Windows 10 – Clean Install Guide

Keys.direct always recommends performing a clean install when changing your operating system. Doing so ensures error-free installation and faster PC performance as there are no old system files or settings being carried over to the new system.

If you already installed Windows 10 and you are certain that installation came from a genuine source, simply use our key to activate it. Because we only sell the highest tier retail digital license, you can also use our key to upgrade Windows 10 Home to Professional by simply changing your product key.

Below is a concise instruction on how to perform a clean installation of Windows 10 Home or Professional and using our product key to activate it.

1. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10 to download the official Windows 10 Installation Media. Click Download tool now.

2. Open the file, accept the terms and choose Create installation media. Click next.

3. We recommend to let Microsoft choose the best setup settings for your computer but feel free to select your own settings. Click next.

4. Insert a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage to the USB port. Ensure that the USB flash drive contains no important file as all files are deleted during formatting. Select USB flash drive and click next.

5. You will then be asked to select the specific USB flash drive that you want to use. Click next.

6. Windows will now prepare the USB flash drive by downloading the latest installation files and preparing the USB flash drive to make it bootable. Depending on your internet connection, it will take about 15 minutes to a few hours before the USB installer is ready. Avoid using your computer to speed up the process.

7. Windows will let you know that the USB flash drive is ready. Click finish to close the Media Creation Tool.

8. Ensure that everything is ready before performing a clean install by backing up all your important files. Clean install requires formatting the drive or partition where the operating system is to be installed. Once ready, ensure that the USB installer is in the USB port and restart your PC.

9. If your PC has no operating system installed on it, it should automatically boot from the USB installer. However, if there is an existing operating system, it will always boot from the installed operating system. To be able to run the USB installer, you should know the specific key to enable boot options. Each motherboard has a different key to press that will enable booting from the USB drive. It is usually F2, F5 or F8. If you know your specific key, press it repeatedly immediately after you turn on your PC and before the Windows loading screen appears and boot from the USB installer to run the setup. If you are having trouble booting from the USB drive, See our guide Windows Installation – How To Boot From USB Drive.

10. Setup should now run. Select your appropriate language, time and currency format and your keyboard or input method and click next and install.

11. You will now be asked of the 25 digit product key to activate windows and to direct setup on what operating system to install. This is where you enter the product key you purchased from us. If you are connected to the internet, Windows should activate automatically. Once the product key is entered, click next.

12. Select “I accept the license terms” and click next.

13. You will then be asked of your installation type. It is always best to select Custom to install a fresh copy of Windows.

14. Select the appropriate drive where you want to install Windows. If this drive contains an installation of another operating system, all files will be moved to a folder named Windows.old. Product Key Philippines recommends that you delete unnecessary partitions and format the drive first if you already made a backup of your files on a separate drive. This will speed up your PC dramatically and free up that much-needed drive space especially if you are using an SSD drive.

15. Windows will now begin the installation process. Further actions are required to set up and personalize your Windows 10. Simply configure Windows the way you want it. Sit back, relax and congratulations on owning a genuine copy of Windows 10!

IMPORTANT

Unlike OEM keys, Digital licenses do not bind to the motherboard. This allows you to freely upgrade or change your operating system in the future and reinstall Windows even after a significant hardware change. The downside is that you will have to re-enter your product key every time you reinstall Windows. If you have forgotten your product key, you can simply sign in with the Microsoft account where the product key is bound to activate Windows. In the worst-case scenario that you did not bind the product key to a Microsoft account and you forgot your product key, simply use the Reset This PC feature to reinstall or reformat your PC without having to re-enter the product key.