This guide is for PCs without an existing operating system or PCs that will have its main hard drive reformatted completely. We always recommend clean install guide because it rids your PC of unnecessary system files that can take up disk space or slow down your PC, however, note that this will delete all files on the hard drive where Windows 10 will be installed. It is very important to backup your important files before reformatting your hard drive. Kindly prepare a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of disk space. This USB drive will be reformatted to create a bootable installation media so ensure that you backup any important files in the USB drive before proceeding.

1. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 to download the official Windows 10 Installation Media. Click Download tool now.

2. Open the file, accept the terms and choose Create installation media. Click next.

3. You will then select the language and edition of Windows 10. Uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC to modify the language and edition. Note that our highest-end Windows 10 retail license is multi-language, allowing you install to more languages after installation should you prefer. Windows 10 is the only default edition in the media creation tool as all of its available editions are already included in the installation by default and you will be allowed to select your preferred edition during setup. Click Next when ready.

4. Insert a USB flash drive with atleast 8 GB of storage to the USB port and ensure that the USB flash drive contains no important file as all files are deleted during formatting. Select USB flash drive and click next.

5. You will then be asked to select the specific USB flash drive that you want to use. Click Next.

6. Windows will now prepare the USB flash drive by downloading the latest installation files and preparing the USB flash drive to make it bootable. Depending on your internet connection, it will take about 15 minutes to a few hours before the USB installer is ready. Avoid using your computer to speed up the process.

7. Windows will let you know that the USB flash drive is ready. Click Finish to close the Media Creation Tool.

8. Ensure that everything is ready before performing a clean install by backing up all your important files. Clean install requires formatting the drive or partition where the operating system is to be installed. Once ready, ensure that the USB installer is in the USB port and restart your PC.

9. If your PC has no operating system installed on it, it should automatically boot from the USB installer. However, if there is an existing operating system, it will always boot from the installed operating system. To be able to run the USB installer, you should know the specific key to enable boot options. Each motherboard has different key to press that will enable booting from the USB drive. It is usually F2, F5 or F8. If you know your specific key, press it repeatedly immediately after you turn on your PC and before the Windows loading screen appears and boot from the USB installer to run setup. If you are having trouble booting from the USB drive, See our guide Windows Installation – How To Boot From USB Drive.

10. Once your PC successfully boots from the USB drive, setup should now run. Select your appropriate language, time and currency format and your keyboard or input method and click Next and then click Install on the next screen.

11. You will now be asked of the 25 digit product key to activate windows and to direct setup on which operating system to install. This is where you enter the product key you purchased from us. If you are connected to the internet, Windows should activate automatically. Once product key is entered, click next. You can also choose to enter the product key at later time by clicking I dont have a product key and then selecting the appropriate Windows version that you want to install on the next screen. This is applicable to the high-end Windows 10 Pro For Workstations which do not have a default installer and will only upgrade from an existing Windows 10 Home or Pro.

12. Accept the terms and click Next.

13. You will then be asked of your installation type. It is always best to select Custom to install a fresh copy of Windows.

14. The next screen will show the list of drive and partitions. Drive number such as, Drive 0 indicates the physical drive. If you see Drive 0, Drive 1, Drive 2 – it means you have 3 physical drives on your PC. Partition is the division of the physical drive manually created by the user via Create and format hard disk partitions in the control panel. If you see Drive 0 Partition 1 and Drive 0 Partition 2 – it means the physical drive 0 is divided into 2 separate partitions. You can install Windows to any of these partitions. You can freely adjust, format or even remove partitions after setup.

15. Select the appropriate drive where you want to install Windows. If this drive contains an installation of another operating system, all files will be moved to a folder named Windows.old. Product Key Philippines recommends that you delete unnecessary partitions and format the drive first if you already made a backup of your files on a separate drive. This will speed up your PC dramatically and free up that much needed drive space specially if you are using an SSD drive.

16. Windows will now begin the installation process. Further actions are required to setup and personalize your Windows 10. Simply follow the on-screen instructions and configure Windows the way you want it. Sit back, relax and congratulations on owning the highest-tier, genuine retail license for Windows 10!

IMPORTANT: Once installation reaches 100% and PC begins the restart countdown, REMOVE THE USB INSTALLER to ensure that your PC will boot from the newly installed OS and not from the USB installer.