To install a fresh copy of Windows 10 from USB, one of the requirements is to create bootable media on PC boot, which can be done in two rather simple ways.
In this way, by switching from the BIOS settings or the UEFI interface and then selecting the boot from a USB stick instead of the internal hard drive, it becomes easy to install Windows 10 from scratch or even to update the PC with Windows 7 or Windows 8 .
Remembering that Windows 10 can be downloaded for free, in this guide we see how to install Windows 10 from USB stick or external disk, in two simple ways: using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool or the Rufus program, the best for burning ISO on USB devices .
1) Install Windows 10 from USB with Media Creation Tool
Creating the Windows 10 USB bootable media using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool is the best choice in case you plan to update your system or reinstall Windows 10.
This tool also allows you to download the Windows 10 installation file and automatically copy it to the USB stick making it bootable, thus making the whole process simple for everyone.
Then download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft site by pressing the " download the tool now " button.
Once downloaded, open the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to run the tool on your PC.
Then accept the conditions of use and select the option to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file) and press Next .
Then select the language, edition and architecture, preferably choosing the 64-bit Windows 10 version.
In the Architecture selection, you can select the Both option to create installation media that works for both devices that use 64-bit and 32-bit processors.
If you are unable to change these settings, check that the Use recommended options for this PC option is cleared.
Press Next, make sure that the USB stick (at least 8 GB) is inserted in the PC and select the USB Flash Drive option.
If the instrument does not see any units on the next screen, click on the Update unit list link.
If you see the drive, select it and press Next .
Once these steps are completed, the wizard will download the Windows 10 installation files, copy them onto a USB stick which is automatically made bootable on PC boot, with support for UEFI and the legacy BIOS.
At this point, you can restart the PC, change the boot order as explained in another article and follow the Windows 10 installation procedure.
Obviously you can also use the same USB stick to install Windows 10 on other computers.
2) Create a USB bootable media to install Windows 10 using Rufus
Alternatively, if the media creation tool does not work or to have greater control, you can download the Windows 10 ISO file directly and then use the Rufus program to copy the ISO to a USB stick or external hard disk and make it bootable on boot.
After downloading Rufus, start it to bring up the configuration screen.
Under " Device ", select the USB flash drive with at least 4 GB of space.
Next to " Boot selection ", press the Select button on the right, find the Windows 10 ISO file on your computer and press Open .
Using the " Partition scheme " drop-down menu, select the GPT option.
In the " Target system " menu, select the BIOS or UEFI option (not CSM ).
Under the " View advanced drive properties " section, leave the default settings.
Under the " Volume label " field, write a name for the USB drive.
Under the " File system " and "Cluster sizes" section, leave the default settings.
In the advanced formatting options, make sure that " Quick format " and " Create extended label and icon files " are selected.
If everything is ready, press the Start button to confirm the operation, bearing in mind that the USB drive will be deleted, formatted and made bootable with the Windows 10 installation files.
As seen above, you can then start the PC from USB to start the automatic installation of Windows 10, on any computer, from scratch or by updating from Windows 7 or 8.1.
Finally, I remember that switching to Windows 10 is still free for those who have Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, even if not officially.
In this way, by switching from the BIOS settings or the UEFI interface and then selecting the boot from a USB stick instead of the internal hard drive, it becomes easy to install Windows 10 from scratch or even to update the PC with Windows 7 or Windows 8 .
Remembering that Windows 10 can be downloaded for free, in this guide we see how to install Windows 10 from USB stick or external disk, in two simple ways: using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool or the Rufus program, the best for burning ISO on USB devices .
1) Install Windows 10 from USB with Media Creation Tool
Creating the Windows 10 USB bootable media using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool is the best choice in case you plan to update your system or reinstall Windows 10.
This tool also allows you to download the Windows 10 installation file and automatically copy it to the USB stick making it bootable, thus making the whole process simple for everyone.
Then download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft site by pressing the " download the tool now " button.
Once downloaded, open the MediaCreationToolxxxx.exe file to run the tool on your PC.
Then accept the conditions of use and select the option to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file) and press Next .
Then select the language, edition and architecture, preferably choosing the 64-bit Windows 10 version.
In the Architecture selection, you can select the Both option to create installation media that works for both devices that use 64-bit and 32-bit processors.
If you are unable to change these settings, check that the Use recommended options for this PC option is cleared.
Press Next, make sure that the USB stick (at least 8 GB) is inserted in the PC and select the USB Flash Drive option.
If the instrument does not see any units on the next screen, click on the Update unit list link.
If you see the drive, select it and press Next .
Once these steps are completed, the wizard will download the Windows 10 installation files, copy them onto a USB stick which is automatically made bootable on PC boot, with support for UEFI and the legacy BIOS.
At this point, you can restart the PC, change the boot order as explained in another article and follow the Windows 10 installation procedure.
Obviously you can also use the same USB stick to install Windows 10 on other computers.
2) Create a USB bootable media to install Windows 10 using Rufus
Alternatively, if the media creation tool does not work or to have greater control, you can download the Windows 10 ISO file directly and then use the Rufus program to copy the ISO to a USB stick or external hard disk and make it bootable on boot.
After downloading Rufus, start it to bring up the configuration screen.
Under " Device ", select the USB flash drive with at least 4 GB of space.
Next to " Boot selection ", press the Select button on the right, find the Windows 10 ISO file on your computer and press Open .
Using the " Partition scheme " drop-down menu, select the GPT option.
In the " Target system " menu, select the BIOS or UEFI option (not CSM ).
Under the " View advanced drive properties " section, leave the default settings.
Under the " Volume label " field, write a name for the USB drive.
Under the " File system " and "Cluster sizes" section, leave the default settings.
In the advanced formatting options, make sure that " Quick format " and " Create extended label and icon files " are selected.
If everything is ready, press the Start button to confirm the operation, bearing in mind that the USB drive will be deleted, formatted and made bootable with the Windows 10 installation files.
As seen above, you can then start the PC from USB to start the automatic installation of Windows 10, on any computer, from scratch or by updating from Windows 7 or 8.1.
Finally, I remember that switching to Windows 10 is still free for those who have Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, even if not officially.
