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How to Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

Information
This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive that can be used to install Windows 10 with or without UEFI.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
- Option Two: Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
- Option Three: Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS

OPTION ONE

Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI

Note
This option will use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft to download an ISO file and create a bootable USB flash drive that is 32-bit, 64-bit, or both, and be used to install Windows 10 with or without UEFI.
Before you begin
- Make sure you have:
- An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
- Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
- A blank USB with at least 4 GB (32-bit or 64-bit) or 8 GB (both 32-bit and 64-bit) of space if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB, because any content on it will be deleted.
- Read the System Requirements.
- If you will be installing the operating system for the first time, you will need your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx). For more information about product keys and when they are required, visit the FAQ page.
- For Enterprise editions please visit the Volume Licensing Service Center.
1. Click/tap on the
Download button below to go to Microsoft, and click/tap on the
Download tool now button at Microsoft's site.
2. Save the
MediaCreationTool.exe file to your desktop, and run it.
3. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on
Yes.
4. Select (dot)
Create installation media for another PC, and click/tap on
Next. (see screenshot below)
5. Uncheck the
Use the recommended options for this PC box. (see screenshot below)

Note
Leaving the Use the recommended options for this PC box checked will have the Media Creation Tool create a USB flash drive that's the same language, edition, and architecture as the current PC.
6. Select the
Language,
Edition, and
32-bit (x86), 64-bit (x64), or
both (32-bit and 64-bit on same USB)
Architecture you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on
Next. (see screenshot below)

Note
The selected edition can install both the
Home and
Pro edition.
Your
digital entitlement or
product key determines if Home or Pro gets installed during Windows Setup.
If you skip entering a product key during Windows Setup, then you will be prompted to select to install the Home or Pro edition.
7. Select (dot)
USB flash drive, and click/tap on
Next. (see screenshot below)
8. Connect your USB flash drive, click/tap on the
Refresh drive list link, select the USB flash drive, and click/tap on
Next. (see screenshot below)
9. Windows 10 will now begin to download. (see screenshot below)
10. When the download has finished, your USB flash drive will be ready., Click/tap on
Finish. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
1. If you have not already, you will need to
download a Windows 10 ISO file.
2. Download the latest version of
Rufus, and save it's
.exe file to your desktop.

Note
This is a standalone exe file that doesn't install anything to your PC.
For Rufus FAQs, see:
rufus FAQ on GitHub
3. Connect the
USB flash drive that you want to use for this.
4. Run the Rufus
.exe file, and click/tap on
Yes if prompted by
UAC.
5. Do
step 6 (UEFI) or
step 7 (Legacy BIOS) below depending on if you want to create a bootable USB with or without UEFI support.
6. To Create Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 with UEFI

Note
UEFI Requirements:
- 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file. 32-bit is not supported.
- At least a 4GB USB flash drive depending on how large the ISO file is.
- To boot from an external UEFI USB flash drive, be sure to temporarily disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot (if applicable) in your UEFI firmware settings until the Windows installation is finished.
A) Set Rufus using the settings below, click/tap on
Start, and go to
step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
- Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
- Under Format Options, check Create a bootable disk using, select the ISO Image option, click/tap on the browse icon
to navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file, and then make sure that Standard Windows installation is selected (dotted). - Under Partition scheme and target system type, select GPT partition scheme for UEFI.
- Under File system, select FAT32.
- Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 4096 bytes) it has listed.
- Under Format Options, check Quick format.
- Under Format Options, check Create extended label and icon files.
- Under New volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.

7. To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 using Legacy BIOS (without UEFI)
A) Set Rufus using the settings below, click/tap on
Start, and go to
step 8 below. (see screenshot below)
- Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
- Under Format Options, check Create a bootable disk using, select the ISO Image option, click/tap on the browse icon
to navigate to and select your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file, and then make sure that Standard Windows installation is selected (dotted). - Under Partition scheme and target system type, select MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI-CSM.
- Under File system, select NTFS.
- Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 4096 bytes) it has listed.
- Under Format Options, check Quick format.
- Under Format Options, check Create extended label and icon files.
- Under New volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.

8. Click/tap on
OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)
9. Rufus will now start creating the bootable USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)
10. When Rufus is "DONE", you can close Rufus. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: It could take a little while to finish.

OPTION THREE

Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS
1. If you have not already, you will need to
download a Windows 10 ISO file.
2. If you have not already, click/tap on the
Download button below, and download and install the
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. (see screenshot below)
3. Run the
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, and click/tap on the
Browse button. (see screenshot below)
4. Navigate to and select the downloaded
Windows 10 ISO file, and click/tap on
Open. (see screenshot below)
5. Click/tap on
Next. (see screenshot below)
6. Click/tap on
USB device. (see screenshot below)
7. Select the drive letter of the USB, and click/tap on
Begin copying. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the drive letter is not listed in the drop down menu, then click/tap on the refresh button and try again.
8. If prompted, click/tap on
Erase USB Device. (see screenshot below)
9. If prompted, click/tap on
Yes. (see screenshot below)
10. When successfully finished, you can close the
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
NOTE: It could take a little while to finish.
That's it,
Shawn