When you set up a new computer, there are certain prerequisites that you need to meet in order for it to function properly. Windows 10 is no different. In this post, we will explore what system requirements are needed in order to install and use Windows 10. We will also provide tips on how to find out if your computer meets these requirements and how to prepare for the installation process. Make sure you read this post before you start installing Windows 10!
What are the system requirements of Windows 10?
Windows 10 is a genuine operating system that can be installed on devices with different hardware specifications. It is available in different editions, such as Home, Pro, and Education. In this article, we will show you the system requirements of Windows 10 for different hardware configurations.
Minimum System Requirements for Windows 10:
To install Windows 10 on a PC with an Intel® or AMD 64-bit processor and at least 4GB of RAM, you must have:
An Intel® 64-bit processor (Core i3 2125U or above) or an AMD64 processors (A4-7400K or above).
8GB of available hard drive space.
A USB 3.0 port (or 2 USB 2.0 ports) and an Internet connection.
How to check if your computer meets the system requirements of Windows 10?
If you’re using a PC that was built in the last few years, it likely meets the system requirements of Windows 10. But if you’re using a PC that’s been used before, or if your computer is older, there are some things you can do to make sure it’s compatible.
First, check the version of Windows 10 that’s installed on your computer. If you have an upgrade version of Windows 10 (like Professional or Enterprise), your computer probably has the latest features and drivers. But if you have a Home edition of Windows 10, it may not have all the features and updates available. So be sure to check for updated drivers and software from Microsoft before upgrading your copy of Windows 10.
Next, check your hardware for compatibility with Windows 10. Some devices (such as digital cameras) might not work correctly with newer versions of Windows because they don’t support certain features or functions in new versions of Windows. You can find out if your device is compatible by going to www.windowsupdate.com and checking for updates related to your device type or model number.
If any of your devices or hardware aren’t compatible with Windows 10, you’ll need to decide whether to upgrade or purchase a new device that supports newer versions of Windows.
Finally, make sure you’ve read through the setup instructions that come with your copy of Windows 10 and know how to activate it if necessary. Activation is required for some features inWindows 10 (like using a digital license key to install or use certain features).
How to install Windows 10 if your computer does not meet the system requirements?
To install Windows 10 on a computer that doesn’t meet the system requirements, you will need to use a virtual machine or software emulator. You can also create an image of your hard drive and install Windows 10 that way. There are many ways to install Windows 10, so find one that works best for you.
If you have a 64-bit computer, you can install Windows 10 using the Microsoft Windows Media Creation Tool. If you have a 32-bit computer, you can use the Microsoft Download Center to download the .iso file for installing Windows 10.
To start the installation process, insert the .iso file into your CD or DVD drive and restart your computer. During the installation process, you will be prompted to choose between PC or tablet mode. Select PC mode if your computer has a keyboard and mouse, or select Tablet mode if your computer has a touch screen.
When the installation is complete, click Finish to close the wizard and launch Windows 10.
What are the different types of installations of Windows 10?
There are three different ways to install Windows 10: on a computer that you own, on a computer that you rent from a provider, or as a Microsoft Volume License (MSVL) installation.
System requirements for each installation type are summarized in the following table.
Windows 10 Home is available in editions with or without DVD playback support. If you choose to install Windows 10 Home without DVD playback support, you must use an ISO file to create a bootable drive.
To make the installation process faster and easier, Microsoft recommends using the Media Creation Tool to create bootable drives with pre-installed Windows 10 Professional or Windows 10 Enterprise versions. The Media Creation Tool can be downloaded from the following Microsoft website:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48145 .
If you want to use a USB drive instead of an ISO file, see How do I create and use a USB drive with Windows 10?
There are several types of installations of Windows 10: Desktop (Home), Laptop, Tablet PC, Mobile (Phone), and IoT (Internet of Things). For more information about these types of installations, see What are the different types of installations of Windows 10?
Desktop (Home) :
- This is the default installation type and is installed on computers that you own. When you first start up your computer after installing Windows 10, it will likely be set to automatically start up in Desktop (Home) mode.
- This is the default installation type and is installed on computers that you own. When you first start up your computer after installing Windows 10, it will likely be set to automatically start up in Desktop (Home) mode. Laptop
- This is the installation type for laptops that you borrow from a provider or purchase from a retailer.
- This is the installation type for laptops that you borrow from a provider or purchase from a retailer. Tablet PC
- This is the installation type for tablets that you borrow from a provider or purchase from a retailer.
- This is the installation type for tablets that you borrow from a provider or purchase from a retailer. Mobile (Phone)
- This is the installation type for phones that you borrow from a provider or purchase from a retailer.
- This is the installation type for phones that you borrow from a provider or purchase from a retailer. IoT (Internet of Things)
- This is an optional installation type that can be used to install Windows 10 on devices such as smart TVs, drones, and smart appliances.
What are the different types of users in a Windows 10 installation?
The following table provides a quick overview of the different types of users in a Windows 10 installation.
User Type Administrator Standard user Homegroup member User who has been delegated administrative rights local administrator User who is part of the Administrators group on the local computer Guest User not assigned any user rights
Windows 10 also supports guest users, which are users who have no user rights on the computer. A guest user cannot access anything that is not explicitly allowed to them by policy. For example, they cannot view or edit system files, change system settings, or run applications that require administrative privileges.
