Windows 10 Retail USB Drive

Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

  1. Posts : 85
    Windows 10
       #1

    Windows 10 Retail USB Drive


    I just purchased a retail Windows 10 USB package from Microsoft and it arrived in a few days. The USB is write-protected and displays Read Only in the Disk Management GUI, this protects the USB drive from being written or formatted since it contains valuable Windows 10 software. This write protected USB also doesn't allow me to change the drive letter or path because the "Change Drive Letter and Paths..." option is grayed out. Why can't I reassign this USB drive to another drive letter like I can with a normal flash drive?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,249
    Windows 8.1, Win10Pro
       #2

    My guess is that MS write-protected it because MS does not want you using it like a normal flash drive; instead, they want you to use it ONLY to install Windows 10.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #3

    Keith Weisshar said:
    I just purchased a retail Windows 10 USB package from Microsoft and it arrived in a few days. The USB is write-protected and displays Read Only in the Disk Management GUI, this protects the USB drive from being written or formatted since it contains valuable Windows 10 software. This write protected USB also doesn't allow me to change the drive letter or path because the "Change Drive Letter and Paths..." option is grayed out. Why can't I reassign this USB drive to another drive letter like I can with a normal flash drive?
    That is weird, that you can't change the drive letter. Did it come with a printed license key? I would say you have two options:

    1. If it came with a printed license key, just make your own USB with the Windows Media Creation Tool and enter the retail key when asked for it when you install from the USB that you made.

    2. If it did not come with a printed key - install Windows 10 from the purchased USB. Use a product key sniffer (such as produkey or Belarc Advisor) to get the Windows 10 key (which should be a unique one for a retail version). Then go back to step 1, if still desired.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 85
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    It came with a printed license key card inside the box.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #5

    why would you need to change the USB drive letter, when booted it is X
    the write protect is just a flag and easily removed..

    It is there to protect itself, from being over-written, or from user error that can cause it to be over-written..

    I assume you purchased windows 10 - because you did not have a prior qualifying OS, that could have been upgraded for free..
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 85
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Do I need to enter the Windows 10 product key each time I reinstall Windows 10 from this USB included in the box?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,131
    Windows 3.1 to Windows 11
       #7

    Since it is tied to your activation, yes...
    And it will only activate on the PC it was first installed on..
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #8

    Look for a PID.txt file in the sources folder. If there is one, it likely has that key in it. If it's there your key will be entered automatically. I do this on my install thumb drives. I'll be surprised if you find one though. If it's there that makes that thumb drive only usable on the one PC.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 91
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #9

    Kyhi said:
    Since it is tied to your activation, yes...
    And it will only activate on the PC it was first installed on..
    Since it's a Retail license it can be moved to another PC and activated. The process may involve calling Microsoft, but it can be done.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 85
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Is there a way make a sector by sector copy of the original read-only Windows 10 USB drive to another writable USB flash drive of the same capacity? The original drive is 16GB and has a maximum read speed of 30mb/sec and the blank USB drive has 100mb/sec.Attachment 29686
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:22.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums