How do I create installation media for Windows 11?

To create installation media for Windows 11, you can use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft, which is completely free. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool:

• Select the correct version of the Media Creation Tool for your laptop (32-bit or 64-bit) from the resulting page. You can usually tell which one to download by checking the System Type in your laptop's System Information (Windows key + Pause/Break).

2. Run the Media Creation Tool:

• Once downloaded, run the Media Creation Tool on your Windows 10 laptop.
• On the initial screen, select "Create installation media for another PC" to create installation media rather than install Windows 11 on your laptop.

3. Choose Language and Edition:

• Select the language and edition of Windows 11 you want to install on your desktop PC.
• Ensure that the edition you choose matches your Windows 11 product key (if you have one) or the free version (Home).

4. Select Architecture:

• Choose the architecture of the installation media you want to create. If you're not sure, you can select the "same architecture as this PC" option, which will create a 64-bit installation media since most modern PCs are 64-bit.

5. Choose USB Drive:

• Insert your 32GB USB drive into your laptop.
• Select the USB drive from the list of available drives.
• Ensure the USB drive is at least 8GB in size for 32-bit and 64GB for 64-bit.

6. Create Installation Media for Windows 11:

• Click on "Next" to begin the installation media creation process.
• This process may take a few minutes to complete, depending on your laptop's speed.

7. Copy and Verify:

• Once the process is complete, you can verify the installation media by checking the USB drive's contents and ensuring it contains the correct files.

You may also need to copy the Windows 11 installation files from the USB drive to the new SSD.

8. Clean Install on New SSD:

• Once you've confirmed the installation media is correct, you can proceed with the clean install of Windows 11 on your new SSD using the USB drive you created.

After completing these steps, you should have a free installation media for Windows 11 that you can use to perform a clean install on your new SSD.