How do I change the default settings in Windows 10?
Changing the default settings in Windows 10 is a great way to personalize your computer and make it more efficient. Here are some tips on how to do this:
- Open the Settings app on your desktop.
- Under “Personalization,” click on “Themes.”
- Select the theme you want to use, and then click on the “Apply” button.
- Under “Screen Resolution,” select a resolution you’re comfortable using, and then click on the “Apply” button.
- Under “Input Method,” choose the input method you want to use, and then click on the “OK” button.
What hardware do I need to run Windows 10?
To install Windows 10, you need a computer that meets the system requirements. The following table lists the minimum and recommended hardware you need to run Windows 10.
Table 1: Minimum and recommended hardware for Windows 10
Hardware Component Minimum Recommended Processor 1 gigahertz (GHz) 2.4 GHz or faster Memory 4GB 8GB Graphics card DirectX 9 level graphics processor with WDDM 1.1 driver Graphics card must have at least 512MB of dedicated memory Hard disk space 50GB 80GB free Disk space on secondary drive.
How much should I allow for updates and development?
Up to 5 GB 7 GB Other components Keyboard, mouse, Internet access, and a valid digital certificate for signing in with Microsoft Accounts (Windows 10 Anniversary Update only)
Tip: If you don’t have a graphics card that meets the minimum requirements, you can still install Windows 10 by using a virtual machine.
How much free disk space do I need?
The amount of disk space that you will need for your computer depends on the type of computer and operating system that you are using. For most people, the more free disk space that they have, the better. The following table shows how much disk space is needed for different Windows operating systems:
Windows Size Needed MB
XP Home or Professional 1 GB
Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate 2 GB
Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate 4 GB
Windows 8 32-bit 3 GB
Windows 8 64-bit 4 GB
If you are running a web server or sharing files with others over the internet, then you will need even more disk space. A rule of thumb is to have at least 5% of your total disk capacity reserved for these activities.
What type of processor should I have?
If you’re planning on using a Windows computer for serious work, or gaming, you’ll need a processor that can handle the demands of those applications. The following are the minimum system requirements for Windows 10:
- A processor with at least 2 cores (4 if running on 64 bit version)
- 4GB of RAM
- A graphics card that supports WDDM 1.2 or higher
- 100MB of hard drive space for installation
How much memory do I need?
Internet Explorer 11 requires 2GB of RAM, which is the same as Internet Explorer 10. Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 both require 3GB of RAM for the operating system and each browser instance. Modern versions of Chrome or Firefox also require 4GB of RAM or more. For user profiles, Microsoft recommends 2GB of available memory per user account.
What graphics card should I have?
Graphics card: For Windows 10, 8.1 and 7, Microsoft recommends an AMD Radeon™ R7 260X or NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 660 Ti or better. For Windows 10 and 8.1, an AMD Radeon™ HD 7870 or NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 660 is recommended; for Windows 7, an AMD Radeon™ HD 6970 or NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 560 is recommended.
- If you have a newer computer with a more powerful processor, then you can choose to do without a graphics card altogether and rely on the processor alone to run the operating system and your applications. However, if you are running an older computer that doesn’t have a more powerful processor available or you just want to take advantage of the graphical capabilities of your computer, then purchasing a graphics card will be beneficial.
- When choosing which graphics card to purchase, make sure that it has the minimum required specifications listed above as well as support for DirectX 11 (or higher). Additionally, make sure that the graphics card has at least 2GB of dedicated video memory so that you can install and use most modern games without experiencing any performance issues.
How big is the hard drive that I need?
The hard drive that you need for Windows 10 will depend on the size of your computer. For example, if your computer has an 8GB memory, you will need a minimum of a 16GB hard drive. If your computer has a 16GB memory, you will need at least a 32GB hard drive.
Can I install Windows 10 on a USB drive?
If you’re looking to install Windows 10 on a USB drive, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure your USB drive is at least 4GB in size. Second, you’ll need to make sure your computer has the proper hardware installed. Third, make sure your computer is up-to-date with the latest security patches. Finally, once you have all of the necessary requirements met, follow these simple steps to install Windows 10 on a USB drive:
- Make sure your USB drive is at least 4GB in size.
- Make sure your computer has the correct hardware installed.
- Make sure your computer is up-to-date with the latest security patches.
- Follow these simple steps to install Windows 10 on a USB drive:
- Insert the USB drive into your computer.
- Open BIOS or UEFI menu on your computer and set boot order so that USB drive is first in list.
- Turn off your computer and then turn it back on by pressing any key when prompted to start windows Normally when we boot our PC from external device like WD My Passport Ultra 2TB (USB 3.0), we usually see “Press any key to Boot from Disk” message before Windows logo appears on monitor
In my case I had selected “Optical Media” as my first boot device so I didn’t see this message and just pressed Enter key which started loading from usb without any troubles. - Once windows loads, press Windows key + X to open “Command Prompt” and type “bcdedit” (without the quotes) and press Enter.
- Type “set vga=normal” without the quotes and press Enter.
- Type “exit” without the quotes to exit bcdedit and reboot your computer.
- You should now be able to install Windows 10 on a USB drive!