DIY Windows 11 install on new PC - steps to take

tpriest · Sunday at 9:19 AM

I'm having a new PC built by my local PC shop to replace my Win 10 system that they built in 2011 (with XP); albeit I've replaced all components except motherboard and CPU, and installed later Windows versions.

I intend to install Win 11 on the new system myself, and have been browsing the Installation and Upgrade Tutorials on here.

I'd like to check that I have understood the various steps.

Using my current Win 10 PC, create a Windows 11 Bootable USB stick using the steps in the Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media tutorial.
- Not sure whether to follow Create Windows 1 Installation Media or Download Windows 11 Disc Image (ISO) for X64 Devices. I have used Rufus before when appropriate.
- In the former case, during running the Media Creation tool, uncheck the "Use the recommended options for this PC" box.
Choose USB flash drive
Start the download

My understanding is at this stage I don't actually have to had bought a Windows 11 product key.

Check the USB flash drive is ok by booting it on my current PC to ensure it's ok. Then closedown and remove flash drive.

When I have my new PC

Purchase a Windows 11 product key
Boot from the USB flash drive and follow the various steps to install Windows 11.
I think I prefer to have a local account then connect my Microsoft account later - e.g. to install Microsoft 365

Have I misunderstood things or made any mistakes?

Thanks

pseymour · Sunday at 9:40 AM

If someone else is building it and you’re installing Windows, I would say don’t worry too much about the product key right away. Install some apps, use it for a few days, make sure it works. You can always buy a key later and activate Windows.

Berton · Sunday at 9:41 AM

One tip: the install media may not have the necessary driver for the Wireless/Wi-Fi adapter [if included on the motherboard] so I'd make sure to download it 'just in case'. Shouldn't be an issue if using Ethernet connection. The setup and using an E-Mail address for it will usually create the User name with the first 5 characters of that address. First install/User always has Administrator rights, has to always be one.

tpriest · Sunday at 9:43 AM

Useful tip. Just read about the limitations of not activating, I can live with those initially.

I will be connecting via Ethernet, don't expect on-board Wi-Fi.

gunrunnerjohn · Sunday at 11:39 AM

The MB and processor are arguably some of the most important choices, I'd be involved in picking those!

glasskuter · Sunday at 12:52 PM

If someone else was building a PC for me, I would make sure they installed windows. There's more to properly building a PC than just putting the components together. Any builder worth his salt would want to stress test a new build. As an owner, you would want to make darn sure that they did.
Heck, if it was me, I'd want to see a copy of all the tests.
Tell them to install Windows with a local account.

As someone else mentioned, you need to be involved in choosing the major components of any build.

bobkn · Sunday at 1:18 PM

glasskuter said:
If someone else was building a PC for me, I would make sure they installed windows. There's more to properly building a PC than just putting the components together. Any builder worth his salt would want to stress test a new build. As an owner, you would want to make darn sure that they did.
Heck, if it was me, I'd want to see a copy of all the tests.
Tell them to install Windows with a local account.

As someone else mentioned, you need to be involved in choosing the major components of any build.

At some point, you may as well screw the stuff together yourself. Choosing components is (IMHO) the steepest part of the learning curve.

As for tools, a single medium Philips screwdriver may suffice. Maybe plus some paper towels for cleaning up after applying thermal compound to the CPU heat spreader.

Trying to learn · Sunday at 2:12 PM

@tpriest Do you know what CPU it'll be? We just did our first DIY build. I was glad we chose a 12th gen Intel processor, as I read there were problems with the 13th and 14th gen ones. I hope they got those issues sorted out for people by now.... (Edit to add: I just read over on the other thread that the 13,14 gen issue has been resolved. Glad for the people with those ones.)

(I also kept the ethernet unplugged until after I had done the Rufus installation.)

Trying to learn · Sunday at 2:23 PM

bobkn said:
At some point, you may as well screw the stuff together yourself. Choosing components is (IMHO) the steepest part of the learning curve.

As for tools, a single medium Philips screwdriver may suffice. Maybe plus some paper towels for cleaning up after applying thermal compound to the CPU heat spreader.

Yeah, that was a steep learning curve for us, at least, since I had to learn a lot pretty much from scratch.

I saw a lot of people online recommending to use one of those anti-static wristbands while assembling. We didn't have one, so we kept the mobo on its antistatic plastic bag as much as we could and kept 'discharging' ourselves a lot by touching the metal on our radiator beside the table. I was a bit worried about the static charge issue, but it turned out okay.

tpriest · Sunday at 3:14 PM

Now created 2 boot USB flash drives. One using the MS Media Creation Tool and one using Rufus. Both boot ok on my old PC, the Rufus one stops and tells me the hardware isn't suitable, the MCT one boots into the initial Windows 11 install screen.

So both look ok. Still don't know which I will use come the day.

gunrunnerjohn said:
The MB and processor are arguably some of the most important choices, I'd be involved in picking those!

I was.

tpriest · Sunday at 3:17 PM

bobkn said:
At some point, you may as well screw the stuff together yourself. Choosing components is (IMHO) the steepest part of the learning curve.

As for tools, a single medium Philips screwdriver may suffice. Maybe plus some paper towels for cleaning up after applying thermal compound to the CPU heat spreader.

I know my limitations and my confidence level. Building one is for many, but not for me.

Trying to learn · Sunday at 3:17 PM

tpriest said:
Still don't know which I will use come the day.

Are you wanting to use BitLocker, or have it turned off?

tpriest · Sunday at 3:19 PM

Trying to learn said:
@tpriest Do you know what CPU it'll be? We just did our first DIY build. I was glad we chose a 12th gen Intel processor, as I read there were problems with the 13th and 14th gen ones. I hope they got those issues sorted out for people by now.... (Edit to add: I just read over on the other thread that the 13,14 gen issue has been resolved. Glad for the people with those ones.)

(I also kept the ethernet unplugged until after I had done the Rufus installation.)

14th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-14700K

Good point about Ethernet unplugged.

tpriest · Sunday at 3:19 PM

Trying to learn said:
Are you wanting to use BitLocker, or have it turned off?

Don't plan to use it.

Trying to learn · Sunday at 3:31 PM

tpriest said:
Don't plan to use it.

We aren't using it either. I guess you saw about Rufus helping to prevent it from activating upon installation, eh? We used Rufus with the 'prevent Bitlocker' option checked, kept the net unplugged, and made a local account. (You know about how to find/save the Bitlocker recovery key if it somehow gets activated at some point down the road?)

x509 · Sunday at 9:07 PM

bobkn said:
At some point, you may as well screw the stuff together yourself. Choosing components is (IMHO) the steepest part of the learning curve.

As for tools, a single medium Philips screwdriver may suffice. Maybe plus some paper towels for cleaning up after applying thermal compound to the CPU heat spreader.

Grounding strap. Patience. A second system for doing last-minute driver downloads for when you install Windows. A USB drive for sneaker-netting files between systems.

Be sure to get a top-rated power supply like Seasonic or Super Flower.

Trying to learn · 2025-05-13T15:59:35-0400

Yeah, patience has been a biggie for us here too, as we're new to Win 11. Lots to learn and figure out. :)

Trying to learn · 2025-05-13T16:00:31-0400

@tpriest Hope it all goes smoothly for you. :)

DIY Windows 11 install on new PC - steps to take

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