First of all, what we have to do is to check if our computer meets the necessary requirements to install the system.
If it does not meet them, we will have to assess whether we can upgrade the computer to be able to perform the installation without problems or think about buying a new computer.
But we will talk about all this later in this complete guide that we have prepared.

Important details

Windows 10 is one of the most important versions of Microsoft’s operating system ever.
It is present in millions of computers and there is a lot to know before diving into the installation process.
In the following paragraphs we will talk about the reasons to install this edition of the platform, the system requirements you should take into account and the different licenses you can choose from.
Once you have finished reading these sections you will be ready to start installing.

Why install Windows 10 from scratch?

There are many reasons why you may want to install the operating system from scratch, for example, in case your computer is giving you problems and you want to fix it by attacking the root cause.
It may also be that you want to have it on another partition. Or simply, it is possible that until now you had another operating system and you want to change it for all the advantages that this one provides and its high compatibility.

A very common reason for installing it is that many desktops and laptops, especially gaming computers, although you will see this trend in many others, come without Windows pre-installed from the factory.
This reduces their cost, since they don’t have to pay the extra for the license.
Thanks to this, not only will you be able to access new computers at a lower cost, but also those that interest you for their features, and may not have the operating system installed.
It is also something to take into account if you are considering the possibility of buying one for parts.
In short, it will open up a new field of possibilities if you are thinking of buying a new computer.

On the other hand, as you may already know, Windows 10 has many advantages.
This operating system is completely free for users who have a valid license for versions 7 or 8.1.
What’s more, whoever upgrades to the tenth version, will have the following versions for free (if the computer hardware allows it).

In addition, if you do not have too much hardware, it is an excellent option, as it consumes very few computer resources.
It also has its own virtual assistant (Cortana) and is the first multi-platform and multi-device operating system.
That is, it works equally well on any screen (regardless of size) and on any device you run it on.
In short, Windows 10 is a great operating system that works quite well with most devices, especially when installed from scratch.
Its new features are truly practical and, to top it off, it includes security measures for computer threats (although we are never exempt from risks).

So, if you meet this or any of the reasons why you want to do it, we are going to tell you the requirements, how to do it and everything you need to know during the whole installation process… and after it!

System requirements

Microsoft establishes a series of basic requirements to perform the installation without problems.
Hardware requirements that will guarantee the correct operation of the system after installation.
If our computer does not meet them, it is very likely that we will not enjoy an optimal experience, so we will have to think about upgrading the computer or buying a new one.

• Processor

Compatible 1 GHz or faster processor or system on a chip (SoC).
The processor is the brain of the computer and is responsible for performing all operations necessary to run the operating system and applications.
A processor with a minimum speed of 1 GHz is required, which is quite low compared to modern processors.
However, it is important that the processor supports PAE, NX and SSE2 features.

PAE (Physical Address Extension) is a feature that allows 32-bit processors to access more than 4 GB of RAM.
This means that if you have a PC with a 32-bit processor, but with the PAE feature, you will be able to install Windows 10 and use more than 4 GB of RAM.
For its part, NX (No Execute) is a security feature that helps prevent the execution of malicious code in system memory.
If your processor does not support this feature, you may not be able to install it.
As for SSE2 (Streaming SIMD Extensions 2), this is an extension to the processor’s instruction set that allows you to perform mathematical and floating point calculations more efficiently.
Most modern processors support this feature, but it is important to make sure that your processor does in order to install it.

• RAM

RAM is the temporary storage space used by the operating system and applications to perform their operations.
Windows 10 requires at least 1 GB of RAM for the 32-bit version and 2 GB for the 64-bit version.
If your computer has less RAM than required, it may run slowly and you may experience performance issues.

• Hard disk space

16 GB for a 32-bit OS or 32 GB for a 64-bit OS.
Hard disk space is the permanent storage used by your computer to store the operating system, applications, files and data.
At least 16 GB of hard disk space is required for the 32-bit version and 20 GB for the 64-bit version.
It is important to note that these are the minimum requirements and that it is advisable to have more space available for future updates and new applications.

• Graphics card

The graphics card is the component responsible for displaying the image on your computer screen.
It is necessary that the graphics card supports DirectX 9 or later and has a WDDM 1.0 or later driver.
This ensures that the graphics card can display graphics and visual effects properly.

