How to install Windows 10 in computer with Legacy Bios from USB

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  1. Posts : 360
    win10
       #1

    How to install Windows 10 in computer with Legacy Bios from USB


    I plan to replace the HDD of an old Sony Vaio AIO computer with a 250GB SSD . At the same time I also want to do a clean installation of Windows 10 in the new SSD . However the Sony Computer's motherboard uses a Legacy Bios. Will the Sony computer boot from a Windows 10 installation USB prepared using windows media creation tool . I prepared the USB using another computer that has a UEFI bios. How to make this USB bootable from Legacy bios ? Tks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 30,120
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #2

    Yes, the Media Creation Tool will create USB thumb drive that will boot either way.

    Clean Install Windows 10


    Ken
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 136
    Win10 Pro x64 1607
       #3

    sportflyer said:
    ...I prepared the USB using another computer that has a UEFI bios. How to make this USB bootable from Legacy bios ?...
    Does the other PC (used for USB media) run the same Win Edition (Home or Pro)?
    If not, Windows activation cannot be done.

    To boot from USB, you have to go to BIOS settings (on boot first screen, hit F2 or F12 or F-whatever) and change the boot order.
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  4. Posts : 30,120
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Version 23H2
       #4

    The Media Creator with 8GB key loads Pro and Home on key. You need to know which one is currently on system you are clean installing.

    As the computer was running 10 it will activate, SSD's don't count as major hardware change.
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  5. Posts : 136
    Win10 Pro x64 1607
       #5

    Caledon Ken said:
    The Media Creator with 8GB key loads Pro and Home on key. You need to know which one is currently on system you are clean installing...
    As far as I know, MCT created media does not ask you for Edition when install. In fact, does not ask you for anything because this is actually an upgrade tool.

    I hope you're right
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  6. Posts : 360
    win10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    So you are all saying that I can use the USB I already created ( both computers running Windows 10 X64 bit home edition ) and it will boot with both Legacy and UEFI bios ? That is good news because now I don't need to create a legacy bootable USB from Windows 10 ISO image using iso2image tool or similar .
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  7. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #7

    werby said:
    As far as I know, MCT created media does not ask you for Edition when install. In fact, does not ask you for anything because this is actually an upgrade tool.

    I hope you're right
    This is incorrect. You can clean install or upgrade.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 15,442
    Windows10
       #8

    sportflyer said:
    So you are all saying that I can use the USB I already created ( both computers running Windows 10 X64 bit home edition ) and it will boot with both Legacy and UEFI bios ? That is good news because now I don't need to create a legacy bootable USB from Windows 10 ISO image using iso2image tool or similar .
    Yes - it is dual purpose.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #9

    werby said:
    As far as I know, MCT created media does not ask you for Edition when install. In fact, does not ask you for anything because this is actually an upgrade tool.

    I hope you're right
    The MCT makes a USB flash drive that is bootable in both UEFI and legacy BIOS and it contains 6 different versions of Windows 10 including Home, Pro and Education.

    Code:
    F:\sources>dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:install.esd
    
    Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
    Version: 10.0.17134.1
    
    Details for image : install.esd
    
    Index : 1
    Name : Windows 10 Home
    Description : Windows 10 Home
    Size : 15,743,745,278 bytes
    
    Index : 2
    Name : Windows 10 Home N
    Description : Windows 10 Home N
    Size : 14,649,809,552 bytes
    
    Index : 3
    Name : Windows 10 Home Single Language
    Description : Windows 10 Home Single Language
    Size : 15,744,992,832 bytes
    
    Index : 4
    Name : Windows 10 Education
    Description : Windows 10 Education
    Size : 15,993,189,750 bytes
    
    Index : 5
    Name : Windows 10 Education N
    Description : Windows 10 Education N
    Size : 14,917,953,164 bytes
    
    Index : 6
    Name : Windows 10 Pro
    Description : Windows 10 Pro
    Size : 16,008,808,682 bytes
    
    Index : 7
    Name : Windows 10 Pro N
    Description : Windows 10 Pro N
    Size : 14,916,335,636 bytes
    
    The operation completed successfully.
    It can be used for a clean install or an upgrade. Boot the computer from the flash drive to do a clean install, or run setup.exe on the flash drive from within Windows to do an upgrade. If the USB flash drive is booted on a computer that has a product key stored in BIOS or UEFI for Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 then it will read that product key and automatically install the matching version of Windows 10. If it does not find a product key, then it will ask which version of Windows you want to install. If setup.exe is run from the flash drive from within Windows, it will re-install (upgrade) to the same version that is existing.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 136
    Win10 Pro x64 1607
       #10

    I was wrong. I thought that only if you deselect "recommended" setup and select both 32 & 64 bit, you'll get all those editions (bigger ISO).

    Thank you very much!
      My Computer


 

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