How to Install Windows and Drivers After Building Your PC

So, you’ve successfully built your custom PC—congratulations! The hardware is in place, the fans are spinning, and now it’s time to bring your system to life by installing an operating system and the necessary drivers.

This guide will walk you through every step of installing Windows, setting up your drivers, and getting your system ready for everyday use or high-performance gaming.

What You’ll Need

Before starting, make sure you have:

• A USB flash drive (at least 8GB)
• A second device with internet access (to create the bootable USB)
• A valid Windows license key (or you can activate later)
• Basic knowledge of BIOS/UEFI navigation

Let’s get started.

Step 1: Create a Bootable USB Drive

You’ll first need to install Windows from a USB drive.

How to Create It:

1. On another computer, go to the Microsoft Windows 11 Download Page.
2. Download the Media Creation Tool.
3. Run the tool and choose “Create installation media for another PC.”
4. Select your language, edition, and architecture (64-bit).
5. Choose USB flash drive as the media type.
6. Let the tool format and load Windows onto the USB.

Now your bootable Windows installer is ready.

Step 2: Enter the BIOS and Set Boot Priority

How to Access BIOS:

• Power on your PC and immediately press Del, F2, or F12 (depending on your motherboard).
• Navigate to the boot menu or boot priority settings.
• Set the USB drive as the first boot option.
• Save and exit BIOS (usually F10).

Step 3: Install Windows

Once your system boots from the USB:

1. Select your language, time, and keyboard layout.
2. Click Install Now.
3. Enter your product key or click “I don’t have a key” to activate later.
4. Choose the correct Windows edition (Home, Pro, etc.).
5. Accept license terms.
6. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
7. Select your primary drive (usually your NVMe SSD) and click Next.

Tip: If your SSD doesn’t appear, try loading drivers from your motherboard manufacturer’s site via USB.

Windows will now install—it may restart several times during this process.

Step 4: Set Up Windows

Once installation is complete:

1. Choose your region and keyboard layout.
2. Set up a user account and password.
3. Connect to Wi-Fi (if applicable).
4. Choose privacy settings.
5. Skip or link your Microsoft account.

You now have a working Windows system!

Step 5: Install Motherboard Drivers

Even though Windows installs basic drivers automatically, it’s important to install the official motherboard drivers for best performance.

Download from Manufacturer:

Go to your motherboard’s official website and download drivers for:

• Chipset
• LAN / Ethernet
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Audio
• SATA / RAID (if using)
• USB controllers

Install each driver manually, restarting when prompted.

Step 6: Install GPU Drivers

Graphics card drivers are crucial for gaming and hardware acceleration.

For NVIDIA:

1. Go to NVIDIA Driver Downloads.
2. Select your GPU model.
3. Download and install GeForce Game Ready Drivers.
4. (Optional) Install GeForce Experience for automatic updates and recording features.

For AMD:

1. Go to AMD Drivers and Support.
2. Use the auto-detect tool or select your GPU manually.
3. Install the Adrenalin Software package.

Step 7: Windows Updates

Now update Windows to get the latest security patches and features:

• Go to Settings > Windows Update
• Click Check for updates
• Install everything recommended, including optional driver updates

Step 8: Enable XMP/DOCP in BIOS (Optional But Important)

To run your RAM at its advertised speed:

1. Reboot and enter BIOS.
2. Look for XMP (Intel) or DOCP (AMD) profile settings.
3. Enable it to apply full RAM speed.
4. Save and exit BIOS.

Step 9: Install Monitoring and Utility Software

Helpful tools to monitor and maintain your system:

• HWMonitor / HWiNFO – Check temps and voltages
• MSI Afterburner – GPU monitoring and overclocking
• CrystalDiskInfo – Check SSD health
• CCleaner – Clean temp files (optional)
• Steam, Epic Games Launcher, or Xbox App – For gaming

Optional: Create a System Image or Restore Point

After installing everything, create a backup or system restore point in case anything goes wrong later.

How to Create a Restore Point:

1. Search for “Create a restore point” in Start Menu
2. Select your system drive
3. Click Configure > Turn on system protection
4. Click Create

Final Thoughts: Your PC Is Ready!

You’ve officially completed the build and setup process—from hardware to fully functional software. Installing Windows and the right drivers ensures that your custom-built PC runs efficiently, smoothly, and securely.

Enjoy your new system and stay tuned for the next article:
“How to Benchmark and Stress Test Your New PC”

Key Steps & Highlights

1. Creating a Bootable USB

• Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to prepare a Windows USB installer on another computer.

2. Booting from USB in BIOS

• Access BIOS (keys like Del/F2/F12) and set the USB drive as the primary boot device to begin installation.

3. Windows Installation Process

• Choose your language, edition, and installation type.
• Select your primary drive (typically the NVMe SSD) to install Windows.

4. Setting Up Windows

• Set region, user account, network settings, and privacy options during the first-time setup.

5. Installing Drivers for Motherboard and GPU

• Visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website to download chipset, LAN, audio, and USB drivers.
• For GPUs:
  • NVIDIA: Install GeForce Game Ready Drivers and optionally GeForce Experience.
  • AMD: Use the Adrenalin Software suite.

6. Updating Windows & BIOS/RAM Settings

• Run Windows Update to apply patches and driver updates.
• Reboot into BIOS to enable XMP/DOCP for optimum RAM speed.

7. Essential Software and Tools

• Helpful apps include:
  • HWMonitor or HWiNFO – for temperature and voltage monitoring
  • MSI Afterburner – GPU optimization
  • CrystalDiskInfo – storage health checks
  • CCleaner – cleanup tool
  • Your preferred game or utility launchers

8. Creating a System Restore Point

• Empower yourself with a restore point after setup:
  • Search “Create a restore point” → Enable protection → Click Create

In Summary

You now have a flawless system setup:

1. Bootable USB ready
2. BIOS configured
3. Windows installed and set up
4. Motherboard & GPU drivers applied
5. Windows updated & BIOS tuned
6. Critical software installed
7. Restore point created

All set for immersive gaming, productivity, or creative work!