• Display

The display is the output device of your computer and allows you to view the operating system, applications and files on the screen.
The display is required to have a minimum resolution of 800 x 600 pixels.
This is a fairly low resolution, so most modern displays are likely to meet this requirement.
It is important to note that screen resolution affects the clarity and readability of the content being displayed, so it is recommended to have one with a higher resolution for a better user experience.

• Internet connection

As you can imagine, you will need your computer to be connected to the Internet.
Being connected to the network will be necessary when carrying out the many updates that are distributed for the operating system and that, in a large number of cases, are essential.
You will also need the connection to be able to download tools or add-ons related to the Microsoft platform.
And, not least, it is essential to have Internet when you do the initial configuration, both in the quick configuration mode and in the OOBE user experience.
However, there is usually no problem with a connection that is not too fast, it will simply take longer or slower depending on the connection.

Available license types

Currently, Microsoft no longer markets the licenses, since the company has made the leap to the next version of the platform.
However, it is important to know the existing license types and the price they had at the time, since third-party licenses are still being marketed.

• Home is the most basic, the one used by most users because it allows access to the most important functions of the operating system at the lowest price.
  For this reason, it is probably the option you are most interested in.
  Its price is 145 euros.
• Pro is a slightly more complete version because it has more options and functions such as Remote Desktop, Windows Information Protection, BitLocker and a set of tools designed for business use, although the price is higher.
  It is designed for users who have more powerful computers and are looking for more work capabilities, for those who use their computer frequently.
  A license for a PC or Mac is priced at 259 euros.
• Pro for Workstations.
  This one is undoubtedly designed for the professional market, since it improves the functions of the other versions by offering greater security, stability and data volume, among other features.
  It is an alternative for small companies.
  It can be purchased for 439 euros.

Along with these availability licenses, there are also versions of the operating system for organizations.
You may have come across some of these editions at your work or school, and they are quite popular among the community of Microsoft OS enthusiasts.
These versions are as follows:

• Education: a version designed for the education sector, teachers, students and other related professionals.
  Initially it did not have Cortana, but over time it was added.
  One of its peculiarities is that it does not have suggestions or the typical tips and tricks that are given in the experience of using the system.
• Pro Education: derived from the previous one, the edition designed to be used in universities, schools and other academic entities.
  It incorporates more management tools that help Windows to boost the performance of these centers.
• Enterprise: designed for companies, with high levels of security, a very flexible customization system and the ability to easily manage devices.
  It is intended for use by IT professionals who will then customize the system configuration for use by company employees.
• Enterprise LTSC: a version type for long-term use, hence the acronym Long-Term Servicing Channel.
  In this case, annual upgrades are not applied, but the upgrade periods are longer, between 2 and 3 years.

Other curious editions, although less widespread, are the Holographic, which Microsoft customized for use with HoloLens technology, and the IoT Enterprise version, designed for low-cost Internet of Things devices.

Although Windows 10 is no longer sold in Microsoft’s online store, it is available from other retailers and vendors.
This makes it easier to have several options to consider when considering possibilities to save money on the purchase of the license.
Of course, do it on trusted sites and do not trust services that you do not know, especially those that are not safe sites or give you a bad impression.
You can buy from Amazon, Fnac and other sites that have a good reputation.
Do not trust websites that offer it at very cheap prices, such as 10 to 20 euros, because you can have problems with it.

On the other hand, if you have purchased your computer with Windows 10, it is possible that you already have the official license, so you will not have to buy it again.
If you have any doubts, check with your service provider.
If your computer came without an operating system, you will need to purchase the program to install it on your PC.

Installation

There are different methods with which you can install the operating system on your computer, as well as steps that you should also take into account before, during and after the installation.
The process is not as complicated as you may think, but it does require you to pay attention to everything you do.
However, we are going to try to explain it to you in a simple way so that you do not have any doubts.

Create USB or DVD for installation

One of the things you can do to install it on your computer is to create a USB or a DVD.
Therefore, we are going to tell you what steps you should follow for the creation of the file that you will use to install the operating system on your PC in this way.

It is possible to use different installation media, such as a USB memory stick or a DVD.
From them, we can do a clean installation of the system or a reinstallation of the system.

To do so, we will need:

• A computer with a stable Internet connection.
• A USB flash drive or DVD.
• A product key, although it is not required for digital licenses.

If we want to use a USB memory stick, we must have a drive with at least 8 GB of available space.
If we want to create an installation DVD, then we need an empty disc and a DVD burner in the computer.

