Re: How To Install Windows From Free BSD?

Hi Megan,

If your machine originally came with Windows, it may have been an OEM version, and the License Key will be on the CPU case, along with the version of Windows, on a sticker label. You should also have an OEM DVD of Windows that came with the machine (or USB thumb drive). Using both you can install Windows on your machine. Insert the DVD/Thumb Drive into the machine, turn on power, and escape to the BIOS before FreeBSD starts (usually by pressing the F1 or DEL Key - you should see a message to that effect when your machine starts), then select boot from DVD / USB thumb drive.

If you do not have the OEM CD you are stuck. Microsoft no longer offers ISO images of all versions of Windows for download from its web-sites. DO NOT download an ISO image from a third-party site. It is likely compromised, and cannot be trusted. You can download Windows 10 or 11 Enterprise from here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-10-enterprise. Burn the ISO image to a DVD. Your License Key (on your sticker), if for Windows 10 or 11 *might* work, but it has been a while since I tried so cannot guarantee it. At the very least, this will give you Windows 10 or 11 for ninety days while you look for the OEM CD (assuming you have a license key for Windows 10 or 11)

If you have no license key on a sticker on your CPU case you have no choice but to get a retail version of Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Good luck!

Best regards,

John


On 1/15/22, 4:27 PM, "Jon Radel" <owner-freebsd-questions@freebsd.org on behalf of jon@radel.com> wrote:

    On 1/15/22 17:18, Megan Taylor wrote:
    > is there a way to install windows from free bsd? like how free bsd could install itself over windows?

    If you wish to install Windows and don't care about FreeBSD, you boot 
    off of a Windows installation CD or thumbdrive and install Windows as if 
    you had an empty hard drive.  There is absolutely no "from free bsd" 
    involved.

    I remain somewhat unclear on why you keep asking the FreeBSD people how 
    to install Windows.  I would think it would be more productive to ask 
    some experts on installing Windows.

    (I will also admit to some mild, and largely morbid, curiosity as to why 
    you've not made the person who made your life miserable by installing 
    FreeBSD in the first place undo the terrible thing they did.)

    -- 
    --Jon Radel
    jon@radel.com