Frequently Asked Questions

The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer’s processor (also called a CPU) handles information. The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of random access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system. Not all devices can run the 64-bit versions of Windows.

If you have a Windows operating system installed, open File Explorer or This PC.

1. Right-click on This PC or Computer in the navigation pane and select Properties.
2. In the System information screen, find the System type entry. This will indicate what type of processor your device has.

If you do not have an operating system installed, you should refer to the documentation that came with the device. Most device and processor manufacturers also provide information regarding processor capabilities on their websites.

For other options and more information on Windows 7, visit the Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit FAQ page, or download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

Windows 8.1 and Windows 10

The product key is located inside the product packaging, on the receipt or confirmation page for a digital purchase, or in a confirmation email that shows you purchased Windows. If you purchased a digital copy from Microsoft Store, you can locate your product key in your Account under Digital Content.

The product key is located inside the box that the Windows DVD came in, on the DVD, on the receipt or confirmation page for a digital purchase, or in a confirmation email that shows you purchased Windows. If you purchased a digital copy from Microsoft Store, you can locate your product key in your Account under Digital Content.

Your product key is located on the receipt page when you purchase or in the Order History section of the WebStore from which you ordered the software.

Devices Pre-installed with Windows

Before using operating system copies from this site for install, re-install or recovery on devices with pre-installed operating systems, see your device manufacturer or reseller for the customized drivers and applications specific to your machine. Using operating systems copied from this site for install, re-install or recovery may void your support agreement with your manufacturer or reseller. Any drivers or programs that were installed by the device manufacturer or reseller may be removed during installation.

Windows 8.1 & 10: The product key may be embedded on the motherboard or may be on the Certificate of Authenticity sticker on the bottom of the device.

Windows 7: For devices that came with Windows 7 pre-installed, the product key may be on the Certificate of Authenticity sticker on the bottom of the device.

For more information about Windows product keys and genuine Microsoft products, see What is a product key and How to Tell.

Yes, but you’ll need your product key. Go to the Academic Products download page and select the version of Windows to begin.

The most common issue is the use of a product key for a product that is not currently supported by the site such as an Upgrade key, an MSDN key, product keys for pre-installed media or an Enterprise edition key. For access to MSDN products or Enterprise edition visit the MSDN Portal or the Volume Licensing Service Center. Upgrades and pre-installed media are not currently supported by the tools on the site.

If you believe you have a valid product key and are still receiving an error, please contact Support.

If you are looking for MSDN products or Enterprise editions, visit the MSDN Portal or the Volume Licensing Service Center.

After you’ve created the installation media, do one of the following to install Windows:

• Connect the USB flash drive to the PC where you want to install Windows, browse to it in File Explorer, then open the setup.exe file. Follow the instructions in setup.
• If your PC is set up to boot from a USB drive, connect the USB flash drive to the PC where you want to install Windows, restart (reboot) it, then follow the instructions in setup.
• If your PC is set up to boot from the DVD drive, insert the DVD into your PC, restart (reboot) it, then follow the instructions in setup.

You can use the ISO file to create bootable media for installation or recovery. You can also install Windows on your current device by opening the ISO file, selecting the Setup and following the instructions.

To create bootable media such as a bootable USB drive or DVD, you will need an ISO burning or mounting software. We recommend always using a blank USB or blank DVD because contents may be deleted when creating a bootable image.

If you are creating media from a Windows 8.1 machine, you can also right-click the ISO file and select either Mount to mount the image to the current device or a USB drive, or Burn disc image to burn a DVD (this requires a DVD burner and a blank DVD).

If you are creating a DVD from a Windows 7 machine, you can right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image or Open with, then Windows Disc Image Burner to burn a DVD (this requires a DVD burner and a blank DVD). This DVD can be used to install media and is bootable.

If you are creating media from a Windows 7 machine, you may need to use a separate burning or mounting software such as the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. Before using this tool, be sure to read the Information and Instructions. You can also right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image to burn a DVD (this requires a DVD burner and a blank DVD).

You can also visit Microsoft Community to research other options.

To use the bootable media, make sure the device you will be installing on is set to boot from a USB or DVD. Then connect the USB or insert the DVD, restart (reboot) the device and follow the instructions in setup.

The media from this site can be used to create bootable USB drives and DVDs which will allow you to access recovery tools.

Before using operating system copies from this site for install, re-install or recovery on devices with pre-installed operating systems, see your device manufacturer or reseller for the customized drivers and applications specific to your machine. Using operating systems copied from this site for install, re-install or recovery may void your support agreement with your manufacturer or reseller. Any drivers or programs that were installed by the device manufacturer or reseller may be removed during installation.

