Windows · PC · about 45 minutes · updated July 1, 2026
How to clean-install Windows 11 from a USB stick
A fresh installation is the fastest way to make an old PC feel new. You need a blank 8 GB USB stick, thirty to forty-five minutes and your Windows 11 key.
Before you start
- An 8 GB or larger USB stick (it will be erased)
- Another working Windows PC
- Your Windows 11 Home or Pro key
- A backup of everything on the target PC
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01
Back up the target PC
Everything on the drive will be erased. Copy documents, photos and browser bookmarks somewhere safe.
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02
Create the installation USB
On the working PC download the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft, run it and choose USB flash drive. It builds a bootable installer in about ten minutes.
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03
Boot from the USB
Plug it into the target PC and restart. Press the boot-menu key as it starts — often F12, F2, Esc or Del depending on the maker — and choose the USB drive.
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04
Start setup and enter your key
Pick language and keyboard, click Install now. When asked for a product key, type your 25 characters — this also selects Home or Pro automatically.
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05
Choose the drive
Select Custom install, delete the old partitions on the main drive and pick the unallocated space. Setup copies files and restarts a couple of times.
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06
Finish first-run setup
Choose region, join Wi-Fi and sign in with a Microsoft account. Once on the desktop, Settings → System → Activation should show activated.
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07
Update drivers
Run Windows Update twice; most drivers arrive automatically. For graphics cards, fetch the latest driver from the GPU maker.
If something goes wrong
Common snags.
The PC will not boot from USB
Enter the BIOS/UEFI (usually Del or F2), set the USB as the first boot device or temporarily disable Secure Boot.
"This PC can't run Windows 11"
Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot — both are often simply switched off in the BIOS. Enable them and try again. If the hardware truly lacks TPM 2.0, Windows 10 Pro remains a solid option.
I skipped the key during setup
Fine — enter it afterwards under Settings → System → Activation.
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