Can I install Windows 10 with just key, or do I need USB?

[LHodg]

Hi There,

I'm planning on buying an NUC8i7HNK in the next couple of weeks. And I'm not that familiar with installing OS's, or using Windows really.

But anyway, I want to install Windows 10 on it.

If I buy a Windows 10 key, I then need to create an .iso on a USB disk, is that correct? If so, what size does the USB disk need to be?

Thank you so much.

[AlHill]

It depends on which nuc you get. The nuc8i7hnk does not come with windows 10, but the nuc8i7hnkqc does.

https://ark.intel.com/compare/147505,126141 Intel® Product Specification Comparison

If you get a nuc without windows 10, yes, you purchase a windows 10 key, and you need to create a usb stick. This is easy, as per the Microsoft site:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 Download Windows 10

If you get a nuc with windows 10, you just boot the nuc and you have a digital license already for windows 10.

As of this posting, Windows 10 1803 is what you can download. However, this will likely change to 1809 in the next few days or so.

Just create the usb stick on some pc, insert the usb stick in the nuc, and boot the usb stick. Then, just follow the instructions. You can skip the key portion and add it later, or supply the key when you are prompted.

By the way, you can install ONLY windows 10 on a nuc with an 8th gen processor.

Doc

[LHodg]

Thank you so much Doc. Yes I am buying the nuc8i7hnk, i.e. without any OS.

Perfect instructions

Lee

[RP5]

The Windows 10 bootable image takes about 4gb on a flash drive. You can only have that content on the drive, when it creates it everything is erased first.

You actually need 2 flash drives, one for windows 10, and one for WIFI and/or LAN drivers that you install right after the OS.

If you have an existing retail windows 7 key you can get Windows 10 for free. I just did this on my NUCi7BEH.

When you create the flash drive you select Windows 10 for another computer.

Here's Intel's instructions for installing Win10 on a NUC

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005471/mini-pcs.html Operating System Installation for Intel® NUC

[LeonWaksman]

Hello leetriesNUC ,

1. Installing Windows 10 on NUC is very easy. Use this tutorial, which gives very clear, step by step instructions: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html Windows 10 Help Forums . Skip on paragraph 12 and go directly to para. 13, since NUC uses UEFI boot.

2. Windows 10 installation media prepare with Microsoft Media Creation Tool, downloaded from here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 Download Windows 10

3. After Windows installation, install all the Intel drivers downloaded form here: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/126141/Intel-NUC-Kit-NUC8i7HNK Downloads for Intel® NUC Kit NUC8i7HNK

4. I recommend update your bios with the latest version: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28185/BIOS-Update-HNKBLi70-86A-?product=126141 Download BIOS Update [HNKBLi70.86A] . Since you don't need operation system in order to update bios with F7 key, you can do this even before the OS is installed. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005636/mini-pcs.html BIOS Update Instructions for Intel® NUC

Hope this helps

Leon

[LHodg]

When I go to:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO Download Windows 10 Disc Image (ISO File)

It gets to page that says:

Windows 10 Education English

I was a bit surprised. Is that the right version?

[AlHill]

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

Doc

[LHodg]

I don't have a PC to open that on. Currently have a Mac and a Linux mint box

[LHodg]

Maybe I can borrow a PC from someone if that's the only way to do it...

[LeonWaksman]

Please prepare your installation media in computer running Windows. You may someones else computer. The process takes about 15-25 minutes. Depends of the Internet speed and availability of the Microsoft site. One more thing, while using Microsoft Media Creation Tool, you should not download ISO image to your computer, rather insert USB stick and create Installation Media on this stick. https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2376-create-bootable-usb-flash-drive-install-windows-10-a.html Windows 10 Help Forums

Leon

[LHodg]

Yes, that was quick and painless. I now have the installation media on the stick. Not buying the NUC for another week or so, unfortunately. Anything else I can prepare in the meantime?