Windows 8.x and Windows 10 Pre-installed: You can download and use media from this site on your device, and it will install correctly. In most cases you will not be asked for a product key during installation—the product key is included on the motherboard. However, after installation, the device will NOT contain the specialized drivers and software that came pre-installed from your manufacturer. *If you are prompted for a product key during installation, refer to «How do I find my Windows product key?» above.

Windows 7 Pre-installed: We strongly recommend you contact the device manufacturer for support.

You can download an ISO file copy of Windows to use with a non-Windows device. Follow these links for Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 ISO download options that are suitable for non-Windows devices.

Not all ‘system builder’ products for Windows 7 are currently available on the site. We are working to add more, but for now, we suggest you contact Support.

The media creation tool (Download Tool Now button) will not run on a Mac device. You can still download an ISO file with one of these options: Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. This will give you a web-based download option that should run on most browsers.

A product key is a 25-character code that comes with a Microsoft Office product. The product key allows you to install and activate the Office product on your PC.

Your product key is 25 characters and is found in different locations depending on how you acquired your Office product.

• If you purchased Office on a traditional disc the product key should be located inside the package on a label on the card opposite the disc holder on the left side of the DVD case.
• If you purchased an Office product key card the product key should be located inside the package on a label on the left side of the case.
• If the product key is not inside the package, please review the instructions in the package.
• If you purchased and downloaded Office online the product key should be on the confirmation page and/or email that was sent to you when you downloaded the software.
• If you purchased a new computer with Office preloaded the manufacturer of your computer should have included either media or a Microsoft Product Identifier card in the box that has the product key. The product key is located on the Certificate of Authenticity.
• If you need additional help locating your product key, please refer to these resources:
  • Office 2010
  • Office for Mac 2011

Download times vary by location, internet connection speed and the size of the Office product you are downloading. It is recommended only high-speed broadband connections are used to download your file(s).

We recommend that you download the file to your Desktop, so it is easy to find to initiate the installation. You can download the file anywhere you like, just make sure that you remember the location where you saved it, and the name of the file. Do not rename the file that you are downloading; it may cause installation problems.

After the download has completed, go to the location that you saved the file at and double click on the new icon to start the installation.

Some pop up blocker and firewall programs, as well as proxy servers, may prevent communication with our server. If you utilize these types of applications, you may need to disable them. Please check your system for and disable any of the following and remember to turn them back on when you’re done:

Firewall — These are designed to stop downloads from non-approved sites.
Anti Virus Programs — These will try to stop or scan a download. It may cause the download to be corrupt or damaged.
Download Monitors — Programs such as GoZilla! and NetZip are not compatible with our server and will sometimes block or stop downloads.
Screen Savers — In some instances, screen savers can interfere with the download process. If you have a screen saver that is starting while you are downloading, please disable it temporarily until your download is complete.

If you require assistance disabling any of the products noted, please contact the manufacturer’s technical support.

If you become disconnected while files are being downloaded through your web browser, reconnect to the internet and retry your download.

Click on the links below for information about installing Office products

Click on the links below for information about activating Office products

Office 2007: If you run into problems, try searching online help or get answers from the Office Community. Need to talk to a person? Answer Desk is ready to help you with whatever you need.

Office 2010: If you run into problems, try searching online help or get answers from the Office Community. Need to talk to a person? Answer Desk is ready to help you with whatever you need.

Office for Mac 2011: If you run into problems, try searching online help or get answers from the Office Community. Need to talk to a person? Answer Desk is ready to help you with whatever you need.

Backup media for Office 2010 products is no longer available. You can create your own backup media by downloading to an external storage (USB) device or to a DVD.

How to install the Microsoft Windows operating system

Each version of Microsoft Windows is installed on a computer using similar steps. While there are steps in the installation process that differ between versions of Windows, the following general steps and guidelines help you install Windows on your computer.

If you are replacing the hard drive in your computer, you need to reinstall Windows again.

If you are replacing the motherboard in your computer, you may need to purchase a new licensed copy of Windows and install it. Microsoft has designed current versions of Windows to be tied to the motherboard in the computer when Windows is installed. So if you change the motherboard, the existing license, or product key, may no longer be valid.

If you want to upgrade to a newer version of Windows on your computer, the steps on this page help you with the upgrade process. The Windows installation process should recognize if you have an older version of Windows already installed on the computer and ask if you want to upgrade or perform a fresh install. The upgrade process installs the newer Windows operating system files over top the old ones and preserve your files.

The steps below are for all recent versions of Windows, including Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. These steps would even work for earlier versions (e.g., Windows 95) as long as you’re using the disc version. The floppy diskette version is similar, but it requires additional steps.

The install guidelines for Windows for a server have additional steps based on the type of server and version of Windows.

Check hardware compatibility

Before installing or upgrading Windows on your computer, check the hardware in the computer to make sure it’s compatible with that version of Windows. Microsoft provides a Windows Compatible Products List for checking if the hardware in your computer is compatible with the chosen version of Windows.