In any case, the first thing we are going to do is to download the media creation tool, Media Creation Tool, from Microsoft’s website. Once downloaded, here’s what you need to do:

• Run the downloaded Media Creation Tool file.
• We accept the terms.
• Choose the option Create installation media.

• Select the Windows 10 version.
• When asked for the media to use, choose USB Flash Drive if you want to create an installation USB or ISO File if you want to create a DVD.

• If we choose USB, we connect the flash drive to our computer, wait for the tool to recognize it or click on Update drive list.
  Follow the steps requested by the tool and finish the process.
• If we choose DVD, we will have to choose the path where we want to save the ISO image and finish the process.

In the case of the USB memory, we will already have the installation media ready, so the only thing left to do is to configure our PC to boot directly from the memory unit.

If you have created an ISO file, the next thing to do is to burn the system image file to DVD using a program such as IMGBurn, Nero or Ashampoo Burning Studio.
Finally, we configure the computer to boot from the DVD drive and perform the installation.

On the other hand, from an ISO file we can also create an installation USB.
To do this we will have to use a tool such as Rufus, a software specially designed to create bootable media.
In this case, the steps to follow will be:

• Download and install the program(Download Rufus).
• We run the program on our desktop.
• Choose the operating system you want to use from the Boot choice field . In the drop-down list next to it, select the Download option.
• Next, a small window will appear in which we can choose the exact version of the operating system.
• The download of the image file with the chosen system will start.
• Once finished, we will be able to create the bootable USB with this file.

Configuration for booting from USB or DVD

Once we have our installation media correctly created, either a USB stick or DVD, the next thing we have to do is to change the boot order of the computer on which we are going to install Windows 10.
To do this, what we have to do is access the BIOS settings and set the corresponding boot media.
To do this:

• Restart or turn on the computer.
• Press the F2, F8 or Delete key depending on your computer to enter the BIOS setup.
  (You can also consult the manual of your motherboard).
• If we do not know the access key or prefer it, it is also possible to do the following:
  • Open the configuration page and navigate to the Update and Security option > Recovery > Advanced Startup and click on Restart Now.
  • In the next menu, select Troubleshoot > advanced options > UEFI firmware configuration.

• Once inside the BIOS or UEFI, in the Boot tab is where we will find the option that allows us to set the boot order of the computer.
  There we will be able to choose between CD, DVD, USB drive, etc.

• Select the corresponding option (USB or DVD).
• Click on Save and Exit.

Once this is done, the next time the system starts, the boot will be performed from the selected drive and we will be able to start the process to install the operating system.

How to install Windows 10 step by step

Regardless of whether the installation is done from the Windows 10 DVD itself or from a media created by ourselves, once the installation wizard starts, these are each and every one of the steps to follow:

The first thing to do is to choose the language we are going to install, as well as the language, time format, currency and the keyboard or input method.
Click on Next and the Install Now button will appear.

Click on this button and in the next step you will be asked to enter the license key.
If we do not have it or we want to do it later, it is enough to click on I do not have product keys and we will pass to the following step.

Now is when we must choose the version of the system that we want to install.
If we have a license, then we must choose the version that corresponds to it.
Otherwise, it is usual to select the Home version and click on Next.

As we can see, it is possible to choose between Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Education and Windows 10 Pro and their corresponding N versions.
Windows 10 Home is the most basic and economical version if we are going to buy a license, but the truth is that it has all the common features of the system.
The only thing to keep in mind is that it offers some limitations when buying OEM or Retail licenses and that the maximum RAM memory is 4G in 32 bits and 128 GB in 64 bits.

The Pro edition is designed for users looking for something more.
It includes everything in the Home edition, but allows you to buy volume licenses and the maximum RAM memory for 64 bits is 512 GB.
In addition, the Pro version also includes Hyper-V, BitLocker and EFS or the possibility of using Remote Desktop as client and server, as well as other features focused on the business environment.

As its name suggests, Windows 10 Education is the version of the system focused on education, or rather schools.
Licenses are distributed in volume, so they cannot be purchased individually and, in addition, it has a series of tools specially designed for this environment.

All these editions have their own particular “N” version, which means that they do not have any media player installed by default.

Next, we will have to accept the terms of license and use of the system and click again on Next to open a new window in which we will be asked what type of installation we want to do.

In this case, we are going to select the second option, Custom, since it will allow us to choose the disk partition where we want to install.
In addition, at this very moment we can create or configure the space where we want to perform the installation if necessary.
If this is not the case, the wizard will use the necessary space by default and will create the corresponding recovery partition.

