A blank PC needs bootable Windows installation media, a suitable license, and compatible hardware. Windows 10 can still be installed in some situations, but ordinary support ended in October 2025; choose Windows 11 for a new eligible PC when possible.
Check the new PC's manufacturer specifications and Windows 11 eligibility first. Microsoft ended ordinary Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, so it is not the preferred new installation for a supported Windows 11 PC. A business or specialist device may have its own managed servicing plan; follow the organization's license and support rules.
If you must install Windows 10 for a compatible legacy application, understand its support and security limits before putting the computer online. Installing Windows on a blank PC is not a cloning task. A disk cloner cannot create a licensed Windows installation from nothing.
On another working Windows computer, use Microsoft's official installation-media instructions and Media Creation Tool to prepare a blank USB drive of at least 8 GB. Its contents will be erased. Choose the version, language, and architecture required for the target PC.
Check whether the new PC has a Windows digital license or firmware-embedded key. Otherwise, obtain a legitimate license for the edition you will install. Keep network access, storage drivers, and the PC maker's support page available on another device. Disconnect unrelated storage drives if practical to avoid selecting the wrong disk.
Step 1. Insert the installation USB in the blank PC, turn it on, and use the manufacturer's one-time boot menu. Choose the UEFI entry for the USB when installing in UEFI mode.
Step 2. Select language and keyboard settings, then choose Install now. Enter an eligible product key or choose the option to enter it later when the license permits.
Step 3. Select the Windows edition that matches the license. Choose Custom: Install Windows only, not an upgrade of a nonexistent installation.
Step 4. Identify the intended internal disk by capacity. If it is truly blank, select its unallocated space and click Next; Setup creates the needed partitions. Do not delete partitions on another disk unless you have confirmed it can be erased.
Step 5. Let Setup copy files and restart. If it boots back into the installer, remove the USB or select Windows Boot Manager for the internal disk. Complete the account and privacy prompts.
Install chipset, storage, graphics, and network drivers from the PC maker where needed, then check Device Manager. Connect to the internet, open Activation settings, and verify the intended edition is licensed. Restore personal files from a separate backup only after Windows is stable.
If Setup cannot see the disk, check firmware detection and the PC maker's storage-controller instructions before changing disk mode or loading drivers. Do not initialize a drive containing data you intend to recover.
Installation media is not a license. Activation still requires an eligible digital license or product key.
Prefer Windows 11 if the hardware and applications support it, because ordinary Windows 10 support has ended.
Use official media, choose the correct disk and edition, and verify drivers and activation. Do not use cloning software as a substitute for installation media or licensing.