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#21
They both work well barring some weirdo circumstance.
Neither require Rufus, which is good.
As far as I know, you can update a stick made with either method to the newest Windows version directly from a newly downloaded ISO of the most recent version without re-creating the entire stick.
Just double-click on the new ISO to mount it and then select all the contents and drag them onto the USB. It remains bootable.
If you want to boot the stick in UEFI mode, the stick should be FAT32, not NTFS.
I use option 4 because I don't mind using Diskpart.
For kicks, you could make the stick both ways, and satisfy yourself that either method will get you into a clean install.
What driver?
I'd let Windows install whatever drivers it wants to during the installation.
You will be installing a very recent version of Windows, so you should be getting recent drivers.
Then evaluate to see if all your hardware works as expected. Check to see if there are any bangs in Device Manager.
You can download all available drivers from the manufacturer before the install if you want to, but I wouldn't necessarily use any of them.
I probably would be sure to get the NIC driver before the install. There is a small chance Windows won't install it and then you'd be stuck without an Internet connection. But generally speaking, I wouldn't be in a panic about drivers. Windows Update is going to be feeding you stuff frequently at regular intervals regardless.
You have 30 days to activate at any rate.
Not with Windows 10. From the EULA:
"5. Authorized Software and Activation. You are authorized to use this software only if you are properly licensed and the software has been properly activated with a genuine product key or by other authorized method. When you connect to the Internet while using the software, the software will automatically contact Microsoft or its affiliate to conduct activation to associate it with a certain device. You can also activate the software manually by Internet or telephone. "
There is no 30 day "grace or trial" period in Windows 10.
LCDR:
What would happen if a user simply never connected to the net? Could he use Win 10 indefinitely?
No?
Yes, but it would violate the EULA?
I'd imagine someone has experimented to find out.