With few exceptions, all software used in the A&E CAD Department requires Windows 10 or 11 to run. If you do not have Windows 10/11 installed on your personal computer, you will need to upgrade/install it in order to run the software required for your classes. Whether you are upgrading from a prior version, installing Windows 10/11 onto a new machine, performing a clean installation, or installing onto a MacOS system, you will find guides to help you below.

If you plan to upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8, please begin by following the steps outlined below in the UPGRADING FROM WINDOWS 7 OR WINDOWS 8 section.

All other users needing Windows 10/11 will begin with the steps outlined in the GET WINDOWS 10/11 EDUCATION FREE section.

Instructions

Please click each header below in sequence to read and follow the steps required to install your software.

ACC students are eligible to receive free Windows 10 and Windows 11 Education product keys from the Microsoft Azure Education Portal.

In order to access the Microsoft Azure Education Portal, you’ll need to create a Microsoft account using your ACC student email address.

Please follow the instructions below to create and setup your Microsoft for Education account.


Navigate to Microsoft For Education Portal


  1. Navigate to Microsoft’s Educational Office 365 page by clicking here
  2. Click the Get Started button
  3. Enter your ACC student email address in the space provided (ending in @g.austincc.edu), then click on Sign Up.
  4. Click the I’m a Student option on the left.

NOTE: These steps are the same steps you would take if you needed to download Office 365, we are using the same steps to create a Microsoft for Education Account, as you will need this to verify your student eligibility once you navigate to the Azure for Education Portal.






Verify Your New Account Information


  1. An email containing your verification code will be sent to your ACC student email account and a new account creation form will open
  2. Enter the following information into the form:
    • First and Last name
    • Your desired password
    • Enter the verification code you received in your email from Microsoft. (NOTE: The verification email may take a few minutes to show up in your inbox, check your spam folder if needed).
  3. Leave the privacy checkbox unchecked
  4. Click on Start.
  5. Microsoft Online will then go through a quick orientation, you can click on the arrow to go through it.
  6. You will then be redirected to your Microsoft 365 Dashboard.

Success! You’ve created your Microsoft for Education Account.



Follow the steps outlined in the GET WINDOWS PRODUCT KEYS AND ISO section below to continue

Once you’ve created your Microsoft account, you’ll need to navigate to the Azure Education Portal and sign in with your newly created account. This portal will be the main dashboard where you will find your Windows products keys and any products or services attached to your Microsoft for Education Account.

Follow the steps below to find and obtain your Windows product keys so that you can activate your Windows installation.


Navigate to Azure Education Portal


  1. Navigate to the Azure Education Portal by clicking here.
  2. Sign in with your Microsoft for Education account you created in the previous steps. (Ending in @g.austincc.edu)
  3. After you have signed in, you will be redirected to the Dashboard. (If you are not redirected to the dashboard, click here to navigate back to the Azure Education dashboard).

Sign up for Azure for Students


  1. On the navigation bar to the left, make sure you have Overview selected.
  2. Here you should see a button that says Sign up now, click on the button to sign up for Azure for students. (NOTE: We need to perform these steps as this will allow you to get access to the Windows 10/11 product keys.)
  3. On the next page, click the Start free button to get started.


Verify Student Academic Status Information


  1. After clicking the Start free button, you may be greeted by an Academic Verification page.
  2. Enter the following information onto the form:
    1. Your full name
    2. Austin Community College District for the school (should auto complete)
    3. Date of birth
  3. Complete the verification at the bottom by clicking the Verify academic status button.


Complete Profile Settings


  1. Once you are confirmed, you will be asked another set of follow up questions regarding your account. Please fill in the details on the form to the best of your ability.
  2. Click the check box to agree to Microsoft’s customer agreement, then click Sign up.



On the next set of pages, you may be prompted to setup Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), you may have to go through the process below to setup MFA for your account.


Setup Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)


  1. After selecting Sign up, you may be shown a window to Protect your account. Click on Next.
  2. In this window, you may see an Action Required window, which means you are required to setup Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) for your account.
  3. Microsoft requires the use of an MFA app, there are a variety of apps available that you can choose from, such as Microsoft Authenticator and Google Authenticator. If you would like to use Microsoft Authenticator, click Next. If you would like to use another authenticator app, select I want to use a different authenticator app.
  4. On your mobile device, open your desired MFA app to scan the QR code that will be generated for you. (NOTE: You will only be able to scan the code on this screen, once you close out and proceed, you will no longer be able to scan this code).
  5. Once you’ve scanned the QR code, you will then see a 6-digit code on your Authenticator app. Enter this 6-digit code when asked, then click on Next.
  6. Once your multi-factor authentication setup is complete, you will be redirected to the Microsoft Azure Education portal.


Locate Windows 10/11 Product Keys and ISO


  1. Once you are in the Education portal, locate the Learning resources section to the left of the page and click on Software.
  2. Next, in the search box type Windows 1, this will show you all the Windows 10 and 11 options available to you. Choose either Windows 10 Education or Windows 11 Education (DO NOT choose the “N” version)
  3. On the bottom of the search bar, you should see Windows 1X Education, Version 2XHX, click on your desired Windows version.
  4. You’ll see a tab open on the right-side of the page with additional details.
  5. Near the bottom of the tab, you should see a View Key button, you will need this key in order to activate your Windows Installation (for both Parallels and Boot Camp).
  6. To download the Windows ISO file, click on the blue Download button located on that same tab.

