Installing Windows without internet

[Metalrocks]

I'm thinking on building in an M2 onto my motherboard as currently I have win 10 on a HDD. It's not a super modern one but read that my MB can deal with win 11 if I turn something in the BIOS off.
It's a Asrock B365M Phantom Gaming 4. Was thinking on getting a new MB, but than I need a new CPU and better fan for it, which isn't cheap.

Anyway, my question is rather a curiosity as I could not find anything online. Now that these days everything is online only, how would you install an OS on a completely new system when you have no access to the internet?
Yes, I can get it on a USB and install it from there, all fine and good. But what if you don't have this option? I'm still the old school type who installed it from a disc.

 

[DSzymborski]

I'm thinking on building in an M2 onto my motherboard as currently I have win 10 on a HDD. It's not a super modern one but read that my MB can deal with win 11 if I turn something in the BIOS off.
It's a Asrock B365M Phantom Gaming 4. Was thinking on getting a new MB, but than I need a new CPU and better fan for it, which isn't cheap.

Anyway, my question is rather a curiosity as I could not find anything online. Now that these days everything is online only, how would you install an OS on a completely new system when you have no access to the internet?
Yes, I can get it on a USB and install it from there, all fine and good. But what if you don't have this option? I'm still the old school type who installed it from a disc.

I don't see why it's any different than having a disc. What if you didn't have access to an optical drive?

Who are these people building a PC from scratch who have zero ability to access the internet?

 

[USAFRet]

I'm thinking on building in an M2 onto my motherboard as currently I have win 10 on a HDD. It's not a super modern one but read that my MB can deal with win 11 if I turn something in the BIOS off.
It's a Asrock B365M Phantom Gaming 4. Was thinking on getting a new MB, but than I need a new CPU and better fan for it, which isn't cheap.

Anyway, my question is rather a curiosity as I could not find anything online. Now that these days everything is online only, how would you install an OS on a completely new system when you have no access to the internet?
Yes, I can get it on a USB and install it from there, all fine and good. But what if you don't have this option? I'm still the old school type who installed it from a disc.

The system is currently running on a HDD?
You can clone directly from the HDD to the new M.2.

Or, seeing as you have some sort of internet connectivity (you're writing here)...you create a new USB to install with.

For Win 11?
If the system does not natively support Win 11, I'd say pass for a couple of years. Win 10 does not fall off support until Oct 2025. Leave it as Win 10.

 

[Endre]

I'm thinking on building in an M2 onto my motherboard as currently I have win 10 on a HDD. It's not a super modern one but read that my MB can deal with win 11 if I turn something in the BIOS off.
It's a Asrock B365M Phantom Gaming 4. Was thinking on getting a new MB, but than I need a new CPU and better fan for it, which isn't cheap.

Anyway, my question is rather a curiosity as I could not find anything online. Now that these days everything is online only, how would you install an OS on a completely new system when you have no access to the internet?
Yes, I can get it on a USB and install it from there, all fine and good. But what if you don't have this option? I'm still the old school type who installed it from a disc.

Hello!

You do not need to be connected to the internet to install Windows.
You, simply check the "I don't have an internet connection" option and you create a local account.

After installing the OS, you need to have the drivers of your PC available on a drive.
You'll have to install them.

Issues:
1. You might need to install software that requires online activation. You won't be able to!
2. If you're using an antivirus, that will need to be re-updated periodicly. You won't be able to!
3. Windows itself will lack a bunch of key updates without an internet connection.

I hope this helps...

 

[SkyNetRising]

but read that my MB can deal with win 11 if I turn something in the BIOS off.

Quite the opposite.
For windows 11 you have to turn on

TPM​

UEFI boot​

Secure boot​

It's a Asrock B365M Phantom Gaming 4. Was thinking on getting a new MB, but than I need a new CPU and better fan for it, which isn't cheap.

