# Install by .msi Installer v4 (Windows)
The recommended way to install Fluentd on Windows is to use MSI installers of `td-agent`.
## What is `td-agent`?
`td-agent` is a packaged distribution of Fluentd.
* Includes Ruby and other library dependencies (since most Windows machines don't have them installed).
* Includes a set of commonly-used 3rd-party plugins such as `out_es`.
* Originally developed by [Treasure Data, Inc](http://www.treasuredata.com/) (hence the name).
Currently two versions of `td-agent` are available.
* `td-agent` v4 packages Fluentd 1.11.x (or later). This version is recommended.
* `td-agent` v3 packages Fluentd 1.10.x (or below).
## Step 1: Install `td-agent`
{% hint style="danger" %}
This article contains deprecated td-agent (EOL) information: SHOULD NOT use td-agent anymore.
* As [Drop schedule announcement about EOL of Treasure Agent (td-agent) 4](https://www.fluentd.org/blog/schedule-for-td-agent-4-eol), recommend to [Upgrade to fluent-package v5](https://www.fluentd.org/blog/upgrade-td-agent-v4-to-v5).
* Package archive was migrated from [packages.treasuredata.com](https://packages.treasuredata.com) to [fluentd.cdn.cncf.io](https://fluentd.cdn.cncf.io/index.html).
{% endhint %}
Download the latest MSI installer from [the download page](https://fluentd.cdn.cncf.io/4/windows/index.html). Run the installer and follow the wizard.
Alternatively `td-agent` can be installed with [winget](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/app-installer/9nblggh4nns1):
```
> winget install td-agent
```
## Step 2: Set up `td-agent.conf`
Open `C:/opt/td-agent/etc/td-agent/td-agent.conf` with a text editor. Replace the configuration with the following content:
```
@type windows_eventlog2
@id windows_eventlog2
channels application
read_existing_events false
tag winevt.raw
rate_limit 200
@type local
persistent true
path C:\opt\td-agent\winlog.json
@type stdout
```
## Step 3: Launch Td-agent Command Prompt
Open Windows Start menu, and search `Td-agent Command Prompt`. In most environments, the program will be found right under the "Recently Added" section.
`Td-agent Command Prompt` is basically `cmd.exe`, with a few PATH tweaks for `td-agent` programs. Use this program whenever you need to interact with `td-agent`.
## Step 4: Run `td-agent`
Type the following command into `Td-agent Command Prompt`:
```
C:\opt\td-agent> td-agent
```
Now `td-agent` starts listening to Windows Eventlog, and will print records to stdout as they occur.
## Step 5: Run `td-agent` as Windows service
Since version 4.0.0, `td-agent` is registered as a Windows service permanently by the msi installer. You can start `td-agent` service manually.
### Using GUI
Please guide yourself to `Control Panel -> System and Security -> Administrative Tools -> Services`, and you'll see `Fluentd Windows Service` is listed.
Please double click `Fluentd Window Service`, and click `Start` button. Then the process will be executed as Windows Service.
### Using `net.exe`
```
> net start fluentdwinsvc
The Fluentd Windows Service service is starting..
The Fluentd Windows Service service was started successfully.
```
### Using Powershell Cmdlet
```
PS> Start-Service fluentdwinsvc
```
Note that using `fluentdwinsvc` is needed to start Fluentd service from the command-line. `fluentdwinsvc` is the service name and it should be passed to `net.exe` or `Start-Service` Cmdlet.
The log file will be located at `C:/opt/td-agent/td-agent.log` as we specified in Step 3.
## Step 6: Install Plugins
Open `Td-agent Command Prompt` and use `td-agent-gem` command:
```
C:\opt\td-agent> td-agent-gem install fluent-plugin-xyz --version=1.2.3
```
## Next Steps
You are now ready to collect real logs with Fluentd. Refer to the following tutorials on how to collect data from various sources:
* Basic Configuration
* [Config File](/configuration/config-file.md)
* Application Logs
* [Ruby](/language-bindings/ruby.md)
* [Java](/language-bindings/java.md)
* [Python](/language-bindings/python.md)
* [PHP](/language-bindings/php.md)
* [Perl](/language-bindings/perl.md)
* [Node.js](/language-bindings/nodejs.md)
* [Scala](/language-bindings/scala.md)
* Examples
* [Store Apache Log into Amazon S3](/how-to-guides/apache-to-s3.md)
* [Store Apache Log into MongoDB](/how-to-guides/apache-to-mongodb.md)
* [Data Collection into HDFS](/how-to-guides/http-to-hdfs.md)
For further steps, follow these:
* [ChangeLog of td-agent](https://docs.treasuredata.com/display/public/PD/The+td-agent+Change+Log)
* [Chef Cookbook](https://github.com/treasure-data/chef-td-agent/)
If this article is incorrect or outdated, or omits critical information, please [let us know](https://github.com/fluent/fluentd-docs-gitbook/issues?state=open). [Fluentd](http://www.fluentd.org/) is an open-source project under [Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF)](https://cncf.io/). All components are available under the Apache 2 License.
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://docs.fluentd.org/installation/obsolete-installation/treasure-agent-v4-eol-installation/install-by-msi-td-agent-v4.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.