When clicking on Next, we will see how the installation process will start, which may take a few minutes. Once finished, the configuration wizard will open, which will guide us through the initial configuration of the system.

At first, we will have to choose our region, in this case Spain. Next, we will be asked to choose the appropriate keyboard layout and once this is done, we will have to enter our email, phone or Skype account to sign in with Microsoft, as well as the access password.

In the next step, the configuration wizard will give us the option to create a PIN, which will allow us to log in quickly and securely.
If we want to create it, just click on the Create PIN button and set the code we want.

The next thing the wizard will ask us is if we want to activate the system activity history.
This way, we will be able to continue with what we were doing on our PC even after switching devices.

Now we will be asked to enter our cell phone number to get instant access to photos, text messages, notifications and more.
In short, if we want to activate the synchronization between our mobile and Windows 10, with which we can also send web pages from the mobile to the PC.
We can activate it at that moment or go to the next step.

At this moment is when we will be informed of the possibility of backing up our files with Microsoft’s cloud storage system, OneDrive, which we can use fully integrated into the system when installing Windows 10.

In the next step, we will be able to activate Microsoft Office if we have a product key or get more information with the free trial of the company’s suite.

In the following steps we will be able to activate the Cortana assistant, indicate whether we want Microsoft and the applications on our computer to be able to use our location, activate the use of the Find My Device function, configure the data we want the operating system to collect about us and send to Microsoft servers.
Choose settings to improve handwritten inputs and handwriting or if we want to allow Microsoft to get personalized experiences thanks to diagnostic data.

Finally, a screen will appear telling us that we should not disconnect our PC, since the system is being configured based on everything that we have just indicated and that the final process may take several minutes.
After this, the next thing we will see after a few minutes will be our desktop and we will have finished installing.

Upgrade from Windows XP, 7 or 8.1

If we are Windows 7 or 8.1 users, there is still time to upgrade to the latest version of the system without having to install Windows 10 from scratch.
On this occasion, we will have to use again the Media Creation Tool that we have already mentioned above.
The first thing to do is to find out if the hardware in our PC is compatible with the version we want to upgrade to.

It is possible that we have had the computer for quite some time, so it is likely that we do not know exactly what hardware elements it has.
If so, we can launch the dxdiag command from the Windows Run window and the system itself will show us the details of the hardware we have installed.
Now, we only have to check if they meet the minimum requirements that Microsoft asks for to install these more modern versions of the system.

If we are lucky and we meet the minimum hardware requirements, the next thing to do is to make a backup of all the data stored on the computer, something that is possible to do today in the upgrade process, but that was not possible in XP before.
In this way, we will have to make a clean installation of Windows 10 on the computer.

To make a backup of our data, it is advisable, first of all, to delete all the junk files or applications that we do not use previously.
Something we can do manually or with the help of a tool like CCleaner, for example.
In times of version 7 there was a very practical tool known as Windows Easy Transfer that allowed you to copy files and make a transfer to this version of the operating system between two computers.
However, with Windows 10 this utility disappeared.

However, Microsoft, aware of user requests to offer something similar, collaborated with the PCmover Express software company to ensure that transfers using it would offer the highest level of efficiency.
To use it, follow the steps below:

• Connect the two computers to the same WiFi network or the same cable connection
• Open PCmover Express on the old computer you are going to stop using.
• Select what you are going to move, such as files, applications, folders and other items.
• Configure the transfer options and click on Done.

This will start the transfer and you will have to wait until you are informed on the computer of its completion.
After that it is advisable to reboot and then activate all the usual programs that you do not have active, such as the antivirus.

Finishing Windows installation

Once you have your system installed, there are a few extra steps you should take to ensure both the security and stability of your computer.

Microsoft’s operating system has evolved a lot in terms of driver management.
The system can be installed without loading our specific drivers.
Once installed, the system can load the necessary drivers through Windows Update.

However, it is not advisable to let your computer do this process automatically.
Sometimes, the repositories that the Microsoft program uses to find drivers are obsolete or do not have the best possible version.
This results in a computer that may have stability problems (frozen screen, crashes…), problems with USB port speeds and other similar problems.

