If you’re building a new PC or switching to Windows from Linux, buying an OEM version of Windows 10 is a great way to get a full copy of Windows at a reasonable price.
Before you start, you need a valid 25-digit OEM product key found on the license card or online receipt, a blank USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage (or a blank DVD), and access to another computer with an internet connection to create the installation media.
An OEM license is permanently tied to the single computer it is installed on and cannot be transferred to another PC. Ensure you are installing this on the correct computer, as the activation is irreversible.
To install Windows 10 with an OEM license on a brand new or formatted PC, you first need to create bootable installation media. Follow these steps to download the necessary tools and prepare your USB drive or DVD for the installation process.
Go to the official Microsoft Windows 10 download page and click Download tool now to get the Media Creation Tool. Double-click the downloaded file (named MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe) and accept the license terms.
Select Create installation media for another PC and click Next. Choose the language, architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), and the specific Windows 10 version that matches your OEM license (e.g., Windows 10 Pro).
Select the media type: if using a USB flash drive, select USB flash drive, insert your blank USB, and follow the prompts to create the bootable drive. If burning to a DVD, select ISO file, save the file to your computer, and then use your DVD burning software to burn the ISO to the blank DVD.
Once the media is created, insert it into the new computer and follow these instructions to complete the setup. Insert the installation media (USB or DVD) into the new PC and turn it on or reboot it.
If the PC does not boot from the media automatically, press the setup key (commonly ESC, F2, F8, F10, or Del) immediately after powering on to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. Locate the “Boot Order” or “Boot” menu and change the priority so your USB drive or DVD drive is listed first, then Save and exit to reboot.
When the Windows installer loads, select your language and keyboard preferences, then click Next. Click Install now. When prompted, enter your 25-character OEM product key to activate Windows.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation; the PC will reboot and prompt you to set up your user account. After you finish the installation and log in with your Microsoft account, the OEM product key is digitally linked to that account for that specific PC.
This means you can skip entering the key manually if you ever reinstall Windows on this same machine in the future. Now that Windows 10 is installed, your immediate priority should be to verify that the operating system is activated properly.
You can do this by navigating to Settings > Update & Security > Activation, where you should see a message confirming that Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account. From here, proceed to install your essential drivers, such as graphics card, chipset, and audio drivers, either through Windows Update or directly from the manufacturer’s website.
Once your system is fully updated and drivers are installed, you are ready to install your preferred software and begin using your new PC.
