In this article, we will provide a detailed guide on how to install Windows 10 on an older PC that has a NVMe drive, without requiring any BIOS modification. This process can be broken down into several key steps, which we will cover in detail.
Overview
Many people assume that they cannot install Windows 10 on an older PC with a NVMe drive, because NVMe drives require UEFI and Secure Boot, which may not be available on older systems. However, this is not the case. It is possible to install Windows 10 on an older PC with a NVMe drive, as long as you use the correct installation method.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
- An older PC with a NVMe drive
- A Windows 10 installation media (USB or DVD)
- An external USB drive or CD/DVD drive (if your PC does not have built-in USB or optical drive)
Preparing the Installation Media
The first step is to prepare the installation media. You can use a USB flash drive or a DVD for this purpose. To create a bootable USB flash drive, you can use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, which is available for free from the Microsoft website. Simply download the tool, run it, and follow the prompts to create a bootable USB flash drive.
# Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
wget -O MediaCreationTool.exe
# Run the tool and follow the prompts to create a bootable USB flash drive
MediaCreationTool.exe
Booting from the External Drive
Once you have created the installation media, you need to boot your PC from it. If your PC has a built-in USB or optical drive, you can simply insert the installation media and restart your PC. If your PC does not have a built-in drive, you will need to use an external drive.
To boot from an external drive, you will need to change the boot order in your PC's BIOS. Restart your PC and press the key to enter the BIOS setup (usually F2, F10, or Del). In the BIOS setup, navigate to the Boot Order or Boot Device Priority settings and change the order so that the external drive is listed first.
# Change the boot order in the BIOS setup
bios setup -> Boot Order -> External Drive (USB or CD/DVD) -> Save & Exit
Installing Windows 10
Once you have booted from the installation media, you can begin the installation process. The process is similar to installing Windows 10 on any other PC:
- Select the language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method, and then click Next.
- Click Install now.
- Enter your product key, if you have one, and then click Next.
- Select the edition of Windows 10 that you want to install, and then click Next.
- Select the type of installation: Upgrade or Custom.
- Select the drive where you want to install Windows 10. This will be your NVMe drive.
- Click Next to begin the installation process.
After the installation is complete, you will need to go through the initial setup process. This includes setting up a user account, enabling Windows updates, and configuring privacy settings.
In this article, we have provided a detailed guide on how to install Windows 10 on an older PC with a NVMe drive, without requiring any BIOS modification. We have covered the key concepts of this process, including preparing the installation media, booting from an external drive, and installing Windows 10. With these steps, you should be able to install Windows 10 on your older PC with a NVMe drive without any issues.