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

OPTION ONE in tutorial has been updated for the new Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. *Smile

 

Brink, please give me a valid answer to the following question, and forgive me for not having the time to clarify the matter, yet.

Right now I am on Windows 7 64bit, Home Premium, waiting to get Upgraded to Windows 10. I have only one SSD connected on my system. The files on that hidden folder are already downloaded on my system. My question:

- Can I use that NEW Media Creation tool to install Windows 10? Or should I wait for the Upgrade to take place on its own first, and THEN, afterwards, to create a bootable USB device?

Thank you!

 

Hello Joanne,

In your situation, it would be best to wait or the upgrade notification from GWX 10.

Otherwise, you could just as easily use the Media Creation Tool to directly upgrade with. I'll have an option for it soon in the tutorial below. *Smile

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html

 

Yes, I'd prefer to wait, too. Unfortunately though, "rolling the Upgrade in waves" can very well mean waiting from a few hours to a few...weeks, as you already know...

One last question, please: I definitely wish to make a clean installation! Independently from if I will wait for the Upgrade or do it myself, I will not leave the OS as it is. I will clean-install and reinstall all my programs (and drivers). So, is it possible with this NEW tool to perform a clean installation on an unallocated SSD? And does it let you to unallocate it before the installation? Like deleting all the volumes and the partitions of the C:\ drive?

Also, with this NEW tool, do you need to download Windows 10 files again? Do you have to download like 3 or 4 GB again?

Thank you!

 

Yes, you can active by doing what's in the blue note box in step 6 of the tutorial below when doing a clean install.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

If you use the tool VS update, then yes the tool will download it again.

 

Okay... I think I'm beginning to understand.

So, if I got all this right, for me personally it is in my favor to download Win 10 ISO again through this NEW tool. Because I will need an official ISO to perform clean installations on this machine, anyway. Like my Win 7 retail DVD I already have. This time I will use my 32 GB USB stick, though.

1) Will I be able to save this USB's contents on my HDD, after the successful clean installation, so that I'll be able to use the sitck elsewhere, and then prepare it again for another eventual clean installation? I suppose I'll have to use this NEW tool for this?

2) In that Step 6, it says: "If you upgraded to Windows 10 on this PC blah-blah, and successfully activated Win 10 on this PC...blah-blah, you can skip the product key page". In this computer, but not on this SSD, I have been running my Insider installation. Now this SSD is not plugged in. So, will it Activate? If not, will my Win 7 Home Premium key do the job?

Thanks!

PS: oh, and you haven't told me if this NEW tool permits clean installations! So, does it give you drive options to delete volumes and partitions?

 

In the section on using Rufus to create Bootable Windows 10 USB, there is the option to do so for a system with or without UEFI.

I'm pretty sure my UEFI system will boot from a "BIOS" type USB, so why would one need to make a UEFI only version?

 

Hello Nigel, *Smile

In OPTION TWO for Rufus, it'll either create a USB that you can use to only install with legacy BIOS (step 7) or only with UEFI (step 6). There's not an option that'll let you be able to either one with the same USB.

The MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI-CSM option you are referring to in Rufus just means that you will be able to use it on an UEFI computer to install with a MBR partition for legacy BIOS.

FAQ · pbatard/rufus Wiki · GitHub

 

I tried using the "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" as I already had it installed.

I get "Status: We are unable to copy your files. Please check your USB device and the selected ISO file and try again."

 

Nigel, *Smile

If you already have the ISO, I prefer Rufus.

If you don't have an ISO yet, then the Media Creation Tool is best.

 

Can you put custom files on the USB created by Media Tool (drivers etc.)? Just want to be sure it won't cause any issues...

 

Hello petr23, *Smile

Sure you can add files to the USB if you like. I like creating a "Drivers" folder, and have all my driver installation files in it to have them handy.

 

Brink thank you for this
- Couple of notes / questions.
--I am using Rufus 2.2.668, accessing a 16GB Sandisk usb sd: the default block in Rufus is 8192, not 4096. Should we force it to 4096?
-- Autoplay needs to be disabled.

 

Hello Cognus, *Smile

AutoPlay should have no affect on creating the USB.

4096 was just an example, you should use the default size it shows.

Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 4096 bytes) it has listed.