Clean install with USB created by Media Creation Tool

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  1. sportsfan148
    Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
       New #1

    Clean install with USB created by Media Creation Tool


    I use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB. When Ive clean installed Ive always waited until the installation has completely finished and Im at the Windows desktop. Only then do I remove the Windows 10 USB flash drive. The USB flash drive stays inserted until then. Ive never had any issues at all with this method?
    Ive been following a recent thread where clean installing with a USB flash drive is mentioned.
    Why are people discussing having to remove the USB flash drive before a reboot during a clean installation and when exactly do they remove it? If I did that Id be concerned that it might be possible to corrupt the flash drive. I always use the safely remove hardware option in Windows before I remove a flash drive.
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 43,010
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Because of this:
    Microsoft blocks Windows 10 May 2019 Update with USB device or SD card - Windows 10 Forums

    Given in post #8 in the thread
    May W10 Update potential problems ? - Page 2 - Windows 10 Forums
    where you've asked this question in post #18
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  4. sportsfan148
    Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    dalchina said:
    Because of this:
    Microsoft blocks Windows 10 May 2019 Update with USB device or SD card - Windows 10 Forums

    Given in post #8 in the thread
    May W10 Update potential problems ? - Page 2 - Windows 10 Forums
    where you've asked this question in post #18
    Yeah Sorry mate. I was thinking of clean installations only. Ive never done an upgrade. I didn't realise they were discussing just Upgrades and even then apparently theres only the need to remove the USB flash drive before reboot on Legacy systems where the flash drive might be listed above the Hard Disc in the boot order
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  6. alphanumeric
    Posts : 15,037
    Windows 10 IoT
       New #4

    When doing a clean install from a thumb drive, as far as I know its only ever reading from the thumb drive. And if there is no drive activity, it should be safe to just pull the drive. Its only if there is a pending write waiting to be done, or the drive is active when you yank it that corruption can occur.
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  7. MeAndMyComputer
    Posts : 1,345
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       New #5

    sportsfan148 said:
    I use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB. When Ive clean installed Ive always waited until the installation has completely finished and Im at the Windows desktop. Only then do I remove the Windows 10 USB flash drive. The USB flash drive stays inserted until then. Ive never had any issues at all with this method?
    Ive been following a recent thread where clean installing with a USB flash drive is mentioned.
    Why are people discussing having to remove the USB flash drive before a reboot during a clean installation and when exactly do they remove it? If I did that Id be concerned that it might be possible to corrupt the flash drive. I always use the safely remove hardware option in Windows before I remove a flash drive.
    I do the same as you.
    --- I always have a system image backup available ahead of time as well as a manual data backup.
    --- No issues yet and I've done quite a few of them where I volunteer.
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  8. sportsfan148
    Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    MeAndMyComputer said:
    I do the same as you.
    --- I always have a system image backup available ahead of time as well as a manual data backup.
    --- No issues yet and I've done quite a few of them where I volunteer.
    That's good to know. Whenever I clean install..the flash drive stays connected until Ive completed the installation fully.
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  9. alphanumeric
    Posts : 15,037
    Windows 10 IoT
       New #7

    I usually pull it on the first reboot. Once its into the OOBE its not needed anymore. Out Of the Box Experience.
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  10. MikeMecanic
    Posts : 1,079
    10 + Linux
       New #8

    sportsfan148 said:
    I use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB. When Ive clean installed Ive always waited until the installation has completely finished and Im at the Windows desktop. Only then do I remove the Windows 10 USB flash drive. The USB flash drive stays inserted until then. Ive never had any issues at all with this method?
    150% agree with your statement!

    We always do the same and there is no bug doing so all over the place, including 19H1 or 20H1. The bug implies a flash drive or an SD card already inserted + trying to live upgrade from the ISO image.
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  12. sportsfan148
    Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    MikeMecanic said:
    150% agree with your statement!

    We always do the same and there is no bug doing so all over the place, including 19H1 or 20H1. The bug implies a flash drive or an SD card already inserted + trying to live upgrade from the ISO image.
    Yeah ..that's what Ive read too. Theres a lot of people worried about it though on here...thinking that they will have problems when it comes to doing a clean install of 1903 when using a bootable USB flash drive. I think theres a lot of confusion
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  13. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #10

    It depends upon how the boot priority order in the computers BIOS/UEFI firmware is set up. If the BIOS/UEFI firmware is set to boot from a USB drive first and the internal drive 2nd or lower in priority, then the flash drive must be removed when the computer reboots, otherwise it will just keep boot right back into setup on the flash drive. If the user uses a boot override menu to pick the USB flash drive to boot from the first time, but the internal drive is set to boot before the USB flash drive in the normal priority list, then the flash drive does not need to be removed when the computer reboots. I've always just left mine in.
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