Once you’ve obtained your keys and ISO file, you are ready to proceed to the installation steps below!





Proceed to steps outlined under CREATE WINDOWS 10/11 INSTALLATION MEDIA

Please click the link below to open the installation media download page for Windows 10 or 11. You will need a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage capacity to create your installation media.

NOTE: If you are installing Windows on a Mac (Boot Camp or Parallels), you will not need to follow these directions to create your installation media.


  1. Click the Download tool now button.
  2. Once complete, launch the tool from the download tray in your browser (lower left corner) or double-click the “MediaCreationTool[…].exe” file in your Downloads folder.

  1. Click on the Yes button in the User Account Control window that appears on-screen.
  2. A window will appear to inform you that the tool is ‘getting ready…’ – please wait until it finishes.
    • This window will appear multiple times throughout the media creation process – always wait for it to complete before performing any actions.
  3. The window will refresh with a notice and terms policy – click the Accept button to continue.


  1. Select Create installation media on the following screen and click the Next button.
  2. Make your language selection and make sure that the edition is Windows 10 and the architecture is 64-bit, then click the Next button.
    • Uncheck the recommended options box below to make selections.


  1. On the media choice window, select USB flash drive and click the Next button.
  2. If you have not done so, insert your USB flash drive.
  3. Select your chosen USB flash drive from list (click “Refresh drive list” if it does not appear) and click the Next button.


  1. Your Windows 10 download will begin – once complete, another verification process will start; wait for all processes to finish before taking any action.
  2. When the USB flash drive is ready, click the Finish button – your Windows 10 installation media is complete.


The directions below are for users who are conducting a clean installation of Windows 10 Education – this will delete all files currently on your computer. If you have files on your computer that you wish to save, please visit CNET’s advice page here to make any preparations necessary.

  • PLEASE NOTE: This guide is not the only way to install Windows 10 Education – if you would like to perform a different type of installation or deviate from the guide at any point, please do so at your own discretion. We will only provide support covering the installation as it is outlined below.
  • IMPORTANT: You will need the product key obtained from the ACC WebStore to complete the setup of your new operating system – please make sure you have it on hand before beginning this installation.

To get started, insert the USB containing the Windows 10 installation media you created in the previous walkthrough into your computer and reboot the system. While booting up, look for a message prompting you to ‘press any key to boot from external device…’ and press any key to boot from your flash drive containing the Windows 10 installation media.

  1. A screen will appear asking for language, time, currency, and input preferences – make your selections and click the Next button.
  2. Click the Install button on the next screen.


  1. Enter the product key received from the ACC WebStore, then click the Next button.
  2. Click the checkbox to accept the notice and licensing terms, then click the Next button.
    • NOTE: If you are installing Windows on your Mac with Boot Camp® skip to step 7.


  1. On the following screen, select the Custom Install option and click the Next button.
  2. For new installs, select Drive 0 to install Windows and click the Next button.
    • If more than one drive appears in your list, delete all partitions so that only one (Drive 0) remains – this will delete all files on your computer for a clean install.


  1. An installing screen will appear – wait for the the processes to complete.
    • Your machine may reboot when the installations complete and you may be required to press a key in order to continue the installation.
  2. When the installer resumes, select your region and click the Yes button.


  1. Select your keyboard layout and click the Yes button.
  2. Click the Skip button to skip adding a second keyboard.


  1. Windows will ask you to connect to the internet – click the I don’t have internet option in the lower left.
  2. Windows will try to make you connect to the internet – click the Continue with limited setup option in the lower left.


  1. Enter your name to create your local Windows account and click the Next button.
  2. Create a password for your account – this is what you’ll use to sign in – then, click the Next button.
    • You’ll be asked to verify your password – re-enter your password and click the Next button.


  1. Windows will ask you to select three security questions and provide answers for password recovery – complete three of your choosing and click the Next button after each question and answer.
  2. Windows will ask you to agree to provide information to Microsoft – click the toggle switch on each option to decline all services, then click Accept.


  1. Windows will ask you to add features to your installation – click the No button.
  2. Windows will ask you to add Cortana to your installation – click the Not now button.


  1. Congratulations, you have successfully installed Windows 10 Education! Your screen will go dark and Windows will inform you that it is preparing your system; please wait until all the processes are complete and you are able to take control of your new operating system. We highly recommend running all available Windows updates before adding new software or adding any other personalization.

If you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8 and you have a genuine license, Microsoft is still honoring free upgrades to Windows 10 by using your existing Windows product key. If you don’t know your product key, you can retrieve it by using PowerShell; to do so:

    • Click on the Start Menu and type “PowerShell” and click on the resulting app to open.
    • Copy and paste the following line into PowerShell and press the Enter key:

                    (Get-WmiObject -query ‘select * from SoftwareLicensingService’).OA3xOriginalProductKey



If you are able to retrieve your product key, please visit CNET’s website here to find a walkthrough on how to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.

If you are unable to retrieve your product key, please see the GET WINDOWS 10 EDUCATION FREE section below.