How do you install Windows if you don't have another device to create installation media?
Posted by Octoboy1@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 150 comments
All my parts are coming tomorrow and this just occurred to me. How am I going to install Windows?
9okm@reddit
You buy a retail license on a dvd or usb drive, or find another PC to use.
Warcraft_Fan@reddit
Even if OP managed to download media creator, it doesn't come with a key so OP would have to buy key from Microsoft to get rid of activation nag. Buying the physical Windows from local store like Walmart or Best Buy is one of the quickest way to get legal key.
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samusmaster64@reddit
You can just do a regedit to remove the watermark and access some of the features otherwise locked.
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Mizery@reddit
You can just buy from a website and they'll email you the key. Don't have to wait for shipping anything.
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basquiatx@reddit
I also enjoy the year 2004!
NickMalo@reddit
Yeah but other than a see through watermark windows is mostly fully functional (no customizing iirc)
ImBoredToo@reddit
Yeah I never bought a key for the 5 years I used win 11. The watermark was only annoying at really low resolution, like when playing Starcraft 1.
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AllMyFrendsArePixels@reddit
hehehe the number of deleted comments are wild š mods gotta make sure ol' Billy boy doesn't go broke, Micro$oft struggling lately with how bad their product has become.
There are many ways to install an OS for free, lets just leave it at that. Linux is fantastic!!
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hamfinity@reddit
Fun fact: the Media Creation Tool forces the USB to be formatted as FAT32 which isn't big enough for Windows 11, causing the installation from USB to fail!
SwordsAndElectrons@reddit
That's not correct.
And as for the choice of filesystem, many motherboards won't boot from anything but FAT32. It's the only filesystem the UEFI specification requires support for, and it's rather common for manufacturers to only implement the minimum needed to conform to the standard.
Palet27@reddit
Media creation tool works just fine...i used it this past weekend to update a drive to 25H2 that was still on 24H2. Somethine else is causing your failures.
MidnightChimp@reddit
you can install it without a key and afterwards buy a 3 bucks license.
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sopcannon@reddit
Assuming op is in the US/ Canada.
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ArticleWorth5018@reddit
Powershell cough cough
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WorseElk@reddit
Best Buy's actually marked up like crazy though, Costco or Amazon usually runs 20-30 bucks cheaper for the same license.
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Wadarkhu@reddit
I wonder if they couldn't one day make a way for you to buy on your phone, tether phone to PC, and have it install files through there? They could throttle it so it doesn't heat it all up too much.
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Ok_Bid6645@reddit
Tell me any place in the past 15 years that has had a license on a DVD
9okm@reddit
What do you mean, for purchase? You can get them on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Wind%D0%BEws-Pro-OEM-DVD/dp/B09MYJ1R6L/
Ongvar@reddit
What modern computer you would be installing windows on would even have a dvd drive is the better question
phate_exe@reddit
External drives exist.
Ongvar@reddit
And barely anybody uses them, and if I was going to buy one i could just buy a USB drive instead lmao
phate_exe@reddit
My point is if you have a Windows DVD (or any other installer disk), you can get an external DVD drive at pretty much any office supply store.
Ongvar@reddit
You would have to purposely choose the DVD installation over the USB, knowing you'd have to go buy an external drive unless someone is just giving it to you I guess? Why would anyone choose to spend more money?
CChilli@reddit
You can move on now.
Ongvar@reddit
You never had to be here in the first place? Next.
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phate_exe@reddit
Dude, this entire subthread is all because you decided to be a smartass about someone posting a windows install DVD.
I don't give a fuck about whatever circumstances led to someone having a DVD instead of usb install media.
Ongvar@reddit
Why are you so upset dude? Calm down lmao
phate_exe@reddit
Nobody is upset, your unhelpful snark is just annoying.
Ongvar@reddit
I think it's more unhelpful and snarky to keep going on about how DVD installations exist knowing that it wouldn't be the best move for anybody who needed to install Windows.
But I get it, you're a self-righteous person and you think you are always superior š Go on with your day bud.
9okm@reddit
I'm happy to pick up where u/phate_exe left off if you'd like.
PhotoFenix@reddit
I know many people with optical drives in their systems
9okm@reddit
Few
unimportantinfodump@reddit
My garage. Lol
thebenson@reddit
Microcenter, Amazon, and Newegg have Windows 11 on DVD for sale right now.
Trypt2k@reddit
You call up a friend, bring over the USB thumb drive and you put Windows on it directly from MS. Then you activate it (or not, it works without).
