

Before you start, here are some things to keep in mind: Once you have prepared a USB or other installation media with the media creation tool, you can proceed with the actual installation. It allows you to make a bootable USB flash drive or burn an iso file to a DVD for installing Windows 11. To help you get started, here is a step-by-step guide on creating Windows 11 installation media with the Media Creation Tool.

Even on an older system, a dedicated Windows partition makes a fresh installation easier. And in mid-June, Microsoft quietly announced that it would end support for Windows 10 in 2025 as leaked images of Windows 11 spread.That being said, installing from a USB is often necessary, especially if you have built a new desktop computer that lacks an OS. At the Microsoft Build developers conference on May 25 last year, CEO Satya Nadella said Microsoft was planning "one of the most significant updates of Windows of the past decade," confirming that a major change was on the horizon for the 1.3 billion users of the OS in 2021. Rumors about a major Windows redesign have been circulating for the past year. The update marks the first major change to Microsoft's operating system since Windows 10 launched in 2015. (Check out all of the best Windows 11 features and how to use them.) And Android apps will be integrated into Windows and installable from the Microsoft Store - though that feature won't be available right away. You'll find lots of new desktop tools, like widgets that can give you at-a-glance information, and easier virtual desktop creation. The Windows Start menu has moved from the bottom left of the screen to the middle, with app icons arranged in the center next to it. Windows 11 features a streamlined new design, with pastel colors, rounded corners, a new startup sound and overall a more Mac-like look.

Watch this: Windows 11 review: New OS has us asking, update or wait?
