Windows 10: Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

How to: Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

How to Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 from


This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive that can be used to install Windows 10 with or without UEFI.


Contents

• Option One: Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
• Option Two: Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
• Option Three: Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS
• Option Four: Manually create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI in Command Prompt

OPTION ONE [/i] Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
This option will use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft to download an ISO file and create a bootable USB flash drive that is 32-bit, 64-bit, or both, and be used to install Windows 10 with or without UEFI.

MCT will currently create a USB for Windows 10 build 18362.356 as of October 3, 2019.

Before you begin

Make sure you have:
An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
A blank USB with at least 4 GB (32-bit or 64-bit) or 8 GB (both 32-bit and 64-bit) of space if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB, because any content on it will be deleted.

Read the System Requirements.
If you will be installing the operating system for the first time, you will need your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx). For more information about product keys and when they are required, visit the FAQ page.
For Enterprise editions please visit the Volume Licensing Service Center.


1 Click/tap on the Download button below to go to Microsoft, and click/tap on the Download tool now button at Microsoft's site.
Download




2 Save the MediaCreationTool1909.exe file (version 10.0.18363.418) to your desktop, and run it. (see screenshot below)



3 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

4 Click/tap on Accept for the license terms of the Media Creation Tool. (see screenshot below)



5 Select (dot) Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



6 Uncheck the Use the recommended options for this PC box. (see screenshot below)

Leaving the Use the recommended options for this PC box checked will have the Media Creation Tool create a USB flash drive that's the same language, edition, and architecture as the current PC.





7 Select the Language, Edition, and 32-bit (x86), 64-bit (x64), or both (32-bit and 64-bit on same USB) Architecture you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

The selected edition can install both the Home and Pro edition.

Your product key determines if Home or Pro gets installed during Windows Setup.

If you skip entering a product key during Windows Setup, then you will be prompted to select to install the Home or Pro edition.





8 Select (dot) USB flash drive, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



9 Connect your USB flash drive, click/tap on the Refresh drive list link, select the USB flash drive, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



10 It will now start Downloading Windows 10 and Creating Windows 10 media. (see screenshots below)





11 When finished, your USB flash drive will be ready. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)








OPTION TWO [/i] Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
1 If you have not already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

2 Download the latest version of Rufus, and save it's .exe file to your desktop.

This is a standalone exe file that doesn't install anything to your PC. For Rufus FAQs, see: rufus FAQ on GitHub


Download
3 Connect the USB flash drive that you want to use for this.

4 Run the Rufus .exe file, and click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.

5 Do step 6 (UEFI) or step 7 (Legacy BIOS) below depending on if you want to create a bootable USB with or without UEFI support.


6 To Create Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 with UEFI
*note UEFI Requirements:

• 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file. 32-bit is not supported.
• At least a 8GB USB flash drive depending on how large the ISO file is.
• To boot from an external UEFI USB flash drive, be sure to temporarily disable Fast Boot (if applicable) in your UEFI firmware settings until the Windows installation is finished.

A) Set Rufus using the settings below, click/tap on Start, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

• Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
• Under Boot selection, click/tap on the SELECT button, and navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file.
• Under Image option, select Standard Windows installation.
• Under Partition scheme, select GPT.
• Under Target system, select UEFI (non CSM).
• Under Volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.
• Under File system, select FAT32 (if able). If the file is larger than 4GB, you will only be able to select NTFS.
• Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 4096 bytes) it has listed.

7 To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 using Legacy BIOS (without UEFI)
A) Set Rufus using the settings below, click/tap on Start, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)

• Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
• Under Boot selection, click/tap on the SELECT button, and navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file.
• Under Image option, select Standard Windows installation.
• Under Partition scheme, select MBR.
• Under Target system, select BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
• Under Volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.
• Under File system, select NTFS.
• Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 4096 bytes) it has listed.

8 Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)



9 Rufus will now start creating the bootable USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)



10 When Rufus is "READY" (finished), you can close Rufus. (see screenshot below)

It could take a little while to finish.









OPTION THREE [/i] Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS
1 If you have not already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

2 If you have not already, click/tap on the Download button below, and download and install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
Download
3 Run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, and click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below)



4 Navigate to and select the downloaded Windows 10 ISO file, and click/tap on Open. (see screenshot below)



5 Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



6 Click/tap on USB device. (see screenshot below)



7 Select the drive letter of the USB, and click/tap on Begin copying. (see screenshot below)

If the drive letter is not listed in the drop down menu, then click/tap on the refresh button and try again.





8 If prompted, click/tap on Erase USB Device. (see screenshot below)



9 If prompted, click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)



10 When successfully finished, you can close the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

It could take a little while to finish.