Rezosh_@reddit
Create the bootable USB with Rufus and you can bypass the product code entirely and use a local account. Did it for my friend when the hard drive with his OS on it died. Super easy to do.
https://youtu.be/13qAUEWK6zI?si=Io6mSgWsRTevNz_8
kermityfrog2@reddit
Might as well get the LTSC IoT version then - no AI or bloatware or OneDrive or MS account nags.
katzengoldgott@reddit
Or you use RavenDevToolsā Talon script to remove it after the installation š
kermityfrog2@reddit
I think itās cleaner not to install it in the first place. Cleaner registry, no chance of apps missed, nothing left behind.
But sure itās an option.
agmatine@reddit
Rufus does this by writing an
autounattend.xmlfile to the root of the USB drive, so that a script run during Windows Setup with this command to add a registry key:reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OOBE /v BypassNRO /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f(In other words, a way of automating the
OOBE\BYPASSNROcommand.) There is much, much more that can be done with the autounattend file, though - here's one such tool to generate it: https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generatorTrypt2k@reddit
Yeah that's not bad, used to do that but now everyone I build for wants the full online treatment and OneDrive so I just do it the normal way, and if they want, I even activate it for cheap.
blxcktxe@reddit
OP FYI if the installation via USB doesn't work it could be bc the USB was prepared wrong or the USB is just a bitch.
Also you'll need idealy a 16gb USB, better even 32 GB
Someone, who struggled to install windows a few days ago
stumanchu3@reddit
How did you even afford a 32 gig USB stick? Yeah, Iām jealous.
katzengoldgott@reddit
SanDisk Ultra USB sticks are currently super cheap at my local Mediamarkt (Germany) and I own 3 of the 64 GB ones now. They had a 2x 64 GB pack on sale for 12 ⬠a while ago.
blxcktxe@reddit
I mean, I am not sure where you are from but where I live you can buy them rather cheap
DPKingston@reddit
With the ram and nand shortage, yeah the cheap reliable ones I use to buy are now closer to double the price if they are not already out of of stock.
Obscure-Oracle@reddit
It works fine so long as it's a bootable USB drive which most modern ones are and you have to use the Microsoft media creation tool.
Jokey665@reddit
you really don't. i've installed windows at least half a dozen times using rufus to prep the usb drive
RolledUhhp@reddit
I use Rufus for one off stuff, and just throw iso images i think I'll use more than once on a drive prepared with ventoy.
Obscure-Oracle@reddit
I've found it hit and miss, Rufus is generally ok but I have had it fail a couple of times and there is nothing more frustrating than trying to make a failed USB work. I just use the windows one to save myself the headache, i haven't had one fail yet. Luckily it's not something I have to do all that often any more because I have transitioned many of my friends and family to Linux now anyway.
RememberTooSmile@reddit
Same with bios updates, didnāt realize there was preferred specs for USBs outside of āthis fits on the driveā until I started updating things
blxcktxe@reddit
Funnily enough I managed to do a BIOS flashback update but not formating a bootable USB stick...
AppropriateTouching@reddit
I had to switch from a usb 3 port to a usb 2 to get it take last time I made one as well.
blxcktxe@reddit
I'm going to be honest, my USB stick didn't work, 2x Black screen, 2x Blue screen with an error code and 1x missing drivers.
I was lucky that a friend of mine came to visit and he brought me one of his USB sticks that already had Win11 on it, with that one it worked.
We think the USB I had was the issue, I tried it 2x with Rufus and 3x with the windows program. Didn't have any other USB stick 16GB or bigger. But at the end of the day it all worked out.
Axe_Raider@reddit
what if i don't have friends
xNEONZZ@reddit
You take it from your enemies
Axe_Raider@reddit
oh good i have lots of those
Rakhsev@reddit
Just call Bill Gates and have him come install it, no other way sorry.
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Ajax_A@reddit
Involving Bill is a sure way to get a virus. Ask Melinda.
skyfishgoo@reddit
you BUY the install media.
Own-Jeweler3169@reddit
Get one, USB are sticks are always lying around.
almbfsek@reddit
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.depau.etchdroid&hl=en&pli=1
stulew@reddit
Use the computer at the public library; I hope you have a library card.
Solid_Mystery_Meat@reddit
I use my phone (Galaxy A35 5G)
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waitingForMars@reddit
I did this several years ago on macOS using an image burning tool (forgot the name). I purchased a key from a reputable supplier and it worked great. Chugging right along several years later.
TheSultan1@reddit
You can use a live linux distro.
Jack2102@reddit
You can flash an ISO to a USB drive from an Android phone iirc
selectsyntax@reddit
Use a computer from a family member, friend, school, work, or library. You will need to download the media creation tool, and an empty flash drive with 9GB or more storage.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
billybob212212@reddit
Only problem is that it requires administrator access to the computer to use the Media creation tool (who knows why š¤·). Often tough to do at a school, work, or library .
selectsyntax@reddit
It always pays to be friends with IT. In my experience they are usually happy to help with a super quick request like this.
cum-on-in-@reddit
Can confirm. Iāve both been a student and asked IT for this very thing, and have been IT and had people kindly ask for similar. Being friends with IT is awesome (cause we nerd out) and having good relations with kind end users is super fun too.
