Complete Guide to Downloading and Installing Windows 10 Using ISO or Media Creation Tool

Source: Softonic

Note: This article is for Windows users only. If you want an article on Installing Windows 10 from Linux, comment in the comment section below.

Minimum Requirements:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster.

• RAM: 1 GB (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

• Free hard disk space: 16 GB.

• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.

• A Microsoft account and Internet access.(ISO File Size: About 3.5 GB and Upgrade File Size: No Info)

Recommended Requirements:

• Processor: 2 GHz or faster.

• RAM: 4 GB or higher (32-bit or 64-bit).

• Free Hard Disk Space: 20 GB.

• Graphics Card: Microsoft DirectX 10.

• Stable Internet Connection and about 1024 bits/second, and also around 5 GB of internet package from the ISP.

Note: Recommended requirements are not necessary to run Windows 10. But if you have those, you can run your Windows efficiently.

How to check your system requirements for Windows 10?

If you do not know about your computer's specifications. No problem! Here are some steps by which you can check whether your system supports Windows 10 or not. There are many ways of identifying your computer's specifications, automatically or manually.

Checking automatically: 

To check automatically, whether your system is supported for Windows 10, there are websites that check your computer's requirements automatically. I shall recommend you to visit and check your system through CanYouRunIt website. The method below is for Windows users only.

1. First, go to this webpage which checks Windows 10 requirements.
2. Click 'Can You Run It' button.
3. It will then open a new page that will download a file named "Detection.exe".
4. Once downloaded, don't close the webpage and open it.
5. It will start processing to check the requirements of your system.
6. Wait for it and until it completes the process.
7. After that, all your system info will be displayed on that webpage and a message will be displayed whether you computer can qualify for Windows 10 or not.

Checking Manually:

You can check manually by installing some applications on your PC. I recommend you to use CPU Z, a freeware software and utility for checking your system specifications in details.

1. Download the application from the official website here.
2. Install and open it. You can see your system's specifications in details.
3. Check your specifications for the specifications given above to check whether your computer can run Windows 10.

Method 1: Installing Windows 10 Using ISO File Creating a Bootable Media.

If you are using Windows XP or Vista, then you must have to install Windows 10 using a bootable drive. To install through a bootable drive, you must have an ISO image file. Follow the ordered listed lines to do so:

Prerequisites:

• A stable and active Internet Connection with a data package of about 4 GB from your ISP.
• Make sure there is sufficient amount of storage on the location where your ISO file will be downloaded. Note: You can change the directory at the time of downloading.
• A flash drive or DVD of 8 GB of free or blank space. As you have files inside that drive, backup them. If using DVD, use dual-layer DVD.
• Check your computer's architecture i.e. 32 bit or 64 bit. You should download appropriate ISO file for your computer. Generally, 64-bit files are larger as compared to 32-bit files.

Steps for Installing Windows 10 (From Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1):

Microsoft Site does not allow you to download the ISO file directly from your browser if you are using Windows 7 or above. It redirects to download the Media Creation Tool for installing Windows 10. to download the Windows 10 ISO file, you have to do some tweaks.

1. Go to the official website here.
2. For Chrome, Open Developer Tools on that Website.
3. On the top right side, select the three dots just before the closing icon.
4. Select More Tools > Network Conditions.
5. Uncheck 'Select automatically'.
6. And Now select other browsers, such as Safari.
7. Refresh the page and now you can download the ISO file directly.
8. For other Browsers, refer to this article.

Creating a bootable drive:

1. The Windows 10 ISO file is free to download from the Official Microsoft Website.
2. Choose the edition of Windows 10.
3. Choose your language, your Windows 10 should be.
4. Select 32-bit or 64-bit download as suitable for your computer. Open up My Computer and Right-Click and select properties, there you should check what your computer's CPU architecture is.
   
5. Download it completely. May take several hours depending your internet connection's bandwidth. About 1 MB/s speed is efficient for your download. It would take 1 to 2 hours.
6. You can use any ISO burner application to make a flash drive or DVD into bootable.
•  If you are using Windows XP or Windows Vista, you can use a third party burning tool such as ImgBurn or Nero. 
• If you are using Windows 7, you can burn the ISO file using the built-in Disc Image Utility.
• If you are using Windows 8 or 8.1, you can directly open the ISO file and it will start processing. There is no need for creating a bootable media on a device since Windows 8/8.1 users can directly open the ISO file and install it.
7. Insert the USB or DVD drive to your computer. 
• Note: Your pre-existing files on your USB drive will be removed so before continuing backup all your data.
• Note: If using DVD use blank dual-layer DVD.
8. Now burn the ISO file to your device using following methods:
• For Windows XP orVista: You have to use a third-party application for creating bootable media in Windows XP. Download and Install IMGBurn from its official website and burn it to the drive (Make sure your drive is inserted into your computer).
• For Windows 7: After obtaining the .iso file you can use the built-in Disc Image burning tool or Microsoft ISO USB/DVD tool to create a bootable DVD or USB.
• For Windows 8 or 8.1: You can directly open or mount the ISO file and install it on your PC.
9. So, you have successfully completed the process of creating a bootable drive. Next step is to setup BIOS settings.

