2a.Install with Playbook

Only if you have enough free storage, after finishing the Windows reinstall, Windows.old will be at the start of your Windows drive, containing your old data. You can retrieve data from the folder and delete it afterward, which this guide covers later.

This method only works if you're already on Windows.

1. Disconnect any cables providing internet to your computer, such as an ethernet cable. Do not reconnect any until instructed to do so

2. Right-click the previously downloaded ISO file and select Open With -> File Explorer

3. Open This PC in File Explorer, and remember the ISO's drive letter (e.g. H) for the next step. The drive should look similar to CCCOMA_X64FRE_EN-GB_DV9

4. Press Win+R to open the Run dialog

5. Inside the Run dialog, type in the previously remembered drive letter, and then without a space, type :\sources\setup.exe after it. Example: H:\sources\setup.exe

6. Press Enter on the Run dialog, and accept the User Account Control prompt

   • The message "Make sure BitLocker Drive Encryption is suspended" could appear from the Windows Setup when you press Enter. Refer to our BitLocker decrypting instructions to resolve this, then retry from step 5 onwards

7. Select No thanks when prompted for updates, then uncheck the box for I want to help make the Windows installation better

8. If prompted, click I don't have a product key, as Windows should auto-activate later

   • If Windows doesn't auto-activate, you can enter a key later within Windows

9. Choose your edition of Windows

   • Windows Pro is recommended. Windows Home is not officially supported
   • If the Windows Setup did not give a choice of edition and it installs Windows Home anyway, you can always change Windows edition later by changing your Windows product key once Windows has finished reinstalling, without having to reinstall anything

1. Accept the license agreement and click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

2. Select your Windows drive, click Next, click OK to the warning about Windows.old, and let the installation finish

This method works on Linux and Windows.

1. Download the latest release of Ventoy and extract it wherever you feel comfortable.

   • Linux users can get it using a package manager

2. Inside the Ventoy folder, run Ventoy2Disk

3. In the opened window, select your USB drive and click Install

   • This will destroy all data on the USB drive!

4. Copy your downloaded ISO file into the USB drive (labeled Ventoy)

5. Disconnect any cables providing your computer internet, such as an ethernet cable

   • Do not reconnect to the internet until instructed to

6. Restart your computer, boot into your BIOS' boot menu, then select the USB drive

   'Security Violation' Error

   Video Demonstration

   Credit to Ventoy for the video demonstration.

   

   If you get an error screen saying there was a 'Security Violation,' follow the steps below:

   1. Press Enter to load MokManager

   2. Press any key to begin key management

   3. Choose Enroll Key From Disk

   • The controls are arrow keys to move and Enter to select

   4. Choose VTOYEFI

   5. Choose ENROLL_THIS_KEY_IN_MOKMANAGER.cer

   6. Choose Continue, then Yes, and finally Reboot

   7. Boot from the USB again, as the issue should be resolved

   ---

   If it is still not working, try 'Hash Enrollment,' as detailed in Ventoy's guide.

7. Once booted into the Ventoy menu, select the Windows ISO using the arrow keys, press Enter, click Boot in normal mode, and press Enter again

8. If you're installing Windows 11, once booted into the Windows Setup, click 'Next' twice, then click 'Previous version of setup' in the bottom left corner of the window

9. Select your preferred language preferences, click Next, then click Install Now

10. If prompted, click I don't have a product key, as Windows will activate automatically later (as long as you have previously activated Windows legitimately)

11. Choose your Windows edition

1. Accept the license agreement and click Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

2. At the 'Where do you want to install Windows?' screen, choose one of the following:

   Keeping data (recommended)Deleting data on one driveDeleting data on all drives

   Previous Windows data

   • Identify the disk partition you want to install Windows to by looking at the total sizes, then select it
   • Click Next, then click OK to the warning about Windows.old

   This permanently deletes data!

   Make sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure you don't delete the wrong partitions.

   • Identify the drive number you want to install Windows to
     • You can identify your drives by their total sizes
   • One by one, carefully delete your drive number's disk partitions
   • Select the unallocated space of your drive number
   • Click Next

   This permanently deletes data on all drives!

   • One by one, delete each disk partition in the window
   • Select the unallocated space of the drive you want to install Windows to
     • You can identify your drives by their total sizes
   • Click Next

3. Wait for Windows to install

1. Once the setup starts, select your language and then your keyboard layout
2. Press Shift+F10 to open Command Prompt
3. Type in start ms-cxh:localonly, press Enter
4. Enter your username, password, and security questions - Deny each option in the Privacy section and press Accept

1. Connect your device to the internet

2. Move on to the next section

Don't connect to the internet yet, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings -> Windows Update

2. Temporarily Pause Updates for at least one week

3. Connect your device to the internet

4. Move on to the next section