Download Windows for mining

Windows for mining

Different operating systems are used to mine cryptocurrencies. Miners learned how to set up farms on Linux and created special OSes (RaveOS, HiveOS). However, the system developed by Microsoft remains popular, although it is considered one of the most heavyweight. On forums, beginners are often recommended to download Windows for mining, as it is convenient and supports rigs for 12 or more video cards. The only drawback is that you need to spend time setting up and preparing the software for mining coins before starting a farm. In addition, Microsoft has filled the OS with unnecessary software that you will have to disable.

The best Windows version for mining

Not all operating systems are suitable for mining cryptocurrency. The OS must meet the following requirements:

  • Provide stable operation of large regs.
  • Support the latest versions of mining software.
  • Consume a minimum of computing resources of the farm.
  • Have flexible settings.

If you adhere to these criteria, then Windows 10 is best. It is inferior to the seventh version, which is still popular, only in terms of system requirements and the load on the device. However, the “ten” surpasses the outdated software in some parameters:

  • Regularly released updates.
  • Supports more than 12 graphics cards in one rig.
  • All the latest versions of software and drivers for cryptocurrency mining on Windows run on “ten”.

Microsoft releases several configurations of the operating system, which differ in functionality and cost. If the user plans to download Windows 10 for mining, it is worth choosing the Pro version. Unlike the home version, it has built-in tools for remote PC management and effective administration.

Sometimes on forums there are opinions that you need to install Windows 10 Enterprise, but for home mining it has a lot of unnecessary options. Most of the services will have to be turned off, so there is no point in paying more. Pro is not a bad option in terms of price to functionality ratio.

System requirements

In order for the software to work stably, the computer must have a configuration no weaker than the minimum. The creators of the OS on the official website indicated the characteristics of the device on which you can download Windows for mining.

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ComponentSystem requirements
Processor
1 GHz or more
RAM
2 GB or more
Hard disk space
32 GB
Graphics
DirectX 9 support with WDDM 1.0 drivers

The table shows the requirements for Windows 10 64-bit. You should not use the 32-bit version as the mining software does not support it.

How to download and install

The advantages of Windows often include a fast and easy download of the OS on the PC. Step-by-step instructions:

  1. Download Windows 10 for mining from the official Microsoft website.
  2. Create a bootable flash drive using UltraISO, Rufus.
  3. Connect the media to the farm and restart the PC.
  4. Select the OS parameters, including the installation location. To maximize performance, it is best to unzip the files to the SSD.
  5. Wait for the installation to complete. It takes up to 30 minutes.
  6. Perform basic configuration by following the on-screen instructions.

Then you need to open “Settings” and in the “Update and Security” section activate the licensed version. You only need to enter the key with which the user bought the OS.

How to configure Windows 10 for mining

The only disadvantage of this system is its universality. It has software for solving any home and professional tasks. At the same time, the average user often does not work with even half of the functions and tools. In the case of mining, which requires a lot of resources, everything unnecessary will have to be removed.

Disabling unnecessary services

To ensure that the computer does not waste power for nothing, it is important to remove a number of functions. They are built into the system and work by default in the background. To free up Windows resources, you need to:

  1. Press WIN+R on your keyboard.
  2. In the new window, enter the services.msc command. This will open a program where you can disable any service on your computer.
  3. Click on the line in the registry to expand the settings and go to “Properties”.
  4. In “Startup type” select “Stop” and save the changes.

To unload the PC, usually disable services related to gaming services, updates and device protection. A short list of programs that can be stopped are:

  • Xbox Accessory Management Service and “Saving Games on Xbox Live.” These are only necessary for those who like shooters, strategy games and the like. On a PC for mining, they will definitely not be there, so the services are turned off.
  • Windows Search. The service is needed for indexing and searching files. It is useless for mining.
  • Windows Defender. Antivirus heavily loads the system and prevents you from installing some programs.
  • Parental Control. Users over the age of 18 should not waste PC resources on protection from certain content.
  • Windows Media Services. The player has several functions, including data exchange over the internal network.
  • WS-Management. If the farm is located nearby, it is better to disable the software for setting up remote desktops.
  • BitLocker. This is an option to encrypt the hard disk to protect data. On the PC for mining almost no files are stored, and the mined cryptocurrency lies in the wallet.
  • Bluetooth. Need to be removed along with the encrypter because it is unnecessary.

Banning updates

It’s always important that developers have figured out how to remove bugs and make the software more reliable. However, in the context of mining, a new version is not always the best. Automatically installing fresh versions of drivers can lead to hash rate drops, resets.

When NVIDIA released 465.89 drivers, the hashrate on the RTX 3070 dropped from 61 to 48 MH/S. The farm lost 20% of its maximum performance.

Experienced miners manually install software and read reviews of colleagues before downloading new drivers, OS versions. Often already a couple of days after the release of software on the forums is enough discussion on the topic. To Windows without the knowledge of the owner is definitely not updated, you need:

  1. Press Win+R and enter services.msc again.
  2. Find the “Windows Update Center” service and double-click on the line.
  3. In the “Startup Type” menu, select “Stop”.
  4. Go to “With account” to mark “Guest”.
  5. Restart the PC.