This aināt even something theyd have to āget back to youā with. Theyād probably invite you to their office and run the tool real quick while you chat, and then youāre off to the races.
Shishamylov@reddit
Thereās a portable Rufus version out there that will run without admin
Leather_Confidence@reddit
I had to do it this way on an Android tv box. All the necessary apps are on playstore.
Sbeezynukka@reddit
Do you have an android device with a usbotg cable? Use Rufus
HankHippoppopalous@reddit
Facebook Marketplace - I've always got one up, basically a Windows 11 USB Stick, obviously you provide your own liscence in compliance with proper Microsoft Standards. You'd be surprised how many people are in your boat.
Amazon does the same thing, as does eBay
Noxious89123@reddit
Fucking hell, you'd plug in USB media you got from a random person on the internet, with executable / bootable filled on it?Ā
Enjoy your malware bro.
zensentsu@reddit
At this point they might as well just say malware included in the listing title and this guy would still recommend it
HankHippoppopalous@reddit
MD5 hashes exist for a reason? Its extremely verifiable data, Microsoft literally publishes this.
Noxious89123@reddit
Okay, so you check the genuine files on there and they all check out okay...
What about any sneaky malicious stuff that is also included and hidden on there?
An MD5 hash isn't going to do shit to help you there.
huffalump1@reddit
Also how are you gonna check without, you know, having a computer with an operating system installed?
HankHippoppopalous@reddit
sure, but if you're running the install alone for it, theres no chance for malware to get on without tampering with an MD5
I can 100% modify stuff on a drive (injecting drivers, etc) but that's gonna throw an MD5 has error.
I guess if you're that paranoid, you should only be using stamped and/or flashed media from Microsoft - thats the right answer. Oh snap. until you get SCM breeches that happen all the time lol
Nothing is secure.
9okm@reddit
I mean, even if there's malware, you could use the drive to install a malware-infected windows... then write over the drive with a clean version of 11 using the media creation tool.
HankHippoppopalous@reddit
And even if you were creating a USB on your friends PC, you don't know that THEY don't have malware
*inception noises*
9okm@reddit
True..
skylinestar1986@reddit
Ventoy on your phone. Then copy your Windows iso into the usb stick.
dubyakay@reddit
You ask your neighbour after passing them an USB stick. They'll return it preloaded with Ventoy and a sampling of the latest distros as liveboot, such as Bazzite, CachyOS, EndeavourOS and Artix (need a non-systemd option).
Hope you have a good neighbour.
Austinexe93@reddit
You can use your phone if you have a USBC to USB adapter.
Drofus is a lifesaver.
I wanted to have something where I could just select the iso and use my phone to boot but I don't want to root my phone to do that.
proton_papi@reddit
Save your money and ask a friend to make a Linux distro bootable USB
zone55555@reddit
Make-a-friend challenge 2026.
ywgflyer@reddit
You can probably do this at the local public library too, to be fair. Might have to chat with a librarian if they have blocks on software or have disabled USB ports though. I've had to do it once, bricked a laptop while on the road and didn't have anyone local to help me out, was able to use a library PC to create a Win10 install USB to get me back up and running.
_EnFlaMEd@reddit
You can buy a usb with the installation media on ebay. You would need your own license key of course.
Kirito_Kun16@reddit
If you're able to connect a USB to your phone (USB-C thumb drive/external SSD/USB-A to USB-C dongle), then you can burn the ISO onto that if you're on Android.
GolemancerVekk@reddit
You would need an USB-OTG adapter.
Also, afaik you need a rooted Android to be able to successfuly put a Windows install ISO on USB. Simply dumping the ISO to the drive won't work because Windows install media has a more complex format.
It will work without root if you want to do this with the install ISO for a Linux distro because those are made to be dumped directly to the drive (well, most of them anyway).
It will also work if the drive was prepared with Ventoy in advance because then you're just copying the ISO as a file.
jimdil4st@reddit
Just a note that with usbc you do not need a seperate OTG it's build into the standard. And almost all phone support OTG I'd be more surprised if you found a current phone that wouldn't.
GolemancerVekk@reddit
USB-C and OTG are different standards. A phone having USB-C connector does not necessarily mean it has OTG.
