Installation Media File System

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  1. gfd
    Posts : 74
    Windows 10 Pro 2004 (19041.264)
       New #1

    Installation Media File System


    Greetings,

    I have been trying various ways to setup a flash drive to install Windows. The goal is to create a flash drive which will boot into Legacy BIOS and/or UEFI. Reading about this topic (yes...I realize a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and that's why I'm here ), I noted that Legacy BIOS will boot from a flash drive formatted either in Fat32 or NTFS; while UEFI BIOS will only boot from a Fat32 stick.

    Note: My machine is built on a ASRock Z390 Phantom Gamer ITX:ac motherboard

    So I tried a flash drive with Secure Boot disabled: Fat32 - OK, NTFS - OK
    Next with Secure Boot enabled/CSM disabled as required: Fat32 - OK, NTFS - OK

    I thought that in order to boot a flash drive into a UEFI system with Legacy BIOS disabled, the flash drive would have to be formatted Fat32.

    This is not currently a problem. Not pressing the panic button. I would just like to understand what is happening for my education. As always, any help is most appreciated.

    Graham
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  3. Bree
    Posts : 31,651
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       New #2

    gfd said:
    I have been trying various ways to setup a flash drive to install Windows. The goal is to create a flash drive which will boot into Legacy BIOS and/or UEFI.

    The simplest way to make such a USB is to download and use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft as per Option One in this tutorial.

    OPTION ONE
    Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

    Whether the PC can boot from this USB in Legacy bios mode, UEFI or either depends on the settings in its bios, not on the USB.
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  4. gfd
    Posts : 74
    Windows 10 Pro 2004 (19041.264)
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thanks Bree,

    In BIOS Secure Boot is enabled. CMS/Legacy BIOS is disabled. Should I be able to boot a flash drive formatted NTFS.

    Thanks
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  6. LMiller7
    Posts : 1,255
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #4

    The UEFI standards require support for booting from FAT32. The ability to boot from NTFS is non standard. Some motherboards support it, most do not. Apparently yours does.
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  7. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #5

    +1^
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  8. MrBison
    Posts : 65
    Microsoft Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #6

    Windows7 USB DVD Download Tool


    I still use this old tool and it works for UEFI and lagacy

    Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool 1.0 para Windows - Download
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  9. gfd
    Posts : 74
    Windows 10 Pro 2004 (19041.264)
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    Thanks guys,

    Each of you contributed to my understanding of the issue. One would think that something as basic as BIOS would be consistent across vendors. But it seems there are many differences. Imagine if standards for RAM and storage could be as loosely interpreted.

    Well I suppose BIOS/UEFI is one area where motherboard manufacturers can differentiate their product. In this case, it is an added convenience.

    I think for consistency, I am going to use DISM to split the install.wim file into pieces small enough to comply with Fat32. That way, if I install a UEFI system that will not accept NTFS, it won't be an issue.

    regards,
    Graham
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  10. Paul Black
    Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       New #8

    Hello @gfd,

    Just for information really.

    Most of us with an SSD, disable Fast Startup and Hibernation as the difference is negligible.

    Depending on whether you are using Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT, certain partitions are created automatically during the installation process.. Here is a link that explains this in more detail . . .

    > Standard Windows 10 Partitions for MBR/GPT Disks

    The advantage of using UEFI-GPT is that it allows you to create more Partitions than Legacy-MBR, if needed, and has greater scalability, higher performance and higher security.

    I hope this helps.
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  12. AddRAM
    Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #9

    If you boot to your USB stick you may also see 2 choices to boot from UEFI or Legacy.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Installation Media File System-boot-menu.jpg  
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  13. gfd
    Posts : 74
    Windows 10 Pro 2004 (19041.264)
    Thread Starter
       New #10

    Thanks Paul,
    I don't use fast boot or hibernation.

    Hey thanks AddRAM,
    I enabled Secure Boot. That required turning off Legacy BIOS. Now all I get are UEFI options in the boot menu.
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