Software Installation Help Needed

[Clive744]

Hi Guys

Right, I’ve had a go at changing the product key for Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Professional and the key doesn’t work, however the key does come with a download link so I’ve downloaded Windows 11 Professional and started to try and install it and it’s asking for a partition which I don’t know how to create or how big it should be, the drive is 1TB in total?
while I’m waiting for you to come back to me, I will see what I can find out on the net.

Its also asking me to choose which media to use USB flash drive or ISO file, again I don’t know what I’m supposed to do and why, again in the meantime I will look on the net?

I don’t have a USB flash drive, usually when I’m backing my work up I do it to 500GB or 1TB external hard drive which I connect using a USB cable of course I can purchase a USB flash if necessary.

I’ve included a couple of screen shots so you can see where I’m at.

[Bruce]

Choose the USB Flash Drive option, and of course you’ll need to have a 8GB USB stick.
Are you saying that you have no USB sticks in the house - unbelievable!
I think my Mum would be the only other person I know who could say that. :LOL:

As to the partitions, when installing Windows, one of the early choices it gives is what partition to use and it’ll have a list - I tell it to delete each partition then have it continue with the install and it will sort out the best fit.

Of course this process is destructive, so make sure you have any personal files backed up first.

[Bruce]

Choose the USB Flash Drive option, and of course you’ll need to have a 8GB USB stick.
Are you saying that you have no USB sticks in the house - unbelievable!
I think my Mum would be the only other person I know who could say that. :LOL:

As to the partitions, when installing Windows, one of the early choices it gives is what partition to use and it’ll have a list - I tell it to delete each partition then have it continue with the install and it will sort out the best fit.

Of course this process is destructive, so make sure you have any personal files backed up first.

[Clive744]

Absolutely bang on Bruce, nope, no sticks in the house as I said any work gets backed up onto a 500gb or 1TB external hard drive which I simply plug into one of the computer’s usb ports.

Ok so I can go out and buy a stick tomorrow and push it in the USB hole, but then what?
I assume I need to put something on it.

I’m guessing you didn’t believe me when I said all I do is use a computer not put everything on it from scratch. :LOL:

[Clive744]

Absolutely bang on Bruce, nope, no sticks in the house as I said any work gets backed up onto a 500gb or 1TB external hard drive which I simply plug into one of the computer’s usb ports.

Ok so I can go out and buy a stick tomorrow and push it in the USB hole, but then what?
I assume I need to put something on it.

I’m guessing you didn’t believe me when I said all I do is use a computer not put everything on it from scratch. :LOL:

[PeterOz]

I think you are making a BIG mistake doing what you plan.

If the key will not work in that method then I will be surprised as all hell it it works by reinstalling.
I think you are going to cause yourself a lot of angst.

Do you have a Microsoft account
A Microsoft account is a personal account used to access Microsoft’s products and services, such as an Xbox console, Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox Live, Family Safety, Skype, Bing, Microsoft Store and MSN.

How many computers do you have not counting the new one.

[PeterOz]

I think you are making a BIG mistake doing what you plan.

If the key will not work in that method then I will be surprised as all hell it it works by reinstalling.
I think you are going to cause yourself a lot of angst.

Do you have a Microsoft account
A Microsoft account is a personal account used to access Microsoft’s products and services, such as an Xbox console, Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox Live, Family Safety, Skype, Bing, Microsoft Store and MSN.

How many computers do you have not counting the new one.

[PeterOz]

and the key doesn’t work

What error are you getting?

[PeterOz]

and the key doesn’t work

What error are you getting?

[Clive744]

Peter yes I did use to have a Microsoft Account but that was way back when Windows 7 was in fashion and I still have disk and keys.

I think I’ve managed to get Windows 11 and Office 2024 on the laptop after loads of clicking around, more by pure luck than anything.
I figured if I’d got to take the laptop somewhere to get it sorted, I may as well have go myself.

Now I’ve got as far as partitioning, see the two attached screen shots, the first one is showing a C and D drive, which is on my desktop computer which has a 2TB hard drive.

The second screen shot is of the laptop, you will see there is no D drive and yet there are 5 boxes on both, where I’ve indicated with the arrows.

How do I go about creating a D drive on the laptop and how big should it be bearing in mind the total drive size is 1TB.

[Clive744]

Peter yes I did use to have a Microsoft Account but that was way back when Windows 7 was in fashion and I still have disk and keys.

I think I’ve managed to get Windows 11 and Office 2024 on the laptop after loads of clicking around, more by pure luck than anything.
I figured if I’d got to take the laptop somewhere to get it sorted, I may as well have go myself.

Now I’ve got as far as partitioning, see the two attached screen shots, the first one is showing a C and D drive, which is on my desktop computer which has a 2TB hard drive.

The second screen shot is of the laptop, you will see there is no D drive and yet there are 5 boxes on both, where I’ve indicated with the arrows.

How do I go about creating a D drive on the laptop and how big should it be bearing in mind the total drive size is 1TB.

[PeterOz]

For a start your C partition is way to small
With a single disk you don’t need to have a D partition unless you are going to save all your data files on D.
You will either have to do this manually with all files. OR set the default destination to go to D.

You have unallocated space next to C which can be used to expand C
Go here and scroll down to Method 2 How to Format Unallocated Disk [Windows 7/8/10/11]- EaseUS

To extend C drive
[ul]
[li]Right-click on the C drive and select “Extend Volume”.[/li][li]Follow the Extend Volume Wizard to allocate the unallocated space to the C drive. [/li][/ul]

[PeterOz]

For a start your C partition is way to small
With a single disk you don’t need to have a D partition unless you are going to save all your data files on D.
You will either have to do this manually with all files. OR set the default destination to go to D.

You have unallocated space next to C which can be used to expand C
Go here and scroll down to Method 2 How to Format Unallocated Disk [Windows 7/8/10/11]- EaseUS

To extend C drive
[ul]
[li]Right-click on the C drive and select “Extend Volume”.[/li][li]Follow the Extend Volume Wizard to allocate the unallocated space to the C drive. [/li][/ul]

[Bruce]

@Clive744 - any news?

[Bruce]

@Clive744 - any news?