Setup BIOS:

1. Reboot the system.
2. While booting (before Windows starts loading), get into the BIOS configuration screen by hitting something like F1, F2, Delete or Escape, depend on your computer's motherboard. Once you have entered the BIOS menu, go through it using arrow keys, select using Enter and go back using Escape or Esc on your keyboard.
3. Navigate and search for the section that contains your boot devices.
4. With your USB/DVD drive plugged in, the USB drive's name should be listed. If it isn’t, your system might not support booting from USB. Assuming that it is supported, change your boot device to USB drive as primary boot device.
5. Exit from the BIOS configuration, saving all changes.

Setup Windows 10:

Okay, we have completed the difficult part of our progress. So, now once you have configured the BIOS, saved and exit your BIOS menu, considering you have done all things correctly, your PC will restart and will be booted to your bootable device which will start the WINDOWS 10 installation process. Follow the instruction on the screen and it's quite easy and simple, what you have to do is, just wait until the installation process finishes. It will take one hour to several hours depending on your PC.

1. First, select your language, time and input for your Operating System.
2. After, when you see the Installation Screen, click Install Now.
3. Follow instructions given on the screen and you will be done.
4. If you are installing Windows for the first time or your previous OS was not registered, then an Activation Screen may appear. If it appears, you can skip it or enter your serial key.
5. If you are a beginner, then try considering selecting the upgrading option. If you are an advanced user, then you can go for a custom installation. The custom installation makes a clean install starting from deleting your current OS, then installing the current OS.
6. When you select Custom installation, the setup leads to another page, for choosing the disk drive where your OS will be installed.
7. If your disk has partitions then, erase the partition, for example, I want to install my Windows on C drive i.e. you have to Format C drive and then click Next. The remaining process will be handled by the Setup. Just wait until it is completely installed. Note: Don't play with partitions if you are not familiar with as your data may get erase on that partition where your important files are kept.
8. Now, follow the instructions on the screen and Windows will be installed automatically. In case, you have got an error, try reinstalling or report it to Microsoft forums.

Important: Once Windows 10 setup has completed and you are on your desktop, afterwards restart your PC and press F1, F2, Delete or Escape to get into BIOS menu. Search for Boot Devices by navigating using arrow keys and enter for selecting, once found select it and then change your Boot device to your Hard Disk Drive. It will display your hard disk name. Select, save and exit. Now, you can plug out your USB or DVD drive and the system will be booted from the Hard Disk Drive or Storage Drive.

Method 2: Installing Windows 10 Using Media Creation Tool: (For Windows 7/8/8.1).

Using Media Creation Tool to install or upgrade Windows 10 is an easy way without being created a bootable device or changing BIOS settings. But the installation using ISO file is preferable as the ISO file can be reused anytime you want.

Notes: 

• If you are using Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8.0 Enterprise, Windows 8.1 Enterprise editions, or volume license Windows 7 Professional you won't be able to use the Media Creation Tool to upgrade. Try ISO file method instead!

• Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Windows 8.0 Core, Windows 8.1 Core, Windows 10 Home will install Windows 10 Home. Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 8.0 Pro, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 10 Pro will install Windows 10 Pro.

• When you use the latest copy of the Media Creation Tool, it will download Windows 10 build  15063.0. Users have the choice of selecting Home, Pro or both, 32 and 64-bit architectures or both.

• Your Windows must be activated for using Media Creation Tool.

Steps:

1. Download the latest Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website here OR search on Google for Media Creation Tool and download it from the Microsoft Site.
2. Right-click the MediaCreationTool.exe file then click Run as Administrator.
3. Accept the End User License Agreement.
   
4. Select the option 'Upgrade this PC' now if you want to upgrade right away, select the option 'Create installation media for another PC' if you want to download an ISO image or create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive. 
   
5. Now read the following carefully:
• If you select to Upgrade your PC now, it will start downloading the files and right away when you click next, it will take much time depending on your internet connection. (This step finishes Windows 10 installation automatically).
6.  If you select to 'Create a bootable DVD or USB', it will lead to another page. (This step finishes the creation of a bootable USB drive, it does not install Windows 10 automatically). 
   
• Check 'Use recommended options for this PC'. 
1. It leads to another page and again there are two options.
   
2. If you select USB Flash Drive, you have to insert your flash drive into your PC. Click Next. (This will make you flash drive bootable automatically without being burning it your device using third-party or inbuilt burning tool). 
• Important: If you are creating a bootable USB thumb drive, make sure the thumb drive is first formatted as FAT32. Connect the flash drive, Open Computer, Right click flash drive, Click Format, Make sure FAT32 is selected as the file system.

• Select the bootable drive and Continue, it will download the files and creates your USB drive a bootable drive. You have to manually install Windows 10 using the bootable drive after this step.
• Now, you have to install it manually. Refer to the steps starting from 'Setup BIOS' heading in the Method 1 of this article.
1. If you Select 'ISO file' then, you will be prompt to locate the directory where it will be downloaded. Name the file and Click Save. Continue and it will download the ISO file to the selected directory. Now you will need to follow the steps starting from beginning to last mentioned in the Method 1 of this article.
   

Conclusion:

Hope you have gained an idea, how to install Windows 10 on your computer! The Windows 10 setup is quite easy then earlier versions of Windows so anyone can install it by themselves, no need to go for a technician. Also, from Windows 7 the drivers have installed automatically so that you have not to install them manually.