How to Install Windows on BIOS: A Comprehensive Guide

Installing Windows on a computer with BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) can be done by following these steps. Make sure you have a valid Windows installation media (USB drive or DVD) and a product key.

Steps to Install Windows on BIOS

1. Backup Important Data

   • Before starting the installation, back up all important data on your computer, as the process will erase all existing data on the drive.

2. Create a Bootable USB Drive or Use a DVD

   • If you don't already have a Windows installation media, you can create a bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool or use an existing installation DVD.

3. Insert the Installation Media

   • Insert the bootable USB drive or DVD into your computer.

4. Restart Your Computer and Enter BIOS

   • Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup by pressing the appropriate key (usually F2, F12, Delete, or Esc) during the initial startup screen. The key varies depending on the manufacturer.

5. Change Boot Order

   • In the BIOS setup, navigate to the Boot menu. Change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive or DVD as the first boot device. Save the changes and exit BIOS.

6. Boot from Installation Media

   • Your computer will restart and boot from the USB drive or DVD. You should see the Windows Setup screen.

7. Start Windows Installation

   • Select your language, time, and keyboard preferences, then click "Next."
   • Click "Install Now."
   • Enter your Windows product key when prompted and click "Next." If you don’t have a product key, you can choose "I don’t have a product key" and enter it later.

8. Accept License Terms

   • Read and accept the license terms by checking the box and clicking "Next."

9. Select Installation Type

   • Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)" for a clean installation.

10. Select the Drive to Install Windows

    • You will see a list of drives and partitions. Select the partition where you want to install Windows. If necessary, you can delete existing partitions to create a new one. Be cautious, as this will erase all data on the selected partitions.
    • Click "Next" to start the installation.

11. Complete Installation

    • The installation process will begin, and your computer will restart several times. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup, including creating a user account and setting preferences.

12. Install Drivers and Updates

    • Once Windows is installed, connect to the internet and download the latest drivers for your hardware from the manufacturer's website.
    • Run Windows Update to ensure your system is up to date with the latest patches and updates.

Additional Tips

• Check System Requirements: Ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the version of Windows you are installing.
• Prepare Drivers: It’s a good idea to download and have ready the necessary drivers (especially for network and graphics) on a USB drive before starting the installation, just in case Windows doesn’t automatically install them.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully install Windows on a computer with BIOS.

Step-by-step Guidance on Create Windows Bootable USB with AOMEI Partition Assistant

AOMEI Partition Assistant is a renowned disk partition management software that can be compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. In addition to Windows 11, it can also create a bootable USB for other Windows OS, and the operation methods are the same. More importantly, it also supports to resize the size of your partition, Wipe hard drive, etc. If you want to know more practical functions, you can directly go to this part.

Please note: Windows 11 only supports UEFI boot mode. If you want to install Windows 11 directly on your computer, please make sure your system disk is GPT disk, otherwise please convert MBR to GPT without data loss.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create a Windows 10 install USB :

Requirements:

• A USB flash drive: At least 13GB in size, and 16GB or larger is recommended to ensure enough space for future updates.
• Windows OS ISO file: This is a disk image file that contains the entire contents of the Windows 10 installation media. You can download the Windows 10 ISO file directly from Microsoft's website.
• A software tool to create the bootable drive: Microsoft's Media Creation Tool is the most straightforward option for downloading the ISO and creating a bootable USB on Windows systems. For users on other operating systems or preferring an alternative, AOMEI Partition Assistant is a popular choice.
• Download the Media Creation Tool From the Official Microsoft Website.
• Follow the instructions to burn the installation media into the USB.

Steps to Download Windows 10 ISO

It's easy for users to get the latest version of Microsoft's popular operating system by downloading the Windows 10 ISO file. If you do these simple things, you'll be able to get a free copy of Windows 10 ISO and make sure that all of your devices have the latest and safest version. Before you start downloading Windows 10 ISO files, please check the Microsoft website to make sure it is a safe source.

After that, pick the version and language of Windows 10 that works best for you. Along with that, you can pick a 32-bit or 64-bit architecture based on how fast your computer is. You can start downloading after making all of these choices. This will let you make the ISO file that your USB or DVD needs to start up. 

Now that you have Windows 10, you still need to do the following to make sure everything goes well: Before you download, please make sure that your device meets the requirements that Microsoft has set for Windows 10. Also, please only get Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft's official website to make sure everything works right. If you use any other source, your files could be stolen or hacked.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB

1. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant: Start the program on your computer.
2. Insert Your USB Drive: Make sure it’s empty or backed up, as it will be formatted.
3. Launch 'Windows To Go Creator': Find this option in the main interface and click it.
4. Select 'Create Windows To Go with system disc/ISO': Click “Next.”
5. Choose Your ISO File: Click “Browse” to locate and select your Windows 10 ISO file and choose the right drive from the list.
6. Start the Process and Wait the Completion: Click “Proceed” and confirm that you understand all data on the USB will be erased. Then wait patiently.

Using the Bootable USB

• Insert the USB into the PC where you want to install Windows.
• Restart the PC and enter BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, Del, or Esc at startup).
• Set the USB as the primary boot device, save the settings, and exit.
• Follow on-screen instructions to install Windows 10.

Apart from creating a Windows 10 install USB, AOMEI Partition Assistant also has these benefits for you to better management. It offers easy disk management tools for separating, merging, formatting, splitting, extending, and merging partitions. 

Conclusion

Reinstalling the operating system can be an effective solution for resolving various issues with Windows 10 or 11. While it might seem daunting, tools like the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and features such as "Reset this PC" make the process more accessible. By following the detailed steps and tips provided in this guide, you can successfully reinstall Windows and restore your system's performance and stability. Remember to back up your data, ensure your device is charged, and have all necessary drivers and product keys ready. Whether you're dealing with performance problems, virus attacks, or hardware upgrades, reinstalling Windows can help you achieve a clean and functional system.

FAQs

1. Can I reinstall Windows 10 directly from the BIOS?

   • No, you cannot reinstall Windows 10 directly from the BIOS. However, the BIOS is essential for booting from a USB flash drive or DVD, which you can use to reinstall the operating system.

2. What should I do before reinstalling Windows 10?

   • Before reinstalling Windows 10, ensure you back up all important data, list installed software and product keys, download the latest drivers, check system requirements, and create installation media.

3. What are the main options for reinstalling Windows 10 using the "Reset this PC" feature?

   • The "Reset this PC" feature offers two main options: "Keep my files," which retains personal files, and "Remove everything," which resets the PC to factory settings.

4. How do I create a bootable USB drive for reinstalling Windows 10?

   • You can create a bootable USB drive by downloading the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft's website and using tools like the Windows Media Creation Tool or AOMEI Partition Assistant to burn the ISO to the USB drive.

5. Why might I need to reinstall Windows 10 or 11?

   • Common reasons for reinstalling Windows include resolving system performance issues, removing viruses or malware, fixing software and driver conflicts, upgrading to a new hard drive or SSD, and addressing system problems that cannot be solved through conventional methods.