It supports windows 11 just fine.

how would you install an OS on a completely new system when you have no access to the internet?
Yes, I can get it on a USB and install it from there, all fine and good. But what if you don't have this option?

Then you have to acquire USB installation media some other way.
Get somebody else to make it, who has access to internet or
buy physical media together with license in a computer store.

 

[Endre]

Quite the opposite.
For windows 11 you have to turn on

TPM​

UEFI boot​

Secure boot​

It supports windows 11 just fine.

Then you have to acquire USB installation media some other way.
Get somebody else to make it, who has access to internet or
buy physical media together with license in a computer store.

He does indeed need to turn something off:
CSM.

 

[USAFRet]

He does indeed need to turn something off:
CSM.

The actual question here is not how to install with no network access, but rather a theoretical of "How to obtain the Win 10 or 11 install with no network access?"

Answer - Either buy it when you purchase your Windows license, or have a friend build one.

 

[Endre]

The actual question here is not how to install with no network access, but rather a theoretical of "How to obtain the Win 10 or 11 install with no network access?"

Answer - Either buy it when you purchase your Windows license, or have a friend build one.

CSM is a BIOS menu function that offers legacy support.
In order to enable Secure Boot & TPM 2.0, the user must disable CSM support.
Those are the pre-conditions of Windows 11 install.

 

[Metalrocks]

Thanks all.
I know 10 will be supported for the next few years and mostly by then, I may have gotten a new MB and CPU and get 11.
I was just curious on how I can obtain the OS and install it when building a computer from scratch.

 

[USAFRet]

I was just curious on how I can obtain the OS and install it when building a computer from scratch.

Download Windows 11

Download Windows 10

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[Metalrocks]

Download Windows 11

Download Windows 10

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

may as well ask here instead of creating a new thread.

i think I will get an M.2 drive, get rid of the HDD were i currently have win 10 installed. However, as 10 is a fully licensed version, how can i transfer it over so that i don't have to buy a new license? should i install win 10 first, and then let it upgrade to 11? Neither of the download links are clear about it.

I have a AsRock phantom Gaming 4 B365M motherboard. Once I have activated in BIOS the 'secure boot' and the TPM as these are currently turned off.

 

[USAFRet]

may as well ask here instead of creating a new thread.

i think I will get an M.2 drive, get rid of the HDD were i currently have win 10 installed. However, as 10 is a fully licensed version, how can i transfer it over so that i don't have to buy a new license? should i install win 10 first, and then let it upgrade to 11? Neither of the download links are clear about it.

I have a AsRock phantom Gaming 4 B365M motherboard. Once I have activated in BIOS the 'secure boot' and the TPM as these are currently turned off.

Actually, you DO need to create a new thread.
Your situation is different.

(send me the link)

 

[USAFRet]

may as well ask here instead of creating a new thread.

i think I will get an M.2 drive, get rid of the HDD were i currently have win 10 installed. However, as 10 is a fully licensed version, how can i transfer it over so that i don't have to buy a new license? should i install win 10 first, and then let it upgrade to 11? Neither of the download links are clear about it.

I have a AsRock phantom Gaming 4 B365M motherboard. Once I have activated in BIOS the 'secure boot' and the TPM as these are currently turned off.

A clone, or a fresh install on a NEW drive, in the same hardware, incurs no licensing issues

Install, and it will activate itself later.

 

[Endre]

may as well ask here instead of creating a new thread.

i think I will get an M.2 drive, get rid of the HDD were i currently have win 10 installed. However, as 10 is a fully licensed version, how can i transfer it over so that i don't have to buy a new license? should i install win 10 first, and then let it upgrade to 11? Neither of the download links are clear about it.

I have a AsRock phantom Gaming 4 B365M motherboard. Once I have activated in BIOS the 'secure boot' and the TPM as these are currently turned off.

Hello!

