So I and my stupid adventures nature decided to try linux. Now I can't seem to get Windows back on my laptop.
I download the media creation tool like Microsoft says, but it wants to install on my other laptop instead!
My second laptop is running Windows and its the one I'm trying the media creation tool.
How can I make a simple USB Windows 10 installer?
P.S.
linux was hell, If you want to try it, stick to a virtual machine.
The Media Creation Tool's default is to upgrade this PC. You choose the MCT's option to 'create installation media for another PC'. See this tutorial.
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10
@Arkas
On your laptop (the one with the old Linux boot disk) boot a stand alone Macrium recovery USB assuming you can't make a Windows install disk. You can create this using your other Windows laptop and it's free.
Then use the command mode : (you can use this in the macrium stand alone recovery usb).
Diskpart
List Disk
select disk xx <the linux disk)
clean
convert gpt <optional but I assume most want gpt and uefi these days>
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
assign
exit.
Now any windows install media should recognize your HDD as a standard Windows formattable disk and be able to install Windows on it. The Grub boot manager (Linux) and any Linux file system - normally unreadable by Windows should be gone from your HDD completely.
Windows should the install fine and re-partition the HDD/SSD as it requires.
Cheers
jimbo
It says it can't find a USB Flash drive even though file explorer can see them fine, I have 2 USB sticks in the laptop both freshly formatted with SD Card formatter!
SD Card Formatter is for SD memory cards only, not a normal USB stick.
The MCT requires a USB stick that has an MBR layout and is formatted as Fat32. It will also accept a USB that is unformatted and can format it itself.
You can wipe all formatting from a USB with DISKPART's CLEAN command.
Hi there
that's another problem !!! don't format the USB sticks at all -- just let windows create the MCT for you directly on the other laptop, and ensure BIOS settings on your "failed laptop" allows boot from USB devices and is set to EFI boot with secure boot off.
Most laptops will boot MBR or GPT disks without any issue. I'd on the other laptop get the MCT to save as an iso then use RUFUS to create a bootable USB from the iso.
Cheers
jimbo
I can't get it to work (the usb sticks). I managed to format it as GPT, there was no MBR option. Is there a tool I can use to format it to the required way?
Thanks
I use UUI, I started to use it, because Rufus has become too elaborate.
Universal USB Installer - Easy as 1 2 3 | Pen Drive Linux
I tried that, by creating a bootable ubuntu ISO image using etcher, it still doesn't see the stick
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This one is asking for an ISO file. Do I download any .ISO file?
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When I download the Windows 10 ISO, it always looks for a CD or DVD, instead of just working from the USB
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