[LeonWaksman]

The NUC8i7HNK is a kit. You will need to buy SODIMM memory modules and SSD drive (one or two). Not all DDR4 memory modules are compatible. In order to be on sure side, my advice is to buy SODIMM from the list tested and approved by Intel: http://compatibleproducts.intel.com/ProductDetails/ExportPeripheralInfo?moduleName=Intel%C2%AE%20NUC... http://compatibleproducts.intel.com/ProductDetails/ExportPeripheralInfo?moduleName=Intel%C2%AE%20NUC...… If I'll build a system for my self I'll go for two SSD drives:

- The first 250-256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe drive. The list of tested by Intel drives is quite limited. But I know that you can use also very good drives other than Intel's made . On this drive I'll will install Windows 10 and all other programs I need.

-The second drive can be big M.2 SATA drive for all data files (documents, pictures, video, music,..etc). SATA drive is not as fast as NVMe drive, however is chipper and is good enough for data storage.

If you decide to buy only one big drive, buy one NVMe.

Leon

[LHodg]

Yes I have the SODIIMM and SSD bough already:

Samsung 970 EVO 500GB

Fury HyperX 16GB DDR4 3200

I agree 500GB isn't much these days. Will add a 2nd drive later hopefully the prices will have dropped more in 3-6 months...

Sorry not to be more specific, I was actually wondering more about any software preparation I can do? Drivers and whatnot.

Thanks again for all your help

Lee

[LeonWaksman]

After installing Windows 10, you should install Intel drivers: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/126141/Intel-NUC-Kit-NUC8i7HNK Downloads for Intel® NUC Kit NUC8i7HNK . You should install those drivers, although your NUC will work already. I'm installink all my drivers manually, one after the other. You don't need to restart your NUC after each driver installation. Restart once only after the last driver was installed. You may update your bios to the latest version: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27747/BIOS-Update-HNKBLi70-86A-?product=126141 Download BIOS Update [HNKBLi70.86A] . Use F7 method with bio file rather than express bios update with exe file.

Leon

[LHodg]

I'm a bit confused on the Intel page where it says:

"Use another computer connected to the Internet to https://downloadcenter.intel.com/ download the latest wired or wireless network driver for your Intel NUC. Save it to a USB portable device."

That link just takes you to the download centre: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/ Drivers & Software

How do I locate the correct driver? I just need ethernet really, I don't use wireless much.

Lee

[LeonWaksman]

In my post # 4 and # 13 you have detailed instruction how to install Windows and where you will find after Windows installation all Intel drivers for your NUC. Please follow those instructions and you will not be confused.

Leon

[RP5]

When you go to the download center Drivers and Software page, type your product info (NUC8i7HNK) into search and it will take you to the download page of all the drivers for your product.

The 5th driver down on the list is Gigabit ethernet driver, you want that one and the Intel wireless driver, down 3 more on the list. You cannot put the drivers on the same USB flash as the Windows 10 install image.

Just a suggestion, don't pick and choose which drivers you need based on what you're going to do.

After you can connect to the internet via ethernet on your NUC, then go to the same download page and download and install all drivers.

[LHodg]

Does it need to have a pair of SODIMM memory modules, rather than just one?

I ask because I was looking at the HyperX modules officially supported, and they all seem to be pairs of modules:

HyperX

16GB 2666 MHz

HX426S15IB2K2/16

Intel Validated

HyperX

16GB 2400 MHz

HX424S14IB2K2/16

Intel Validated

HyperX

8GB 2400 MHz

HX424S14IBK2/8

Intel Validated

HyperX

16GB 2400 MHz

HX424S14IBK2/32

Intel Validated

HyperX

8GB 3000 MHz

HX429S17IB2K2/16

Intel Validated

HyperX

16GB 3000 MHz

HX429S17IBK2/32

Intel Validated

HyperX

8GB 3200 MHz

HX432S20IB2K2/16

Intel Validated

HyperX

16GB 3200 MHz

HX432S20IBK2/32

Intel Validated

None of the single modules seem to be listed?

Thanks,

Lee

[n_scott_pearson]

It will work just fine with a single SODIMM. It just won't be as fast as it could be if there was a matching pair of SODIMMs.

...S