Windows 10
Windows 10
To install Windows 10, you need to download the ISO file from Microsoft's site onto a USB drive. Connect the USB to your new computer and power it on. Enter the BIOS settings and boot from the USB. Follow the installation steps, which are straightforward—just keep pressing "next" until you're ready. For activation, you can purchase Windows from Microsoft or use unofficial sources, though unactivated versions won't allow you to change your wallpaper.
Setting up Windows 10 feels similar to installing Windows 7, but after the install you must turn off, adjust, and remove parts of the system to make it functional. Tip: You can't disable updates or pause them, so be ready for a strong response if you're interrupted during an online ranked game—your team, the opposing side, and your account could get banned after 21 days for going AFK. If your target board supports W7 drivers, just install them instead of W10.
This setup is straightforward with Windows 10. The installation feels much like older versions, maintaining a familiar layout. Using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool (link provided) to prepare a USB drive will let you boot directly from it, speeding up the process. Windows 10 resembles Windows 7 in many ways, though the Control Panel is largely gone, replaced by modern Settings panels accessible via Start > Settings (gear icon). Once installed and you’ve created an account, Windows will automatically perform updates, driver checks, app updates, and indexing. For a seamless experience, wait until updates complete before making any changes. You can monitor progress by ensuring the Start menu no longer shows a "down" arrow and confirming updates appear in the Store app. The update process may take minutes to hours, depending on your connection and hardware.
I believe certain Windows 10 keys (OEM keys) need to be activated at installation and that it doesn't give you the option to activate later. Last time I installed Windows I had this issue. I tried to activate after I had already installed and started setting things up. It wouldn't accept my key. I had to format and then reinstall and activate with the key when prompted during the installation process. So I guess it depends on the kind of key you have. (Unless there's some kind of trick I don't know about?)
I only tried it once and after four days of updates I thought I could relax and play DOTA. But within six minutes the game crashed—100% bandwidth used, no way to stop it, and even restarting didn’t help. It shut down my PC while I was still in the game, trying to teleport my hero through the map because of my poor ping. That operating system is just a terrible joke.
Choosing a local account is better than relying on a Microsoft account.