After disabling the service, users reduce the access level for it to prevent any system changes for sure. The “Guest” has no rights to update and other actions that will affect the OS. “Update Center” will wait for permission.

Increased memory

To store temporary program files, your computer uses RAM. However, RAM is usually limited to 8-16 GB. This is often not enough for mining, because of which you need to create a swap file – a special storage on the hard disk.

If the memory is not enough, the software will start to work unstably. As a result, the number of incorrect orbs will grow, and income will fall.

Windows users with administrator rights can create and configure a paging file in a few clicks. Instructions:

  1. Open “Settings” and go to the “System” section.
  2. Click on “System Information.” Go to “Advanced System Settings.”
  3. In the new window, click on “Performance”.
  4. In the “Virtual Memory” block, uncheck the “Automatically select file size” option. As a rule, the operating system specifies the minimum value.
  5. Manually specify the size of the swap file and save the changes.
  6. Restart the farm.

To determine the optimal virtual memory size, you should add up the VRAM size of all video cards in the ring and add 4 GB. You should not put more, as the OS may stop using RAM and will start saving all files to HDD.

Download Windows for mining
Increase virtual memory

Removal of unnecessary programs

If the farm is equipped with a small SSD, it is worth getting rid of the built-in software, which the miner will definitely not use. To free up space, in particular, you can delete:

  • OneNote
  • Solitaire
  • Voice Recording
  • Clock
  • Mail
  • Photos
  • Calculator
  • Maps.

Power setting

Power consumption determines the performance of the Rig. If the graphics cards get enough electricity, they will produce the maximum hash rate. To adjust the power consumption, you need to:

  1. Go to Settings and click on the “System” button.
  2. Open the “Power and sleep mode” tab.
  3. Expand “Advanced Power Settings”.
  4. Select the “High Performance” configuration.
  5. Reboot the device.

The best OS mining software

To mine cryptocurrency on a PC, you need to use a special program. The best software for Windows 10 in 2024:

  • EasyMiner. The program works in two modes – classic (for mining any coin in the selected pool) and Moneymaker (mines only Litecoin on its own pool). The second option is suitable for beginners, but then the number of options will be limited.
  • MultiMiner. Coin mining software supports almost all NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards. The software has a simple interface, which can be handled by a beginner, and enough functions for experienced miners. Users can remotely manage the farm from a smartphone, customize equipment and more.
  • MinerGate. The program is suitable for those who do not understand how to configure equipment. It has a convenient graphical interface and Smart miner function, which automatically selects the most profitable cryptocurrency for mining. Coin mining takes place in the official pool of software developers, so the connection is done in one click.
  • Claymore’s Dual Miner. The program is suitable for those who know how to work with the console, since it does not have a graphical shell. To install the software, you need to download the archive from GitHub, unzip it and move the BAT file with the mining configuration into the folder.

Pros and cons of cryptocurrency mining with the OS

When choosing a system for the farm, you need to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the options. There is no universal solution, so you should start from your own expectations and needs. The table collects the features that, in the opinion of miners, you need to pay attention to before downloading Windows for mining.

ProsCons
Simple interface
A large number of unnecessary services
Supports all popular mining programs
Consumes a relatively large amount of resources
OS cost does not depend on farm capacity and number of video cards
Takes time to set up

Alternative operating systems

In addition to Windows, miners actively use three other systems. Among them:

  • Linux Ubuntu. The OS is characterized by reliability, low requirements, but you need skills for customization. The main advantage of Linux compared to Windows is a free license. To use the OS, you do not need to buy a key.
  • HiveOS. Based on Linux, a number of specialized systems with functionality “sharpened” for cryptocurrency mining are created. HiveOS differs from pure Ubuntu in that it has only those options and settings that the miner needs. The software is suitable for creating remote farms, as the equipment is managed in a personal cabinet on the site.
  • RaveOS. The system is similar to HiveOS in functionality. It allows you to work with 600 pools and more than 50 programs for mining coins.

If the user wants to comfortably engage in mining on several regs or simultaneously work with ASIC and GPU, it is worth downloading a specialized OS.

Their trick is their versatility. In one window, users customize the work and monitor the performance of different devices. Also RaveOS and analogs offer convenient tools for hashrate control, and in case of errors and failures, they warn the miner about the problem.

Download Windows for mining
HiveOS personal account

Frequent user questions

📌 Do asics need Windows?

No. Integrated circuits (ASICs) come with their own operating system.

🛒 How much does Win 10 Professional cost?

You can buy the OS in stores for 13-16 thousand rubles. The Home version is sold for 7-11 thousand.

📢 How much does unnecessary software reduce hash rate?

Due to the fact that services built into Windows consume a lot of resources, the performance of the farm can drop by 10-30%.

🔥 Can I mine on an unactivated OS?

Yes. However, the functionality of the software will be limited and a warning notification will appear on the screen.

🔔 Why is it better to create a swap file on an SSD?

SSD is twice as fast as a hard disk. With the increased data transfer speed, programs will perform operations more efficiently.

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Author: Saifedean Ammous, an expert in cryptocurrency economics.

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