If you find that one or more pieces of hardware in your computer are not compatible with the chosen Windows version, we recommend replacing that hardware with compatible hardware. Having compatible hardware in your computer helps ensure the Windows install or upgrade process is successful.

Genuine Windows CD, DVD, or USB thumb drive

First, you need a genuine copy of the Microsoft Windows operating system installation CD, DVD, or USB thumb drive. A genuine Windows product key is included with the installation disc, which is required to activate Windows after installation. If you have an OEM computer, the Windows product key is often on the back or side of the computer.

If you have an OEM computer (e.g., Acer, Dell, HP, etc.), the computer will not have a genuine Windows CD, DVD, or USB thumb drive. Instead, you would reinstall Windows and all the software using a hidden partition or a set of restore discs. The steps mentioned on this page would still work, but you’d need a copy of Windows. You can borrow a friends Windows disc, as long as its the same version of Windows that came with the computer and have a product key.

With early versions of Windows, you cannot download a copy of Windows to install on a computer. You must purchase a physical copy of Windows. If you are installing Windows 10, you can download the Windows 10 creation tool to create a bootable disc or USB thumb drive.

Microsoft has Windows 10 available for download only from their website. Any other site that claims to have copies of other versions of Windows should not be trusted. These copies of Windows are pirated software and could contain anything including spyware or malware.

Installing or upgrading Windows

To start the Windows install or upgrade process, you need to configure your computer to boot from a CD or DVD before booting to the hard drive. Changing the boot process forces the computer to look for the Windows installation disc before trying to boot from the hard drive.

1. Open the CMOS setup.

• How to enter the BIOS or CMOS setup.

1. Change the computer’s boot order. Set the CD, DVD or disc drive as the first boot device if you are trying to boot from a disc. Or, set the first boot device to your USB drive if you’re trying to boot from a USB thumb drive. If the drive is not shown, keep the disc is inserted and reboot the computer. With the disc in the drive, BIOS should recognize and include it in the list.
2. Save the settings change and exit BIOS.

Once you have updated the boot order, you can begin the Windows installation process.

1. Place the Windows disc in the CD/DVD drive or USB thumb drive into the back of the computer.
2. Turn on or restart the computer. As the computer starts up, it should detect the installation disc or drive and show a message similar to Press any key to boot from CD. Press any key on the keyboard to have the computer boot from the Windows disc or drive.
3. After the Windows install begins, there are several prompts that you need to answer. Select either Yes or the appropriate option to install Windows.

Make sure you select the Full Install option and not the Repair or Upgrade option.

If you are upgrading to a newer version of Windows, select the Upgrade option instead of the Full Install option.

1. When asked which partition to install Windows onto, select the main partition, which is usually the C: drive or one labeled «Unallocated partition». If upgrading Windows, select the existing installation of Windows on the hard drive.
2. You may be asked if you want to erase all contents on the hard drive, then install Windows. We recommend you choose this option, as it also formats the hard drive to allow the Windows operating system to be installed.

You can use the erase all contents option to effectively uninstall an existing version of Windows on the hard drive, then install Windows agains.

1. The computer may need to restart several times during the Windows install process. The restarts are normal and if prompted to restart, select the Yes option.
2. When the install process is nearly complete, the Windows configuration option screens are shown. On these screens, you may be asked to select the time zone you live in, your preferred language, and the name of the account you use to access Windows. Select the appropriate options and enter the appropriate information on each configuration screen.

The Windows install process is completed when the computer prompts you to log in or when it loads into Windows.

Final Windows and computer configuration

After Windows is installed on the computer, you need to install the drivers and related software for the hardware in the computer. You can use the installation discs that came with the hardware, or you can download the drivers from the hardware manufacturer’s website.

If you cannot download drivers because your network card is not working after installing Windows, you can download the drivers on another computer. Then, copy them to a USB thumb drive, and move them over to your computer.

It is strongly recommended that you install the latest drivers for each piece of hardware.

To determine which hardware needs drivers to be installed, check the Device Manager and look for exclamation mark «!» next to hardware devices. The exclamation point means drivers are needed for that device.

After installing the necessary hardware device drivers, install any software programs on the computer that you want to use.

Finally, download and install any available Windows updates. Updating Windows improves the performance of the operating system, the hardware in the computer, and software programs you use. It can also improve security by fixing potential security holes and flaws in Windows.

Long-term maintenance of Windows

Microsoft frequently releases new updates for Windows, so we recommend you check for and install available updates. Doing so helps keep Windows running better and keep your computer protected.

Also, periodically check for updated hardware device drivers from manufacturers’ websites. Keeping hardware drivers updated helps the hardware devices in the computer run at peak performance and improves compatibility with other computer hardware and software.