OPTION FOUR [/i] Manually create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI in Command Prompt
Reference: Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive | Microsoft Docs


1 If you have not already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

2 Connect the USB flash drive.

3 Open an elevated command prompt.

4 Type diskpart into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 13)

5 Type list disk into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and make note of the Disk ### (ex: 4) for the USB flash drive from step 2.

6 Type select disk # into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

Substitute # in the command above with the actual Disk ### (ex: 4) from step 5) above for the USB flash drive.

For example: select disk 4


7 Type clean into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

8 Type convert mbr into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

9 Type create partition primary into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

10 Type format fs=fat32 quick into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

11 Type active into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

12 Type assign into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

13 You can now close the elevated command prompt.



14 step 1) above, and open it.

15 Select all files in the mounted ISO, right click on the selected files, click/tap on Send to, and select the USB flash drive (ex: G) from step 2. It may take a while to finish copying. (see screenshots below)

This is to copy all the files and folders from the mounted Windows 10 installation ISO to the USB flash drive.







16 You can now unmount the ISO file. (see screenshot below)



17 The bootable Windows 10 installation USB is now ready. (see screenshot below)




That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Create Windows 10 USB Install Media for UEFI / GPT with PowerShell Script
• How to Boot from a USB Drive within Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Boot from a USB Drive in Windows 10
• How to Clean Install Windows 10
• How to Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8
• How to Upgrade to Windows 10
• How to Reinstall Windows 10 with this media
• How to Create a Bootable USB Recovery Drive in Windows 10
• How to Create a System Repair Disc in Windows 10
• How to Burn Disc Image from ISO or IMG file in Windows 10
• How to See Full Details about a Windows 10 ISO file
• How to Create Bootable USB Installer if install.wim is greater than 4GB

:)

 

windows re-install after hdd crash

Create a USB drive to Install Windows `10:

Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10
then

\

Clean Install Windows 10 - Microsoft Community

 

Computer won't boot- Error number 00xc00002f2

Hi...you could try this:

Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install or Repair Windows 10

and follow the instructions...there a lot of options .

*john

Edit": sorry this was meant for Mary.

 

I would like to create a bootable dvd instead of a usb. I tried Rufus and did not have any success.
Maybe my Sandisk is at fault. But I can put other things on it ok.
I have my BIOS set to recognize a dvd instead of a usb. Would like to keep it that way.
I have spent hours on this with no success. I intend to put windows 10 on another drive and
manually disconnect my C drive which has windows 7 pro 64-bit on it.
Thanks for any suggestion and this forum

 

Use Option Two in Brinks tutorial and in step #6 choose DVD instead of USB.

 

Thank you very much for your reply Edwin.
I had a hard time finding this post again this morning.
Have no idea what forum it is in. Thought it was in the Windows 10 news.
Would help guys like me if the forum name was posted somewhere at the top.

 

It is. *Smile

 

I have made a bootable dvd simply by burning a blank dvd straight from the downloaded iso using the basic Microsoft disc burning software in W7. Sofar, I have used it three times on two different pc's. These were clean installs.

 

Thank you Tinmar49 for replying.
I've it working now.

 

Hi,

Just curious;
This option (OPTION TWO) doesn't work? (My favorite option *Biggrin)
UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

 

Hello Yasak, and welcome to Ten Forums.

Yes, that option can work with Windows 10 as well. I just didn't include it since it so much easier and risk free to use OPTION ONE here instead. *Smile

 

What would be a good size of USB 3.0 ? 4GB, 8GB, 16GB? I would like to try the USB option first.
If I have an extra HDD and would like to use it as a dual booting, would affect my main win 8.1.1 pro?

Thanks,

 

An 8GB stick will be sufficient, I think it's pretty hard to find 4GB one's these days. Don't boot it through a USB 3.0 hub though, it probably won't work.
The dual boot idea should work fine for ya.

 

@Edwin,
Thanks, I will go shopping for a 16GB later, cause is only 2 dollars cheaper.
I will buy this one :: 16GB Silicon Power Blaze B20 USB 3.0

USB 3.0 interface
- Read speed up to 120MB/sec; write speed up to 50MB/sec (Transfer rates may vary depending on capacity and system platform)
- Fully compatible with USB 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1
- Color changes while operating temperature is higher than 31°C
- True plug and play, no external power required
- LED indicates the usage status
- SP Widget free download provided

128GB = Read 200 MBs/ Write 80 MBs
64GB = Read120 MBs/ Write 50 MBs
32GB = Read 90 MBs/ Write 40 MBs
16GB = Read 40 MBs/ Write 20 MBs
8GB = Read 40 MBs/ Write 10 MBs

 

Just to note since v.2 Rufus now has option to create a Windows To Go USB or a Standard Windows installation. You want the Standard Windows installation for this tutorial.