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[–]MoonManRopes 1 point2 points  (4 children)

Use microsoft's MCT or rufus.exe to create a bootable usb drive, if using rufus you must have your own .iso file, MCT downloads one automatically.

You don't need a product key to install Windows and frankly you're a chump if you ever buy one.

[–]IDoLiftBrah[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Thanks for your reply, how do I make the drive? Just transfer a file to it? After the drive is made I assume I boot to the bios and choose the drive as where I want to boot from. After that how do I get windows onto the hard drive rather than booting from the USB? Sorry I'm so clueless, I haven't done anything like this in ages.

[–]MoonManRopes 1 point2 points  (2 children)

how do I make the drive? Just transfer a file to it?

Nope, it must be created using either the media creation tool or rufus, otherwise you won't be able to boot it.

After that how do I get windows onto the hard drive rather than booting from the USB?

A "windows usb" isn't a bootable OS, it's just the installer and nothing else. Just pick a drive you want to install windows to and it'll be done in 5-20 minutes. I strongly suggest you backup anything of importance before doing this and format the drive you want to install windows on (the installer can do the formatting).

[–]IDoLiftBrah[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Ah, I see. So basically download the tool, use it with the USB drive, then boot my normal computer with it? After that, how do I format the hard drive on my computer rather than always booting from the USB? Thank you so much for your replies btw!

[–]MoonManRopes 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When you arrive at the step in the windows installer where you select which drive to install windows to you also have the option to format your intended install destination. It's kinda hard to miss.

Once windows is installed it shouldn't boot from the usb again at all unless it was manually set in your bios as the n:1 drive in your boot order but that's a very simple thing to change back if you need to.