The first thing to do is to install the chipset driver.
This is in charge of very important processes, such as power management and power on, sleep and shutdown cycles.
You can easily find it on the Intel or AMD websites depending on the system you have, but ideally you should go to the official website of your motherboard (or to the specifications page of your laptop).
Once you install the chipset driver, you should also install the USB drivers and the audio drivers.

On the other hand, if your computer has a dedicated graphics card, you must also go to the manufacturer’s website (Nvidia or AMD) and install the corresponding driver.

Once you have everything installed, the last step is to go to Windows Update and force a system update to finish tuning the computer.

Default settings to check

This version of Microsoft’s operating system came loaded with a lot of new settings to offer users more customization.
Among all of them there are sure to be many that we will never change, however, there are others that should be reviewed as soon as the installation of the system is complete.

We refer, above all, to those that can allow us a better experience in the use of the system or that have to do with privacy, security or data collection by Microsoft.
Among some of the tasks or settings to check as soon as you install, we highlight:

• Remove bloatware: bloatware is made up of all those applications that come pre-installed by default with the Microsoft operating system and that, in most cases, we will never use.
  Therefore, if we do not want them to be taking up space on the computer, it is best that, first of all, we uninstall them.
  For it, we go to the page of Configuration> Applications and characteristics and in the list that appears to us, we will go uninstalling all that we do not want to have in the team.
• Deactivate Cortana: Cortana virtual assistant is another new feature.
  Although the truth is that its options are many, most users do not use the assistant at all.
  In addition, it is well known the problems it has had with privacy.
  Therefore, for many users the best thing to do is to disable it completely.
• Disable telemetry: Telemetry is responsible for tracking system usage and sending certain data and information to Microsoft servers.
  If we want to disable this function, we open the Settings page and go to the Privacy option.
  Within the General tab, we review all the permissions we are giving to the system to configure them to our liking.
  The same we have to do in the Location option and in the sections Camera, Microphone, Handwriting and handwritten input customization, Account information, Contacts, Messages, etc.
• Change default applications: as expected, it brings configured by default the use of Microsoft applications.
  Therefore, when we open a web page, it will open in Microsoft Edge, while if we open a photo, it will open in Windows 10 Photos, for example.
  However, we may have our own favorite applications.
  From the Settings page > Applications > Default applications, we can change these applications and choose the ones we want once we have them installed on the computer.
• To deactivate the system of optimization of delivery of updates: it is another of the characteristics that it released, and what it does is to facilitate the update of the system in other teams of our local network or even through Internet by means of the interchange P2P.
  To deactivate this option, we opened the configuration page > Update and security > Windows Update, we entered in advanced options and next we clicked on Optimization of delivery.
  Finally, to disable the service, click on Enabled to change the setting to Disabled.
• Check Active Hours: system updates catch us in the middle of a job is always a chore.
  Fortunately, in Windows 10 we can adjust what is known as Active Hours, which allows us to indicate the hours in which we are working on our computer so that automatic updates do not bother us in that period of time.
• Activate the system restore: although if we have just installed everything will be perfect, the truth is that it is best that we activate and configure the Windows 10 restore.
  We will do it, in case at some point, later, we see the need to return to certain settings where everything worked fine after encountering an error.
  For it, we go to the page of Configuration > Update and security and inside the section Backup we configure the equipment so that points of restoration of the system are created and that at any moment we can throw hand of them.
• Disable UAC behavior: UAC operation can be somewhat annoying or aggressive for users due to the large number of notifications it displays.
  Therefore, if you want to avoid constant notifications, you will only have to modify this option and limit it (or disable it completely if you prefer).
• Accelerate shutdown: the system has a feature that stops shutdown when there are applications or programs running.
  Therefore, you would first have to save all the changes, close the open programs and finally shut down the computer.
  You can modify this behavior and speed up the system shutdown (although the risks of losing the changes will be higher).

In order to get the most out of Microsoft’s operating system on your new computer, it is important to review all of these aspects and follow the steps correctly.
This will help you know how to fix any possible errors you encounter.
It will also be useful if you need to change the operating system on your current computer.

Possible problems

As has happened before with any other version of Microsoft’s platform, you may encounter bugs or problems in the process.
After all, there are many things to check and things that can go wrong or go awry at some point.
However, everything has a solution.
Below, we talk about the most common problems and also give you recommendations on how to overcome them.

