Windows 10: Which USB flash drives work best when using Media Creation Tool?

Hi,
Ive used Rufus successfully before to create Bootable USB Flash Drive Windows 10 Installation Media. This time I wanted to do a clean installation and cut out the need for Third Party Rufus by just using the Windows Media Creation Tool to create my bootable USB flash drive. My flash drive is a Sandisk Ultra 16gb SDCZ40 model that I bought a while ago. Having read online about people having problems with flash drives including Sandisk..I contacted Sandisk Tech Support..whose advice was useless!! They told me they don't recommend anybody to use a USB flash drive for Windows installations. People should always use SSD drives according to them!! They told me it might work..might not...they say they aren't tested for Windows installation usage only for file storage!! Anyway..Ive created the USB flash drive this morning using the Windows Media Creation Tool. Everything seemed to go without any problems. Ive tested it by rebooting then F12 and the Sandisk Ultra is there. I'm going to try the clean installation as soon as I get chance. Has anyone else used the Sandisk Ultra 16gb USB flash drive successfully? Am I likely to have any problems with this flash drive?

Ive always been happy with Sandisk until I spoke to them yesterday. If I decide to use another USB flash drive brand in the future...which USB flash drives work well with the Windows Media Creation Tool?
Anybodys feedback here would be much appreciated..Thanks

:)

 

Windows 10 not installing on Samsung 850 SSD

Known issue where SSD is being read as a flash stick, apparently still not fixed.

The fixes are here:
You can't install Windows on a USB flash drive from Setup, when upgrading to Windows 8.1. Start with the second step which works best.

Any chance you're using older installation media? This should have been corrected in Version 1511 now available in

Media Creation Tool

which you can create now to be sure.

Please let us know how this works.

 

Do I need to backup my Windows 10 laptop if all of my files are in OneDrive?

Best to do it now. The Media Creation tool walks you through the process as it runs. You need at least a 4GB USB flash drive, but an 8GB might be better.

Select to create media for another PC, you'll see an option to use USB on another screen (make sure you have the flash drive plugged in) and press the Next button to advance through the screens.

 

I've never really noticed that it makes much difference. Over the years, I've used Patriot Memory, Mushkin, Kingston, AData, Super-Talent, HP, DataPro, and yes, even SanDisk for bootable USB Windows installations, all with equal success. Honestly, I don't think the brand makes a whole lot of difference -- at least, not in my experience. Forum stalwart/guru NavyLCDR often observes, and I concur, that when Rufus enters the picture, it can be the cause of many issues arising during the creation and use of bootable USB drives. For good information on this topic the Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials tutorial is helpful.
--Ed--

 

Hi Ed, Yeah those are the tutorials I always use. I followed that tutorial for the Rufus method I used last time.
Ive used the tutorials again this time as I want to use solely the Windows Media Creation Tool to create my bootable USB flash drive (without using Rufus at all). Do you use the Windows Media Creation Tool to create your bootable USB flash drive? I just wanted to try this method this time and cut out Third Party Rufus if I can. I know the Diskpart method is another way too..Ive also used that in the past

 

Hi sportsfan148

I use the MCT to create my bootable USB's. If you use it now it will use the Creator Update version of Windows.

Just follow the steps and the tool takes care of it.

Ken

 

Hi Ken,
Have you ever used Sandisk Flash drives or had any issues with different brands? I'm using the Sandisk Ultra and I don't want to run into any installation problems

 

Yesterday I used a SanDisk Extreme Pro (USB 3.0), Rufus and the Windows Media Creation Tool to make a bootable USB flash using the tutorial on the forum and all went like clock work. Several years ago I was really into digital photography and for me the SanDisk CF and SD cards were the most reliable. I also used their USB drives for ReadyBoost on our Vista computers and they never died. I also have a bootable DVD but did the USB as a back up to that.

 

I've used several Sandisk flash drives for stock Windows install and other recovery drives and they work fine.

 

Just about any would be fine I would say. I have a PNY I use the most, but also have Sandisk and another somewhere I can't pin point just now *Redface. Have used them all at one time or another.

 

Did you use the Sandisk Extreme Pro without Rufus? By that I mean did you create your Bootable USB flash drive using the Media Creation Tool method?

 

Have you used them with the Media Creation Tool Method to create the bootable media (no Rufus and not the Diskpart method?) I wonder what theyre talking about then when they say there are issues with Sandisk USB flash drives when creating Windows Installation Media with the Media Creation Tool. They talk about the drives not being recognised by the Media Creation Tool or the system Reserved Partition not being created?

 

Hi sportsfan148

I remembered this thread and alphanumeric's explanation.

Can't create Windows 10 Installation Media. Any ideas?

It doesn't appear that all SanDisks have this trait. Myself I would start the tool and try on a Windows 10 machine.

 

Thanks for that thread. The Media Creation Tool has created the USB flash drive bootable media without any errors. I haven't got around to trying to install Windows 10 using it yet though. After reading that thread though it brings up another question. After formatting the flash drive to ensure it was empty before using the Media Creation Tool. I noticed the flash drive showed in This PC/My computer as a local disc (the same icon as my C: drive). Thinking there might be something wrong with the drive I immediately ran Checkdisk on it to see if the drive had errors. It didn't. When I looked at the flash drive icon in This PC again it had immediately changed to what looks like a blue PC screen with a forward pointing green arrow. Is that a Windows 10 removable drive icon? When I opened disc management the USB flash drive is listed in there as a removable drive

 

I used the SanDisk, then the Rufus and the Tool to create the boot.