: download Windows 10 here. You have to download a special tool from that site. It is an exe file, 32-bit or 64-bit version, that download Windows 10 ISO file and save it to yore hard drive. If you are using Windows XP, there is available an ISO file (Win10_English_x32.iso or Win10_English_x64.iso, it depends on your choice). But using Windows XP, you can't install Windows 10 form this system, but there is a way - read the article How to install Windows 10 from Windows XP without DVD or USB stick.
After choosing an appropriate version of Windows 10 to install (32-bit or 64-bit), switch the boot up order in BIOS to boot from DVDROM/CDROM, insert a CD/DVD and restart the computer. So we begin the installation process.
At first, you'll see a blue window and under it the circle animation. This is the boot screen. The circle animation shows that the computer is not hung up or frozen.
After that a window will appear and ask for the language to install, the time and currency format, and the keyboard and input method.
Select what you want, and press the button "Next". In another window press the button "Install now".
After that, the window with License Agreement will show up.
Now you have to accept the License Agreement for Windows 10. Then you have to choose what you want - to upgrade an existing version of Windows or make a new custom instal - "Upgrade" or "Custom" options.
If you have any previously installed Windows on your PC, then you have to choose the "Upgrade" option, in this case all settings and files will be preserved. If you have a new PC, or you want to install Windows 10 on a new hard drive, or you want to do a clean install, then you have to choose the "Custom" option - but you have to save all your data on a flash drive or CD/DVD, because all your files will be deleted!
In our case the "Custom" option has been chosen, and now the next window asks for a hard drive to install Windows 10 on.
Select the hard drive and press the button "Next" and you'll be taken to the window that shows the installation process.
The installation will copy files, and after that, the system will need to reboot.
Now when the system boots from CD/DVD, you'll see the message Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.....
Don't press any key, now the system will be redirected to boot from the hard drive. There will be a message about the installation progress.
One more reboot will occur, and you'll see a screen with three options - "Get online", "Settings", "Sigh in".
Let's choose the "Settings" option. There will be another screen with two buttons "Use express settings" and "Customize".
In our installation, the button "Use express settings" has been chosen, Windows 10 trying to connect to the internet, but because it is disconnected from the internet (see the explanation above), the screen with buttons "Try again" and "Create a local account" appears.
Lets' choose the button "Create a local account". We have to enter a user name, a password (and confirm it), and a password hint. Windows 10 will ask for the user name and password on every login.
Warning! If you have an alternative keyboard and input method, be aware it switched in English (use "ALT+Shift" key combination to switch languages).
Now press the button "Finish", and you can see some psychedelic message from Microsoft (in reality, the colors change very smoothly, you can see the video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCVODX2zXrA).
And now we see the desktop of Windows 10.
That's all, the installation of Windows 10 is completed. Now you can connect the internet and the system will install all drivers. If Windows 10 can't find necessary drivers, then insert a disk with drivers into CD/DVD ROM and install them.
And at the end of the article, let's mention about Windows 10 activation. To do it, you have to click the button "Start", then click on "Settings" and select "Update & Security", then click on "Activation". After that, press the button "Change product key". There will be the window in which you have to enter a product key for Windows 10.