# Dual-Boot Windows

## Requirements

* a [32GB (or larger) USB flash drive](https://amzn.to/4eSvzqB)
  * if you do not have a USB flash drive, follow the video guide below
* 100GB+ available disk space

## Instructions

### 1. Creating a Volume for Windows 10

* press the `Windows key` + `X` -> select `Disk Management`
* shrink the volume
  * right click on the `C:` drive -> `shrink volume`
  * for `Enter the amount of space to shrink in MB`, enter `102400`  (or larger) -> click `Shrink` 

### 2. Creating the USB Installer

This guide follows the same process as the official Microsoft guide for using the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10. [You can read that guide here](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/create-installation-media-for-windows-99a58364-8c02-206f-aa6f-40c3b507420d#id0ejd=windows_10) or follow ours below:

* plug the [flash drive](https://amzn.to/4eSvzqB) into the PC
* download the [Windows 10 22H2 installation media creation tool](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10)
* open the `Windows Media Creation Tool`
* click `Create installation media for another PC`
* select `Windows 10 Home` from the list of available Windows editions
* select the [flash drive](https://amzn.to/4eSvzqB) from the available media
* follow the prompts within the tool to complete the creation process

### 3. Reboot the PC and Install Windows

* reboot the PC
* while the PC is rebooting, and before it enters Windows, press `ESC, F2, F10, F12, or F11` to enter the `Boot Menu`
  * if the PC boots too quickly or doesn't give the option to enter the `Boot Menu`, you may need to disable `Fast Boot` within BIOS
    * you can also quickly change this using a [registry file](https://www.elevenforum.com/t/turn-on-or-off-fast-startup-in-windows-11.1212/#Three)

{% hint style="info" %}
The BIOS menu is different for each motherboard manufacturer. Typically, this setting is found in the boot settings menus. You can also Google "disable fast boot \[motherboard manufacturer]" to see videos/guides.
{% endhint %}

* in the Boot Menu, select the USB flash drive
* follow the prompts and install Windows 10 as usual
  * you do not need to activate Windows; if you truly want to, [you can buy a license key for around $10 USD](https://www.g2a.com/n/win-10-home-dexaim)

### Completed

Once you've installed Windows 10, you can now choose it during a reboot of the PC.

<figure><img src="https://3661827449-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FKDcbGlPDCQPYsgmPubxI%2Fuploads%2F2K1Li7djMmNwUXYRQ8CR%2Fchrome_osT6dTw8Nk.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e6e1a612-198f-4df5-a43c-a83d83f0de6e" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Choose a Windows install during boot.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Video Guides

### Using a USB flash drive

This video guide shows you how to build a Windows install USB using the media creation tool.

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/EyLZiFyoaPY>" %}

### Not using a USB flash drive

This guide utilizes a "virtual" disk to "mount" the Windows installer file. This allows you to virtually "plug in" a USB to your PC without actually needing to do so.

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/P3lhuESdMUM>" %}