Please download Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft.
Then, create a bootable USB flash drive using Rufus (it's a free program).
Then, boot your PC with that USB drive (you might need to select the boot drive in the BIOS menu) install Windows 11 clean on the M.2 SSD.
The license that you are using to activate Windows 10 will work in the same way on Windows 11.

I hope this helps...

 

[Metalrocks]

Oh good. This will save me so much money by just getting a M.2 drive. Was afraid I have to buy a new license for 11, only to install it on a new drive.

Hope this wont matter much, but when selecting the ISO from the MS site, they say I should have the same language. Only there are two to choose from. US and international. I live in Australia, so I guess international then.
Unless it doesn't matter really. I know a bit of a dumb question but not that it causes issues one I have it installed.

 

[Metalrocks]

Hello!

Please download Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft.
Then, create a bootable USB flash drive using Rufus (it's a free program).
Then, boot your PC with that USB drive (you might need to select the boot drive in the BIOS menu) install Windows 11 clean on the M.2 SSD.
The license that you are using to activate Windows 10 will work in the same way on Windows 11.

I hope this helps...

Never heard of Rufus. I thought the computer would detect it automatically.

 

[USAFRet]

Never heard of Rufus. I thought the computer would detect it automatically.

Detect what, exactly?

Rufus is not needed...just use the MediaCreation tool from MS.

This is for Win 10, but very very close to Win 11:

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[Metalrocks]

Detect what, exactly?

Rufus is not needed...just use the MediaCreation tool from MS.

This is for Win 10, but very very close to Win 11:

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

Detecting the file that would lead to install 11.

I think I better clarify what exactly I want to do.
10 is currently on an HDD. I intent on removing this HDD and built in a M.2. And there I like to install 11 on it. So a complete new installation.

 

[USAFRet]

Detecting the file that would lead to install 11.

I think I better clarify what exactly I want to do.
10 is currently on an HDD. I intent on removing this HDD and built in a M.2. And there I like to install 11 on it. So a complete new installation.

Along with this:

Download Windows 11

...follow the above linked tutorial.

 

[Metalrocks]

Along with this:

Download Windows 11

...follow the above linked tutorial.

Thanks.
Not 100% sure if I should go with Assistant or Media.

I was just thinking, that I could install 11 on my HDD once I made the changes on my MB, and then use, my guess the Media file, to install it on the m2.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks.
Not 100% sure if I should go with Assistant or Media.

I was just thinking, that I could install 11 on my HDD once I made the changes on my MB, and then use, my guess the Media file, to install it on the m2.

No, too many moving parts.

Put the new system together.
With ONLY the m.2 drive connected.
Install Win 11, per the instructions above.

 

[Metalrocks]

No, too many moving parts.

Put the new system together.
With ONLY the m.2 drive connected.
Install Win 11, per the instructions above.

Fair enough.

But I like to know if it's the Media file I need or the ISO?
Apologies for coming over as dumb, but I rather be save than sorry.

 

[USAFRet]

Fair enough.

But I like to know if it's the Media file I need or the ISO?
Apologies for coming over as dumb, but I rather be save than sorry.

Download the MediaCreation tool.
Run it from an Admin account

It will download and create what it needs.

 

[Metalrocks]

Download the MediaCreation tool.
Run it from an Admin account

It will download and create what it needs.

Thank you.
All clear now. Hope all goes well.

 

[Viking2121]

You can install windows 10 pretty easy without an internet connection, it will allow you to continue with limited setup and you just make a local account and wait, I do it all the time.

Windows 11 though, by default it requires an account so it will need the internet to be active.

You can get by this, once it asks for an internet connection, press Shift+f10 and it will bring up the command box, type in oobe\bypassnro and press Enter, it will reboot the machine and it will then have the same option as windows 10 to continue with limited setup, you can now make a local account, don't need the internet.

I do this on machines I need to setup that are not mine, Im not logging into some other persons computer, it could be a security risk even after removing the account, funny how Microsoft talks highly about security and can't comprehend how this can be s security issue.