How to Custom Install Windows x

When you perform a custom install of Windows 10, a clean install of Windows 10 is performed only on the same partition every bit the previous installation of Windows to replace it, and the previous installation is moved into the C:\Windows.old binder as a fill-in. Once the custom install has finished, yous will be able to re-create any files you desire back from the C:\Windows.erstwhile folder.

A custom install of Windows x tin exist useful if y'all are unable to start Windows for whatever reason, need to reinstall Windows, but exercise not want to lose any files in your current installation by doing a full clean install.

This tutorial volition show you lot footstep by stride on how to exercise a custom install of Windows 10 with UEFI or Legacy BIOS on your PC.

You will need to be continued to the Internet while performing a custom install.

Here's How:

ane Temporarily disconnect all non Os hard drives until Windows installation has finished. This is to avoid Windows Setup from installing files or partitions on other hard drives by mistake.

2 Exercise the step below depending on how you lot desire to do a custom install of Windows 10.

  • step 3: To Custom Install Windows ten with bootable USB
  • step 4: To Custom Install Windows 10 with an ISO file

iii To Custom Install Windows 10 with bootable USB

This option is good to use if you are unable able to boot into Windows.

A) If y'all haven't already, you will demand to create a bootable Windows x installation USB.

The USB y'all use must be created for the same UEFI or Legacy BIOS currently used by Windows.

B) Kicking from the USB wink drive on your computer.

C) Select your language, fourth dimension and currency, and keyboard or input method preferences, and click/tap on Side by side. (run across screenshot below)

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D) Click/tap on the Install Now button to start the installation, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)

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4 To Custom Install Windows ten with an ISO file

You must exist signed in to Windows as an administrator to do this option.

A) If you oasis't already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

The ISO file you use must exist created for the aforementioned UEFI or Legacy BIOS currently used by Windows.

B) Mountain the ISO file. (come across screenshot below)

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C) Open up the bulldoze (ex: "D") for the mounted ISO file, open the Sources binder, and run the setup file. (see screenshot below)

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D) If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve. (see screenshot below)

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E) Select your linguistic communication, time and currency, and keyboard or input method preferences, click/tap on Next, and go to step 5 below. (run into screenshot below)

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5 Enter the product key for the Windows 10 edition (ex: Dwelling or Pro) y'all want installed and activated, and click/tap on Next. (encounter screenshot below)

If you lot do non have a product key available right at present, then you lot can click/tap on the I don't have a product key link to exist able to manually activate Windows 10 later on when y'all do take a product central.

If yous want to activate with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account, then click/tap on the I don't take a production key link, and be certain to prepare upwardly your Microsoft account at step 20 below.

You volition non exist asked to enter a production key if installing Windows x Enterprise. You volition demand to actuate later on later on installation has finished.

If you took reward of the free Windows 10 offer, then you lot can enter the Windows 7 or Windows 8 product central that you upgraded to Windows x from.

If this is an OEM PC that has a valid production key embedded in its UEFI firmware chip, so you volition not be prompted to enter a product key. Windows 10 will automatically employ the embedded product key if its valid for the edition beingness installed. If needed, you can change the product key after installation has finished.

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6 If you clicked on I don't take a product central in step 5 in a higher place, and then you will demand to select the edition that yous desire to install, and click/tap on Adjacent. (see screenshot beneath)

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7 Bank check the I accept the license terms box, and click/tap on Next. (come across screenshot below)

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8 Click/tap on the Custom: Install Windows merely (avant-garde) option. (run into screenshot below)

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ix Select the Main partition that Windows is installed on, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshots below)

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10 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

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11 The installation of Windows 10 volition now brainstorm. (see screenshots beneath)

During the installation, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.

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12 During restarts, ignore the Choose an operating organization or Windows Kick Director screens. You do not need to practise anything on them since the installation will automatically go along. (see screenshots below)

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13 When installing Windows x has finished, you will now exist greeted past Cortana (if supported) to aid in setting upward Windows 10. (see screenshots below)

You can click/tap on the microphone icon at the bottom at anytime to toggle voice style on and off as needed or wanted.

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14 Select your region (ex: "Usa"), and click/tap on Aye. (encounter screenshot beneath)

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15 Select your keyboard layout (ex: "US"), and click/tap on Yep. (run into screenshot below)

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16 Select Add layout or Skip depending on if yous want to add together a second keyboard layout. (see screenshots below)
17 Windows Setup volition now check for an Internet connexion. If an Internet connexion is not detected, it volition prompt you to select an Ethernet network or setup and connect to your wireless network, and click/tap on Next. (run into screenshots below)

If you currently do not take an Net connection available, then yous can click/tap on the Skip for at present link at the bottom left, and go to step 21C beneath.

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eighteen Select How would you lot similar to fix upwards (Pro) or Choose how you'll connect (Enterprise or Education), and click/tap on Next. (run into screenshots beneath)

You lot will not see this if installing a Windows 10 Home edition.

For Windows 10 Pro:

Gear up upward for an system = Domain

Set up for personal use = Local habitation PC

For Windows x Education and Enterprise:

Bring together Azure Active Directory = Choose this option if your organization uses Function 365 or other concern services from Microsoft. Your organization might collect info about you, install or remove apps, change settings or disable features, delete content, or reset your device. Talk to your support staff to larn more than. This will let yous setup Windows with a work or school account now.

Join a local Active Directory domain = This will let you lot setup Windows with a local business relationship now. When setup is finished, you lot tin can join a domain, or switch to a Microsoft business relationship. Get to step 23C below after selecting this option.

