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I have fitted a new hard drive into my laptop after a hardware failure and now need to reinstall windows 11 pro on the drive.

Peter Maybury 0 Reputation points
2026-05-04T19:16:39.5766667+00:00

I have fitted a new hard drive into my laptop after a hardware failure and now need to reinstall windows 11 pro on the drive.

I am trying to get a link to carry out the install.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Install and upgrade
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  1. Ivan B 111.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-04T19:56:24.35+00:00

    Hi,

    In this case, you need an 8GB USB flash drive to create the installation drive.

    After that, you need to access the laptop's BIOS and configure secure boot and boot devices.

    Could you tell me the laptop model so I can instruct you correctly?

    Windows 10: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209

    Windows 11:https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

    Select Download tool now, and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool.

    If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.

    On the What do you want to do? page, select Create installation media for another PC, and then select Next.

    The application will automatically identify the correct version of windows 11 for your system, from Next.

    Select which media you want to use USB

    Thanks

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  2. AI answer

    2026-05-04T19:17:04.3466667+00:00

    Use Windows installation media to reinstall Windows 11 Pro on the new drive.

    1. On a working PC, go to the Microsoft software download website and create Windows 11 installation media:
      • Open https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11.
      • Under Create Windows 11 Installation Media, select Download Now to get MediaCreationTool.exe.
      • Run MediaCreationTool.exe and follow the prompts to create a bootable USB flash drive (or download an ISO and burn it to DVD).
    2. Connect the installation media to the laptop with the new hard drive.
    3. Boot the laptop from the USB/DVD:
      • Power on the laptop and use the manufacturer’s key (for example, F2, F12, Esc, or Del) to open the boot menu or BIOS.
      • Select the USB/DVD as the boot device.
    4. When Windows 11 Setup starts:
      • Choose language, time, and keyboard settings, then select Next.
      • Select Install Windows 11.
      • If prompted for a product key, select I don’t have a product key, then choose Windows 11 Pro (or the edition that matches the license). Windows will activate later using the digital license linked to the device/Microsoft account.
    5. For a clean install on the new drive:
      • When asked where to install Windows, select the new drive/partition.
      • Delete any existing partitions on that drive if needed, then select the unallocated space and choose Next to let setup create the required partitions and install Windows.
    6. Let setup complete. The PC will restart several times. After installation, go through the out-of-box setup (region, account, etc.).

    If personal files were backed up before the hardware failure, restore them from the backup after installation.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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