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Building for Windows

Everything you need to get Windows installed, activated, and running smoothly on your new build.

Getting Windows

Download the Media Creation Tool

Microsoft provides a free tool that downloads Windows 11 (or 10) and creates a bootable USB installer. You'll need a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage - all existing data on the drive will be erased.

  1. Go to microsoft.com/software-download on a working PC
  2. Download the Media Creation Tool for your version (Windows 10 or 11)
  3. Run the tool and select "Create installation media for another PC"
  4. Choose your USB drive and let it download + format

Boot from USB

Plug the USB into your new build and power on. Press F11, F12, or Del during startup (varies by motherboard) to open the boot menu and select your USB drive.

Installation

File System & Partitioning

Windows uses NTFS by default - you don't need to do anything special. During installation, select "Custom: Install Windows only" for a clean setup. If it's a brand-new drive, Windows will handle the partitioning automatically. If the drive has existing partitions, delete them all first so Windows can start fresh.

Product Key / Activation

  • If you purchased a license, enter the key when prompted during install
  • You can click "I don't have a product key" to skip and activate later - Windows is fully functional without activation, with a watermark
  • If upgrading from a previous build, your license may be tied to your Microsoft account - sign in to reactivate

UEFI vs Legacy BIOS: Modern motherboards use UEFI. Make sure Secure Boot is enabled in your BIOS settings for Windows 11 - it's a requirement. Windows 10 works with either mode.

Post-Install Setup

Windows Update

Run Windows Update first. Go to Settings → Windows Update and install all available updates. Restart and repeat until there are no more updates - this often takes 2-3 rounds.

GPU Drivers

Windows Update installs basic display drivers, but you should install the latest drivers directly from your GPU manufacturer for the best performance:

NVIDIA

Download GeForce Experience or grab drivers directly from nvidia.com/drivers

AMD

Download AMD Adrenalin from amd.com/en/support

Chris Titus Windows Utility

The fastest way to debloat Windows, install essential apps, and apply privacy/performance tweaks - all from one GUI tool. No download needed, just run a single command.

PowerShell (Run as Administrator):

irm christitus.com/win | iex
  • Removes bloatware (Candy Crush, Xbox Game Bar, etc.)
  • Installs common apps (browsers, runtimes, media players) via winget
  • Applies performance and privacy tweaks (telemetry, Cortana, right-click menu)
Quick Tips
  • Enable XMP/DOCP in your BIOS - your RAM likely runs slower than rated speed until you enable this
  • Set your display refresh rate - go to Settings → Display → Advanced Display and select the highest available Hz
  • Create a restore point after all drivers and apps are installed - Settings → System → About → System Protection
  • Set up a local account if you prefer not to use a Microsoft account - the Chris Titus tool can bypass the online account requirement during setup

Need hands-on help?

Wizard Tech Services offers PC Setup & Optimization - we can handle the entire build, install, and configuration for you.