Before installation

If we comply with the requirements established by Microsoft for the installation on our computer, we should not encounter any problems with the installation.
However, there are certain details that we must take into account since they can be an impediment to proceed with the installation of the system.
These are some of the most frequent errors when starting the installation of Windows 10:

• Insufficient space: to update or install Windows 10, we need enough space on the hard disk to be able to carry out the installation.
  Otherwise, we will encounter an error when starting the process.
  Usually there is enough space, but if not, we should free it or consider buying a new hard disk with more capacity.
• External hardware: To avoid problems, if we have any hardware devices connected to our computer, such as headphones, printers, scanners, speakers, USB drives or external hard drives, it is best to disconnect them first.
  If we are using a laptop connected to a docking station, we will have to undock it.
• Antivirus: It is advisable to uninstall any antivirus software that we have on the computer and is not from Microsoft, as it can sometimes cause problems or conflicts during the upgrade or installation of Windows 10.
  When the installation is finished you can reinstall it.
• Obsolete or unused applications: Any obsolete software we have on the computer can cause problems when updating or installing.
  Therefore, it is advisable to remove all those old applications or those that we no longer use, thus avoiding any mishap during the process.
  In addition, it is also advisable to update the applications that we do use on a regular basis for greater security.

After installation

The truth is that one of the things that has been haunting Microsoft’s operating system for the longest time are the errors or problems that we can encounter after an update.

So much so that, from Redmond, they have developed a lot of Windows 10 troubleshooters.
Problems that have to do with Internet connection, printers connected to our computers, audio playback, Windows Update itself, network problems, Microsoft Store applications, Bluetooth, search service, shared folders, power, audio, video playback, keyboard, microphone or program compatibility, among other aspects.

In this way, when we have a problem of this type, we will be able to use these utilities to try to solve such problems automatically and in a totally transparent way for the users.

To do this, we have to open the Windows 10 Settings page and navigate to the Update & Security option > Troubleshoot problems.
Once there, we will find all the troubleshooters related to the features mentioned above.
All we will have to do is launch the troubleshooter and wait for it to run to check if it has been able to fix the problem automatically.

During installation or upgrade

Errors starting with 0xC1900101 are some of the most common installation errors.
Problems usually have to do with driver errors, such as the ones shown below:

• 0xC1900101 – 0x2000c
• 0xC1900101 – 0x20017
• 0xC1900101 – 0x30018
• 0xC1900101 – 0x3000D
• 0xC1900101 – 0x4000D
• 0xC1900101 – 0x40017

When faced with any of these error codes, here is what we can do to try to solve them:

1. Check that we have enough free disk space.
2. Run Windows Update several times in case there are any pending updates to be installed.
3. Check for third-party drivers and download available updates
4. Disconnect any additional hardware
5. Check if there are any errors in the Device Manager
6. Uninstall or deactivate our antivirus if it is not from Microsoft.
7. Repair possible hard disk errors (by running chkdsk/f C: from CMD)
8. Perform a clean restart
9. Restore and repair system files (run DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth from CMD)

During installation, other errors may also appear, possibly less common than the above, but which have occurred in several cases, so it is useful to know about them.

• 0x80073712: this error means that there is a file that Windows needs to install that is corrupted or not where it should be.
• 0x80070070: this error code indicates that we do not have enough space on the hard disk to install the new version.
  We must make sure that we have at least 20-30 GB free to install.
• 0x80300024: this error message shows that the hard disk, partition or target volume where we want to install the operating system does not support a disk operation specified by the wizard.
• 0x80200056: If you get this error it is because you have been logged out during the installation process or the computer was restarted and therefore the update can continue.
  Windows will automatically try to download and install this version of the system again, but we must make sure that the computer is connected to power and will not shut down again.
• 0x800F0922: Microsoft servers cannot be accessed for installation.
  This may be because we are using a proxy or VPN and we have forgotten to disconnect it, something that happens more than you think.
  It may also mean that we do not have enough space on the reserved system partition to install the update.
• 0x800F0923: this indicates that a software or driver on our computer, or some other type of software, is not compatible with the version of Windows we want to install.
  We must investigate on our own what is responsible to remove it and be able to continue.
• 0xC1900200 – 0x20008 / 0xC1900202 – 0x20008: in both cases the error indicates the same thing and it is nothing else than that the computer where we intend to install does not meet the minimum requirements that must be demanded and, therefore, while we do not expand it, either in RAM or storage, we will not be able to install the version we intended.
  There is nothing we can do about this, except upgrade our computer hardware to meet these minimum requirements.