Also, out of 455 Android phones that came out during 2025 only 313 had USB-OTG according to GSMArena's phone finder.
jimdil4st@reddit
I know they are different standard but otg is absolutely built in to usbc standard whether the device utilizes it is a different story. And again I'd be more surprised to come across a phone WITHOUT otg, you mention some number, but I haven't experienced a phone without otg in about 10yr at this point, and it was still super common before usbc became THE standard, and micro USB was still most common. Now with usbc being so common many devices are moving away from usba all together so no adapter is even need to connect the devices.
agmatine@reddit
Root is not necessary: https://etchdroid.app
GolemancerVekk@reddit
Scroll down that page š
agmatine@reddit
Oh, so EtchDroid doesn't work for this in the first place. I was thinking of DriveDroid which does work, but needs root.
In that case: Drofus, USBZile (and even Ventoid, if one's feeling adventurous) could be used to create Windows install media without root.
t1m1d@reddit
You can't get access to any usable computer?
If you truly can't, and have an android phone, you should be able to use something like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.depau.etchdroid&hl=en_US to make a linux installer (e.g. Ubuntu), then install that onto your PC and make the windows install media from there.
PapaAquchala@reddit
You're gonna need a flash drive with windows on it. Surely you know someone with a spare flash drive. Then you can download windows onto it directly from microsoft, either someone with a computer can let you do it or see if a library near you has free computers you can use there
Different-Produce870@reddit
I once created the installation on a roommate's macbook after I accidentally nuked my os.
tO_ott@reddit
I used my Android phone. I canāt remember the details but you can download an ISO, make your phone a bootable drive, and use it to install windows.
SinOfDeath69@reddit
I use an old laptop and a USB drive.
Top_Dragonfruit_6409@reddit
If just somehow you have an Android and a USB-C to USB-A dongle you can use EtchDroid to make a Linux USB. After installing Linux you can then use Ventoy to create Windows installation media. Pretty overkill though
PXE Network booting could also be set up from a smartphone if I'm not wrong but I never tried that.
agmatine@reddit
Well, there is this: https://old.reddit.com/r/fossdroid/comments/1ru1psn/app_release_ventoid_create_ventoystyle_bootable
Top_Dragonfruit_6409@reddit
Awesome, I've been probably living under a rock. I only knew of EtchDroid
globaldu@reddit
You could get a USB stick with Win11 media from eBay.
mister_newbie@reddit
I've used my phone with a USB-C stick. Works fine.
Every_Fig_1728@reddit
You order one.
Tappone@reddit
I recently built an installation media through my android phone using Drofus. It costed a dollar(in-app payment) to be able to create it on a usb-C drive, then used that drive on my PC.
Xenoryzen_Dragon@reddit
on android with some free opensource you can create linux live usb + usb c flsh disk
TrollOnFire@reddit
Well ⦠in one hand you have a chicken and the other, there is an egg.
NagoGmo@reddit
It's easy, but I hope the fools in my town never figure it out and keep selling me their "bricked rigs" due to it.
Ryan32501@reddit
Only works on a pc with win11 already installed. Tried upgrading my win10 to 11 and the executable WILL NOT run on win10. Had to use a friends win11 pc to create the installation media on a USB drive
BenCelotil@reddit
And you might also want to download the relevant NVME SSD drivers for your CPU and Windows installation.
Here is the Intel drivers.
Read the README file to see how to extract the drivers from the EXE.
Here are some AMD drivers.
m4tic@reddit
buy a super cheap laptop too lmao. You can get a Lenovo refurb with Win 11 (NOT 'S' MODE) for around 170-ish USD.
Senpai2Savage@reddit
I guess maybe do it at like a library or something hell it beats paying.
THEYoungDuh@reddit
at the library
perrance68@reddit
Beginning_Anxious@reddit
Friend, library, school, work lol so many places to find a pc or laptop.
chris_socal@reddit
I bet you could probably even attach a usb to your phone and download it that way as well.
MinorDissonance@reddit
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mixapplications.rufus idk if it actually works tho.
Top_Document_9007@reddit
Go find a friend.
whatevers_clever@reddit
Seems like you could also just buy a USB-C flash drive (if your motherboard will use it), and use your phone to create instlalation media (not sure about iphones, but Android I think has apps like Drofus or .. Ventoy?, etc). Just pull up a chat with ai and say i have a usb c flash drive and my android phone cna you help me step by step create a windows 11 installer
Ritvik158@reddit
Get a USB drive, around 16gb is fine. Format it to FAT32 and do your best to find a computer somewhere that allows you to download the windows installation media. It's not a massive file, I'm sure you can use a friends computer or even a work computer (assuming you work in an environment where you can use a computer). Good luck!
QuasimodoPredicted@reddit
You get another device one way or another, there's no way around this. Sorry but magic and miracles are not real.
Mick3yflash@reddit
GitHub all the way, never buy windows.
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