Demand to install a fresh copy of Windows?

Booting Windows 10 (and Windows 7) from a USB stick is straightforward. Within minutes you tin have a fresh new version of Windows installed on your PC, laptop, or media center.

Here's everything yous need to know almost installing a fresh copy of Windows ten from a bootable USB stick.

Why Kicking a Windows Installation From USB?

If your spare PC doesn't accept an optical bulldoze, or you're out of DVDs, a bootable USB stick is ideal.

Afterward all, a USB stick is portable, and you lot can guarantee it is uniform with every desktop and laptop computer. While some computers might be missing a DVD drive, they all take a USB port.

It's as well quicker to install Windows x from a USB stick. A USB bulldoze tin be made bootable faster than an optical bulldoze can; it also installs the operating system quicker.

To install Windows 7 or Windows 10 from a USB stick, information technology should have at least 16GB of storage. Before proceeding, ensure that your USB flash drive has been formatted.

Ensuring USB Stick Has UEFI Kick Support

Before you download a bootable Windows installation image, it's of import to know the difference between UEFI and BIOS.

Older PCs rely on the basic input/output arrangement (BIOS) to kick the operating system and manage data between the operating organization and devices. For the past decade, UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) has replaced BIOS, adding legacy support. UEFI tin can aid with PC diagnosis and repair without additional software or media. windows 10 usb install

Fortunately, the most mutual methods of performing a Windows 10 USB install support UEFI and legacy BIOS hardware. So, whichever option you choose should work for your hardware.

Preparing the Windows 10 Bootable USB

Before proceeding, insert your formatted USB flash stick in your PC or laptop.

Fix to install Windows 10? While several methods exist, the easiest way to practise this is to use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.

To grab this, head to the Microsoft Download Windows 10 page and click Download tool now.

Download Windows 10 installation media

Save the tool to your computer. Information technology's effectually 20MB, so shouldn't have likewise long on a fast connectedness. Note that creation of the bootable Windows 10 USB installer requires an cyberspace connection.

Create a Bootable USB Installer for Windows x

Once downloaded, launch the media creation tool and click Take when prompted. And so:

  1. Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC
    Create installation media for Windows 10
  2. Click Side by side and set the preferred Language
  3. Carefully select the correct Windows 10 Edition and system Architecture
  4. To make changes, clear the checkbox labeled Use the recommended options for this PC
    Create bootable Windows 10 USB
  5. Hit Next
  6. Choose USB flash drive, and then Side by side, and select the USB drive from the list
  7. Click Next again

This last stride prompts the download of the Windows ten installation files.

Await while the bootable USB Windows 10 installer is created. How long this takes will depend on your internet speed. Several gigabytes of data will be installed. If you don't take a fast internet connection at abode, consider downloading from a library or your place of work.

Installing Windows 10 With a Bootable USB Drive

With the installation media created, you're set up to install Windows 10 from USB. As the USB drive is now bootable, only remove it from your PC, and so insert information technology into the target device.

Power up the reckoner you're installing Windows 10 on and wait for it to detect the USB drive. If this doesn't happen, reboot, this fourth dimension pressing the key to access the UEFI/BIOS or boot menu. Ensure the USB device is detected, then select it equally the main boot device.

The subsequent reboot should detect the Windows 10 installation media. Y'all're now ready to install Windows x, then commence the installation magician.

Once you've worked through the wizard, Windows 10 will be installed. Annotation that some installation may continue after you log in, then be patient. It's likewise worth checking for Windows Updates (Settings > Updates & Security > Windows Update) after installation. This ensures you're running the very latest version of Windows 10.

How to Install Windows 7 From a Bootable USB Drive

What if you've had enough of Windows 10? If yous own a valid license for Windows 7, you can as well install this from a bootable USB bulldoze.

The process is largely similar, although for older PCs y'all won't need to worry about UEFI back up. Windows 7 is a great option for newer PCs in terms of being comparatively lightweight. However, support for the operating system ends in January 2020. As such, y'all should ensure that you upgrade to a more secure operating system when the times comes.

See our total guide to installing Windows 7 from a bootable USB drive for details.

How to Reinstall and Repair Windows 10 From USB

In one case you lot've installed Windows 10 from the bootable USB drive, you might call up yous can only reuse the bulldoze. While this is fine, information technology might exist worth leaving it alone as a dedicated Windows 10 installation and repair drive.

The reason is simple. Not only tin can y'all install Windows x from the drive, you tin likewise reinstall Windows 10 with a USB stick. So, if Windows ten is not behaving in the expected manner, you can rely on the USB stick to reinstall information technology.

Here's how to reinstall Windows x with your bootable USB stick:

  1. Switch off the PC that needs reinstalling
  2. Insert the USB stick
  3. Switch on the computer
  4. Await for the bootable Windows 10 disk to exist detected (yous may need to adjust the kicking order every bit explained to a higher place)
  5. Set the Language, Fourth dimension and currency format, and Keyboard to meet your requirements, and then Side by side
  6. Ignore the Install button and instead click Repair your computer
  7. Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC
  8. You have two options: Go along my files and Remove everything – both options will lead to Windows ten being reinstalled from the USB stick, one with your files retained, 1 without

When yous've completed reinstalling Windows 10, everything should piece of work as intended in one case more.

Keep Your Bootable Windows 10 Installation USB Drive Safe

Making a bootable Windows USB drive is simple:

  1. Format a 16GB (or higher) USB flash device
  2. Download the Windows 10 media creation tool from Microsoft
  3. Run the media creation wizard to download the Windows 10 installation files
  4. Create the installation media
  5. Eject the USB wink device

While yous should expect largely trouble-gratuitous computing from Windows 10, it's a adept idea to proceed the USB boot drive prophylactic. After all, you never know when a hard disk can crash, or a partition table will corrupt.

The Windows boot bulldoze features various repair tools that can be used if Windows x volition not boot. Store the boot drive in a memorable place where it tin exist hands retrieved for troubleshooting or reinstalling Windows later on.

How to Install Windows 10 From an Android Device

A backup copy of Windows 10 is always handy to accept around. And so it'due south helpful to know that you can also install Windows from your Android smartphone.

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About The Author

Christian Cawley (1573 Articles Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Really Useful Podcast producer, with extensive experience in desktop and software support. A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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