Need to install a fresh copy of Windows?

Booting Windows 10 (and Windows 7) from a USB stick is straightforward. Inside minutes yous can have a fresh new version of Windows installed on your PC, laptop, or media eye.

Hither's everything you demand to know about installing a fresh copy of Windows 10 from a bootable USB stick.

Why Kicking a Windows Installation From USB?

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

After all, a USB stick is portable, and you can guarantee it is compatible with every desktop and laptop calculator. While some computers might be missing a DVD drive, they all have a USB port.

It's as well quicker to install Windows 10 from a USB stick. A USB drive can be made bootable faster than an optical bulldoze can; information technology also installs the operating system quicker.

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

Ensuring USB Stick Has UEFI Boot Back up

Before yous download a bootable Windows installation image, it's important to know the deviation between UEFI and BIOS.

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

Fortunately, the most common methods of performing a Windows x USB install support UEFI and legacy BIOS hardware. So, whichever option you lot cull should piece of work for your hardware.

Preparing the Windows 10 Bootable USB

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

Set up 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 folio and click Download tool now.

Download Windows 10 installation media

Relieve the tool to your computer. It's effectually 20MB, and so shouldn't take too long on a fast connection. Note that cosmos of the bootable Windows 10 USB installer requires an internet connexion.

Create a Bootable USB Installer for Windows x

In one case downloaded, launch the media cosmos tool and click Accept when prompted. Then:

  1. Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC
    Create installation media for Windows 10
  2. Click Adjacent and set the preferred Language
  3. Advisedly select the correct Windows 10 Edition and organization Architecture
  4. To make changes, articulate the checkbox labeled Employ the recommended options for this PC
    Create bootable Windows 10 USB
  5. Hitting Next
  6. Cull USB flash drive, then Next, and select the USB drive from the listing
  7. Click Next once again

This terminal step prompts the download of the Windows ten installation files.

Wait while the bootable USB Windows 10 installer is created. How long this takes will depend on your internet speed. Several gigabytes of data will exist installed. If yous don't have a fast internet connexion at home, consider downloading from a library or your place of piece of work.

Installing Windows x With a Bootable USB Drive

With the installation media created, you lot're ready to install Windows 10 from USB. As the USB drive is at present bootable, simply remove it from your PC, and then insert it into the target device.

Ability up the computer you're installing Windows 10 on and wait for it to notice the USB drive. If this doesn't happen, reboot, this fourth dimension pressing the primal to access the UEFI/BIOS or boot menu. Ensure the USB device is detected, so select it as the main boot device.

The subsequent reboot should detect the Windows 10 installation media. Y'all're at present set up to install Windows 10, so commence the installation magician.

In one case you've worked through the wizard, Windows 10 will be installed. Annotation that some installation may continue after you log in, so be patient. It's too worth checking for Windows Updates (Settings > Updates & Security > Windows Update) after installation. This ensures y'all'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 ten? If y'all ain a valid license for Windows 7, you can also install this from a bootable USB drive.

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

Come across 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've installed Windows ten from the bootable USB drive, y'all might think you tin can just reuse the drive. While this is fine, information technology might be worth leaving it alone as a dedicated Windows x installation and repair drive.

The reason is unproblematic. Non only can you install Windows 10 from the drive, yous can likewise reinstall Windows ten with a USB stick. So, if Windows ten is not behaving in the expected manner, you lot tin can rely on the USB stick to reinstall it.

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

  1. Switch off the PC that needs reinstalling
  2. Insert the USB stick
  3. Switch on the reckoner
  4. Expect for the bootable Windows 10 disk to exist detected (you may demand to adjust the boot order every bit explained above)
  5. Set the Language, Time and currency format, and Keyboard to come across your requirements, then Next
  6. Ignore the Install button and instead click Repair your figurer
  7. Select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC
  8. You have two options: Keep my files and Remove everything – both options will lead to Windows x being reinstalled from the USB stick, one with your files retained, one without

When yous've completed reinstalling Windows 10, everything should work as intended once more.

Go along Your Bootable Windows x Installation USB Bulldoze Safety

Making a bootable Windows USB bulldoze is simple:

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

While you should await largely trouble-costless calculating from Windows x, information technology's a good idea to keep the USB kicking drive safe. After all, you never know when a hard disk can crash, or a partitioning table will decadent.

The Windows kicking drive features various repair tools that can exist used if Windows 10 will not boot. Store the boot drive in a memorable place where it can be hands retrieved for troubleshooting or reinstalling Windows after.

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Nearly The Author

Christian Cawley (1596 Articles Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Actually 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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