Installing windows

nightrider1470 · 13 Dec 2016 at 14:33

I bought a MSI gaming laptop.. it doesn't have a drive... Just wondering how I go about reinstalling windows as I have obviously bought it as it came with it new...

Not sure what I need to do

Confused Stu · 13 Dec 2016 at 15:05

Which version of Windows are you looking at installing? If it's 10 or 8.1 then simply download Microsoft's Media Creation tool to create a bootable USB stick:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows8

This assumes you have another PC and a spare 4/8GB USB stick.

If it's Windows 7 you're after, you'll need to jump through a few more hoops to get a bootable USB installer for that.

nightrider1470 · 13 Dec 2016 at 16:06

Think it's 8.1

I don't have the code though as don't remember getting it with the laptop... Will the install see I have a paid version and let me install?

lee1101 · 13 Dec 2016 at 16:08

With windows 10 it will, or at least it did for me when I did a clean install. I'd assume its the same for 8

demonix · 13 Dec 2016 at 16:51

nightrider1470 said:
Think it's 8.1

I don't have the code though as don't remember getting it with the laptop... Will the install see I have a paid version and let me install?

With computers from windows 8 and up the product key is hard coded into the BIOS, so it would pick it up during the installation process.

Unless it's an older model, I highly doubt that any new laptop or computer would come with windows 8.1 installed so it's more likely to be windows 10.