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nineteen Exercise the step beneath depending on if your would like to fix up Windows 10 to sign you in with a local business relationship or Microsoft account.
  • step 20: Set up Windows x with a Microsoft account
  • stride 21: Set up upwardly Windows 10 with a local account

20 To Ready Windows 10 with a Microsoft Account

A) Type in the email address, phone number, or Skype name y'all have registered for your Microsoft account, and click/tap on Adjacent. (run across screenshot below)

If you do not have a Microsoft account and would similar to use one, and then click/tap on the Create business relationship link to create a new Microsoft account.

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B) Enter the countersign for your Microsoft account, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

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C) If you used the Microsoft Authenticator app to secure your Microsoft account, then approve this asking when notified on your Android or iOS mobile device, and go to pace 23F beneath. (run into screenshot beneath)

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D) If you lot accept 2-step verification turned on for your Microsoft account without using the Microsoft Authenticator app, then select how you would like to get your code, and click/tap on Adjacent. (encounter screenshots below)

East) Enter the code you received from Microsoft, and click/tap on Adjacent. (come across screenshot below)

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F) If your PC has a camera that supports Windows Howdy, then you lot can click/tap on Set up to utilize your face to sign in to Windows 10. If you do not desire to, then click/tap on Skip for at present. (see screenshot below)

You will always be able to add a face up afterward if you like in Windows 10.

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G) Click/tap on Create Pin to add a PIN for your Microsoft business relationship in Windows 10. (see screenshot below)

You lot will not be able to avert creating a PIN, merely you volition e'er exist able to add a Pin, modify your PIN, or remove your PIN later if you like in Windows 10.

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H) If prompted to verify the password for your Microsoft account, then: (meet screenshots below)

  • Enter the electronic mail address for your Microsoft account over again, and click/tap on Next.
  • Enter the password for your Microsoft account, and click/tap on Sign in.

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I) Enter a Pin you lot want to employ, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

You will always exist able to add a Pin, change your Pivot, or remove your Pin later if you lot like in Windows x.

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J) If you wanted to link your iPhone or Android and this PC, so you could enter your phone number and click/tap on Send to accept an app link sent to your phone to practice so. Otherwise, just click/tap on Next to skip this. (see screenshot below)

Yous volition e'er be able to add together a phone at someday from inside Settings > Telephone.

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K) Yous will now be prompted if you would like Protect your files with OneDrive. Click/tap on Next if yeah, or click/tap on But salve file to this PC if no. Go to step 22 beneath. (see screenshot below)

You will always be able to plow on or off folder protection with OneDrive at someday in Windows 10.

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21 To Fix Upwards Windows 10 with a Local Account

A) Perform one of the following deportment depending on which Windows 10 edition you are installing: (encounter screenshots below)

  • If Windows ten Dwelling house, type the bogus telephone number 1234567890 into the telephone/e-mail accost field, click/tap on Next, click/tap on the Offline account link at the bottom left of the Confirm your phone number screen.
  • If Windows x Pro, click/tap on the Offline account link at the bottom left.
  • If Windows x Enterprise, click/tap on the Domain join instead link at the bottom left, and get to step 24C below.

B) Click/tap on No or the Limited feel link. (come across screenshots below)

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C) Enter a user name you want for the local account, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot beneath)

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D) Enter a password you want for the local account, and click/tap on Adjacent. (run into screenshot beneath)

If you practice not want this local account to have a password, so leave this field empty instead, click/tap on Next, and go to footstep 22 below.

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E) Enter the password again to confirm, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot beneath)

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F) Select a security question (ane of iii) you lot want from the drop menu, type your answer, and press Enter. (encounter screenshot below)

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G) Select a security question (2 of three) you want from the driblet menu, type your answer, and press Enter. (see screenshot beneath)

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H) Select a security question (3 of 3) y'all want from the driblet bill of fare, type your reply, printing Enter, and go to pace 23 below. (see screenshot below)

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22 Click/tap on Decline or Accept depending on if y'all want to employ Cortana with your account in Windows 10. (see screenshot beneath)

You volition be able to turn Cortana on or off at anytime in Windows 10.

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23 Click/tap on No or Aye depending on if yous want to plow on Activity History for your account in Windows 10. (run into screenshot below)

You volition be able to turn Activity History on or off at anytime in Windows 10.

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24 Turn on or off the privacy settings you want, and click/tap on Take when finished. (see screenshots beneath)

You lot will exist able to change all of these privacy settings at anytime in Windows ten.


  • How to Plow On or Off Online Speech Recognition in Windows 10
  • How to Turn On or Off Location Service in Windows 10
  • How to Turn On or Off Notice My Device in Windows x
  • How to Alter Diagnostic and Usage Data Settings in Windows x
  • How to Plow On or Off Improve Inking & Typing Recognition in Windows 10
  • How to Turn On or Off Tailored experiences with diagnostic data in Windows x
  • How to Enable or Disable Let Apps employ Advertising ID for Relevant Ads in Windows 10

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25 Windows Setup will now start getting things fix you.

26 If prompted, click/tap on Yes (on) or No (off) for network discovery. (come across screenshot below)

You will ever be able to plow on or off network discovery at anytime in Windows 10.

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27 When the custom install has finished, you will be on your desktop in Windows 10. (see screenshot beneath)

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28 Brand certain that yous have the correct time zone, appointment, and time set.

29 Install any needed drivers for your devices.

xxx If you like, you can at present open up the C:\Windows.quondam binder to copy dorsum any files y'all may want from your previous installation. (see screenshots below)

If you already had a Windows.old folder when y'all performed a custom install, so it will be renamed to say Windows.former.000, Windows.sometime.001, etc... (older previous installations). The most contempo previous installation volition always exist in the C:\Windows.former folder.

The previous installation contents in the Windows.old folder volition be automatically deleted in 10 days by default.

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That's it,
Shawn

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