Roger Irwin Computer Services - IT Support Services - Computer Repair - Nelson / Richmond / Tasman
Book an Appointment 03 548-2220

Download Windows 10 or 11 from Microsoft

You can download Windows 11 and Windows 10 free from Microsoft to make a bootable USB stick for a clean install or repair, or an ISO for a virtual machine. You'll still need a valid licence to activate Windows.

Download Windows 11

Microsoft's download page offers three options:

  • Installation Assistant Upgrades the computer you're using to the latest version of Windows 11, keeping your files and programs.
  • Media Creation Tool Makes a bootable USB stick, or saves an ISO file. It needs to run on a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 computer.
  • Disk image (ISO) Downloads the ISO file directly, for use with VirtualBox or other virtual machines, or to copy to a USB stick yourself.

Microsoft link: microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

Download Windows 10

The Media Creation Tool makes a bootable USB stick or an ISO file. If you open the page on a computer that isn't running Windows, such as a Mac or Linux computer, you're offered the ISO file to download instead.

Microsoft link: microsoft.com/software-download/windows10

Windows 10 is no longer supported. Microsoft ended support in October 2025, so it no longer gets regular security updates. Install Windows 11 if your computer can run it.

Making a bootable USB stick

  • Use a USB stick of at least 8 GB Everything on it will be erased, so copy off anything you want to keep first.
  • Run the Media Creation Tool Choose your language and edition, then pick USB flash drive and select the stick.
  • Start the computer from the USB stick Plug it in and restart. You may need to press a key such as F12, F9 or Esc as the computer starts to choose the USB stick.

Back up first. A clean install erases the drive you install Windows on. Make sure your files are safely backed up before you start.