How do you install Windows if you don't have another device to create installation media?

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9okm@reddit

You buy a retail license on a dvd or usb drive, or find another PC to use.

[-]

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.

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

[-]

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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.

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

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AllMyFrendsArePixels@reddit

hehehe the number of deleted comments are wild 😂 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!!

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

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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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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

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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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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

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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

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phate_exe@reddit

External drives exist.

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Ongvar@reddit

And barely anybody uses them, and if I was going to buy one i could just buy a USB drive instead lmao

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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.

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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.

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Ongvar@reddit

Why are you so upset dude? Calm down lmao

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phate_exe@reddit

Nobody is upset, your unhelpful snark is just annoying.

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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 👌 Go on with your day bud.

[-]

9okm@reddit

I'm happy to pick up where u/phate_exe left off if you'd like.

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PhotoFenix@reddit

I know many people with optical drives in their systems

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9okm@reddit

Few

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unimportantinfodump@reddit

My garage. Lol

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thebenson@reddit

Microcenter, Amazon, and Newegg have Windows 11 on DVD for sale right now.

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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).

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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

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kermityfrog2@reddit

Might as well get the LTSC IoT version then - no AI or bloatware or OneDrive or MS account nags.

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katzengoldgott@reddit

Or you use RavenDevTools’ Talon script to remove it after the installation 👍

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kermityfrog2@reddit

I think it’s cleaner not to install it in the first place. Cleaner registry, no chance of apps missed, nothing left behind.

But sure it’s an option.

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agmatine@reddit

Rufus does this by writing an autounattend.xml file 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-generator

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Trypt2k@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.

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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

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stumanchu3@reddit

How did you even afford a 32 gig USB stick? Yeah, I’m jealous.

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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.

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blxcktxe@reddit

I mean, I am not sure where you are from but where I live you can buy them rather cheap

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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.

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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.

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Jokey665@reddit

you really don't. i've installed windows at least half a dozen times using rufus to prep the usb drive

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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.

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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.

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RememberTooSmile@reddit

Same with bios updates, didn’t realize there was preferred specs for USBs outside of “this fits on the drive” until I started updating things

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blxcktxe@reddit

Funnily enough I managed to do a BIOS flashback update but not formating a bootable USB stick...

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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.

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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.

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Axe_Raider@reddit

what if i don't have friends

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xNEONZZ@reddit

You take it from your enemies

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Axe_Raider@reddit

oh good i have lots of those

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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.

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skyfishgoo@reddit

you BUY the install media.

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Own-Jeweler3169@reddit

Get one, USB are sticks are always lying around.

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almbfsek@reddit

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.depau.etchdroid&hl=en&pli=1

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stulew@reddit

Use the computer at the public library; I hope you have a library card.

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Solid_Mystery_Meat@reddit

I use my phone (Galaxy A35 5G)

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

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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.

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TheSultan1@reddit

You can use a live linux distro.

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Jack2102@reddit

You can flash an ISO to a USB drive from an Android phone iirc

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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

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billybob212212@reddit

Only problem is that it requires administrator access to the computer to use the Media creation tool (who knows why 🤷). Often tough to do at a school, work, or library .

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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.

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cum-on-in-@reddit

Can confirm. I’ve 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 ain’t even something theyd have to “get back to you” with. They’d probably invite you to their office and run the tool real quick while you chat, and then you’re off to the races.

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Shishamylov@reddit

There’s a portable Rufus version out there that will run without admin

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Leather_Confidence@reddit

I had to do it this way on an Android tv box. All the necessary apps are on playstore.

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Sbeezynukka@reddit

Do you have an android device with a usbotg cable? Use Rufus

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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?

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

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HankHippoppopalous@reddit

MD5 hashes exist for a reason? Its extremely verifiable data, Microsoft literally publishes this.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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..

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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GolemancerVekk@reddit

Scroll down that page 🙂

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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

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Different-Produce870@reddit

I once created the installation on a roommate's macbook after I accidentally nuked my os.

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tO_ott@reddit

I used my Android phone. I can’t remember the details but you can download an ISO, make your phone a bootable drive, and use it to install windows.

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SinOfDeath69@reddit

I use an old laptop and a USB drive.

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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.

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mister_newbie@reddit

I've used my phone with a USB-C stick. Works fine.

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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

You can do it through your phone. just look up online how to do it.
you can try going to local library or internet cafe to see if you can do it through their computer
go to a bestbuy and do it on one of the computers they have on display

[-]

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!

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