I'm in the process of building a PC and I bought a Microsoft 11 "System Builder" CD for $100. I realize that's a pretty steep price, but I'd like to know how to actually use this CD to download and install Windows. I don't currently own any devices with Microsoft on them. Did I make a mistake with this purchase, and what are the next steps for me?
3 Answers
If you don't have a CD drive, that could be a problem! Usually, people do use USBs for installation these days. If you really want to use the CD, consider getting an external DVD drive. But I'd recommend the USB route; it's way simpler and faster.
Honestly, it sounds like you may have overpaid, especially since you can easily create a bootable USB from a friend's computer using tools from Microsoft. Just grab a USB stick and head to their website to download the installation files. You can still use the CD key from your System Builder CD to activate Windows once you install it from the USB.
Ah, got it! So I just need to borrow a PC for a bit and I’m good? Thanks for the tip!
It sounds like there's some confusion here! So, just to clarify, Microsoft sells Windows as an OS, and a System Builder CD is meant for installing it on PCs. The CD key inside the box is what you'll actually use to activate the software, regardless of how you install it. But with most modern PCs, a USB drive is the way to go since not all motherboards even come with a CD drive nowadays. You can use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive for free. You definitely didn't waste your money, but you might want to adapt how you install it.
Thanks for the insight! What’s the best way to go about creating that USB drive? Is the tool easy to use?
That makes sense! I guess I should just invest in a USB then.