Windows 10: Can I create Bootable USB for Win 10 from another computer?

Had tried to update the BIOS on my son's Alienware Aurora R4 so that we could install an upgraded graphics card (980 Ti).

Used the Dell Support site - and was upgrading from Bios 7 to Bios 9 - would eventually go up to current version 11 before swapping GPU.

Followed all the steps on the Dell site - but afterwards - it acts like my hard drive has died (doubting this - have fairly new Samsung 512GB SSD as the only hard drive).

Computer boots into Bios now - but says "inaccessible boot device". My son had done the update from Windows 8 that came on the machine to Windows 10 - but apparently did not create a boot disk or USB drive.

Can I create a "generic" bootable USB on another computer - WITHOUT REINSTALLING WINDOWS?? I do not want to lose info/settings on his machine if at all possible.

Waiting on Alienware Tech support to respond - machine is about 2.5 years old and out of warranty - but hopeful they (or someone here!!) can help me.

thanks,
Jim

:)

 

Cannot access desktop PH Windows 10

You need to boot from system recovery disc or Windows 10 bootable USB and not from the installed operating system. Plug in the bootable Windows 10 USB, and follow the steps mentioned in that guide. P.S. You'll need another Windows machine to create bootable
USB.

 

Create bootable USB for Win 10 install

Virtual beer tokens all round! Thanks all. Rufus did the trick but only after it (he?) had engaged me in an arm wrestling competition. It kept unchanging settings as I moved on to another, no doubt to maintain consistency with what I was selecting elsewhere
but it took me a while to realise. Even then it took me a while, trying different options to get the result I wanted.

If anyone is having the same problem, you have to set the partition scheme box to MBR for UEFI, the second option. Otherwise the format keeps going back to NTFS.

Even now the label is something that Rufus chose, not something I selected, but I can live with that.

Thanks all and good luck with Win10.

John

 

Yes you can create an installation USB from another computer. These are your recovery options (https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html

 

Will this bootable USB re-install Windows 10 - or simply allow it to start up where I can possibly access files on the SSD? Right now I cannot get past the start-up (Bios) screens on the Alienware computer.

 

It will allow you to install Windows 10 or do any of the recovery options. Go into BIOS and look at your Boot order. Make sure the boot device is selected properly. If you have a UEFI Bios select Windows Boot Manager, if you have an MBR install select the hard drive.

Any Live Linux CD or USB will allow you to copy your personal files to another external hard drive. Don't install it, just run it as a test. The Live Linux runs out of ram but can see any drive attached.

 

thanks - will try later tonight.

 

I hope everything works out well for you.