CLEAN INSTALL of windows 11 pro

Yep — you can use the ISO file from Microsoft’s download page and write it to a USB flash drive instead of burning it to a DVD.

1. Download the ISO from the Windows 11/10 download page.
2. Prepare a USB drive
   • At least 8 GB in size.
   • Back up anything on it — it will be erased.
3. Write the ISO to USB (either of the two fairly straightfoward ways):
   • Using Rufus (free, tiny program)
     1. Download Rufus.
     2. Open Rufus → Select your USB drive.
     3. Click “Select” and choose the ISO you downloaded.
     4. Keep defaults (GPT/UEFI for modern PCs) → Start.
   • Using built-in Windows tool (no extra software)
     1. Insert the USB drive.
     2. Right-click the ISO → Mount.
     3. Open the mounted drive in Explorer, select all files, and copy them to the USB drive after formatting it as FAT32 (must be FAT32 for UEFI boot).
     4. This works only if all ISO files are ≤4 GB; otherwise Rufus is easier.
4. Boot from USB
   • Insert into new PC → power on → enter boot menu (usually F12, Esc, or similar) → pick USB.
   • When prompted for a key, enter your Windows 10/11 Pro key (or skip if you already have a digital license tied to your Microsoft account — it will activate automatically after install).

If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

hth

Marcin

Dear Kyle H,

The Media Creation Tool and ISO files include multiple editions of Windows. During installation, Windows automatically selects the edition based on the digital license or embedded key in your device’s firmware. If your device originally came with Windows Home, it will default to that—even if you're licensed for Pro.

You can force the installer to offer edition selection by adding a small configuration file to the ISO or USB:

1. Create a Bootable USB from ISO

Use a tool like Rufus:

• Download Rufus from rufus.ie

Insert your USB flash drive (8GB or more)

Select the ISO file and create the bootable USB

2. Add ei.cfg to Force Edition Selection

• Create a text file named ei.cfg and Save it as ei.cfg (not .txt) and place it in the Sources folder on your USB drive.

This will prompt you to choose the edition during installation, allowing you to select Windows 10 Pro.

I hope this helps

Best regards,

Domic Vo