It is a lot easier than you think.
This guide is for anyone who has an old Windows machine and wants to start again and they have no software.
Google "Microsoft Media Creation Tool", download the exe file and it should be on the Microsoft website not on a third party website.
Microsoft has created an easy tool to create a Windows installation USB from any computer that has a licenced copy of Windows installed.
Download the software, run and follow the instructions, plug in a 8GB or 16GB USB. Please note the software will reformat the USB and all exisiting data will be lost.
Run the software and it will create a bootable installation USB.
We need to get into the BIOS of the computer. You can Google this information or watch carefully when the computer reboots, it will say something like F12 or F10 or F8 to get into BIOS.
Common manufacturer keys:
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ASUS / Acer: F2 or Delete
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Dell: F2 or F12
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HP: Escape or F10
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Lenovo: F2 or Fn + F2
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MSI: Delete
If you are using Windows 11 then use Advanced Startup
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Open the Start menu and click on the Power icon.
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Press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard, then click Restart.
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Your PC will restart and display a blue screen with several options. Click on Troubleshoot.
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Next, select Advanced options.
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Click on UEFI Firmware Settings.
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Click Restart. Your system will reboot directly into the BIOS/UEFI menu.
Once you are in the BIOS go to Boot Options or Boot Sequence or Boot Order. There is a place in the BIOS which determines what order drives boot from. Most modern computers will not have USB as 1. in the boot order. It will be the C: drive. Put the USB drive as 1. in the boot order, then click Save and Exit. It will not boot off the USB installation you made, make sure it is plugged in!
Follow the online instructions. You do not have to format the drive to install Windows, Windows will automatically format the drive. Make sure you have removed all data you want to keep before reinstalling Windows.