Recovery options for possible failures

On the other hand, and in case we have Windows 10 already installed, but it starts to go wrong, we do not have to go through the whole process above to install starting from scratch, but we can resort to the recovery options to restore the PC and leave it as fresh from the store.

This is a very useful method when we have installed new updates or some drivers or applications on our computer.
It is possible that the operating platform encounters failures in them or during the installation and it is necessary to return to a stable version of the system.

We speak of a restore point as a backup of the operating system that it makes when something new is installed on it, such as updates or applications.
These are created automatically by Windows if the system protection option is enabled.
Or they can also be done manually.

The available recovery options allow us to restore the operating system to its default settings.
This can be done by keeping our data or deleting it completely from the system.
To access these options, follow these steps:

• Opens the Configuration menu.
• Go to the Update and Security section.
• In it click on the Recovery option.
  And here we will see the section Reset this PC.
• What happens if you do not activate Windows?

Microsoft’s permissiveness has been increasing over the years.
With XP, you could use the system for 30 days without activating it.
After those 30 days, the only option to continue using it was to enter the product key.
If you didn’t, the only thing you could do were backups and little else.

With Vista, Microsoft introduced the so-called “Reduced Functionality Mode”, which was activated after 30 days without activation.
This mode prevented you from playing games, as well as disabling system functions such as ReadyBoost or BitLocker.
In addition, after one hour of use of the system without activation, it closed the session.
With Windows 7 came the change, and the permissiveness began.
The operating system continued to work after the 30-day trial, but a window was displayed every hour urging you to activate it, as well as a message in the taskbar.
It also stopped receiving security updates and gave you a black wallpaper.

With Windows 8.1 the same thing happened, with a full screen message for you to activate it, as well as having the customization options disabled.
Despite this, the operating system was still perfectly usable, which brings us to Windows 10.

With Windows 10, all we see is a message on the bottom right that says “Activate Windows: go to Settings to activate Windows“.
We can use the system without any problem.
Now, there are certain things that we will not be able to do with Windows 10 without activating, such as modifying certain personalization settings, customizing the taskbar, system color, wallpaper, fonts or themes.
Nor can we synchronize items between Microsoft accounts.

Beyond that, the operating system can be used smoothly without affecting performance.
In addition, we continue to receive patches and updates.
This is ideal for hardware testers, as they don’t have to activate the system every time they set up a new computer for testing.

Thus, with Windows 10 not only nothing happens for using it without activation, but Microsoft also launched the Media Creation Tool, with which the user downloads the official ISO of Windows 10.
It is not necessary to resort to Torrent portals or hidden links to download the system image as it was necessary to do with Windows 7.
This is another sign of the approach of the system to the user regardless of whether he pays or not.
In addition, previously with the Insider subscription it was possible to use the latest builds totally free, since it was not necessary to activate it.
Thus, Microsoft gave you the operating system for free in exchange for testing it.
Now this program is focused on Windows 11.
And the next version of the platform is just what we talk about in the next section.

Upgrading to Windows 11

It is possible that, at some point, you have encountered a message from Microsoft in which, during the installation process, they recommended you to go directly to version 11.
However, Microsoft does not force you to do so, although it has its “tricks” to invite us to update insistently and even try to install it within an update.

Although it can be upgraded for free if your computer is compatible (for starters, the requirements are twice as much RAM and disk space as its predecessor), the point is that it is not something that is totally necessary.
Moreover, after years of availability, bugs have been fixed and optimization and security have been improved.
So why would we want to change?
Luckily, if we’re not sure we want to make the leap, we have ways around it.

This update is in Windows Update, and the easiest way to stop it is through this section of the Windows settings menu.

• We access to the Configuration menu with the shortcut Windows + I, and inside this we go to Update and security.
• Once inside we accede to Windows Update, that is in the menu of the left.
• Here we will find the option to “Pause notifications for 7 days”.
• If we go to Advanced options we can modify this period up to 35 days.

Keep in mind that Windows 10 will continue to be supported by Microsoft until October 14, 2025.
Therefore, there is still a large margin of time during which you will be able to enjoy the platform without inconveniences and without the need to jump to a later version.

In the event that you do want to upgrade, Microsoft has a similar philosophy to the one it introduced during the time when Windows 10 was the most current version.
In order to help users upgrade their operating system, if your PC is running the latest version of Windows 10 and meets the minimum hardware specifications you can upgrade for free to version 11.
For more information, you can check Settings/Windows Update to see if the update is ready for your device.