I need to replace my failed system disk with a new one and wonder how I can go about installing a new win 10 bought and downloaded from Microsoft. I imagine the process would be the same as for a new custom built computer. I miss being able to buy a Windows on a DVD.
Thank you.
See if this will help you. Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 blog
Or Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First - Windows 10 blog
What OS was on the failed disk? If it was Windows 10 then there was no need to buy a new copy of Windows 10.
Actually, if it was Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 there was no need to buy a new copy. All of these are available for the free upgrade to Windows 10.
It was a W10 disk. The new disk is completely blank.
I may have misunderstood you. I thought you had a bad disk and then bought a new one from Microsoft and downloaded it. What format was the download? If it was an ISO image file, you would use any ISO burning software and burn it to a DVD disk or use a program like Rufus to install it on a USB Flash drive. If you could explain it so I understood your problem better, maybe I could help.
All I have right now is an USB drive I created using Rufus. I has an early version of Win 10. and it insists it be run from within Windows. Of course I can't do that on account of how I don't have a running system on that computer.
How can I get an Windows 10 iso file from which I can make an installation disk?
Thank you.
What exactly did you get from MS? Is it an ISO file as essenbe asked? If so, just mount the iso and copy all the files to your Rufus formatted bootable USB drive.
Have you tried booting from the USB drive? Read this and watch the video and see if that helps you. Windows 10 - Clean Install
You can download an ISO file from TechBench, just be sure the version and bitness (X64 or X86) is the same as what you have a license for.
You need to get the last Windows 10 ISO then re-create the USB flash drive using Rufus. Any version prior to 10586 will not allow a clean install using a key from a qualifying OS. If the computer had 10 on it previously then the install will automatically activate and you will not need to enter a key.
You have to have a recent ISO to start with though.
There are no 32 bit only or 64 bit only licenses (at least not for Windows 7/8/8.1/10). The version (Pro, Home, Enterprise, etc) and edition (normal, "N", Single Language) must be the same.