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    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

    How to Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 from
    Published by Category: Installation & Upgrade
    10 May 2023
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 from


    This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive that can be used to install Windows 10 with UEFI or Legacy BIOS.


    For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:

    Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media



    Contents

    • Option One: Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
    • Option Two: Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI
    • Option Three: Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS
    • Option Four: Manually create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI in Command Prompt
    • Option Five: Manually create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI using BAT file





    OPTION ONE

    Use Media Creation Tool to create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI


    This option will use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft to download an ISO file and create a bootable USB flash drive that is 32-bit, 64-bit, or both, and be used to install Windows 10 with or without UEFI.

    MCT will currently create a USB for Windows 10 version 22H2 build 19045.2965 is currently available for download using this option as of May 10, 2023.

    Before you begin

    Make sure you have:
    An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
    Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
    A blank USB with at least 8 GB of space. It is recommended to use a blank USB because any content on it will be deleted.

    Read the System Requirements.
    If you will be installing the operating system for the first time, you will need your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx). For more information about product keys and when they are required, visit the FAQ page.
    For Enterprise editions please visit the Volume Licensing Service Center.


    1 Enable the TLS 1.2 protocol in Windows 7 or Windows 8.

    See also: How to enable TLS 1.2 on clients

    2 Click/tap on the Download button below to go to Microsoft, and click/tap on the Download tool now button at Microsoft's site.

    (Windows 10 version 22H2)

    Download

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-mediacreationtool21h1_download.png

    3 Save the MediaCreationTool22H2.exe file (version 10.0.19045.2006) to your desktop, and run it. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-mediacreationtool22h1.png

    4 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

    5 Click/tap on Accept for the license terms of the Media Creation Tool. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-license.png

    6 Select (dot) Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-1.png

    7 Uncheck the Use the recommended options for this PC box. (see screenshot below)

    Leaving the Use the recommended options for this PC box checked will have the Media Creation Tool create a USB flash drive that's the same language, edition, and architecture as the current PC.


    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-media_creation_tool_use_recommended_options.png

    8 Select the Language, Edition, and 32-bit (x86), 64-bit (x64), or both (32-bit and 64-bit on same USB) Architecture you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    The selected edition can install both the Home and Pro edition.

    Your digital entitlement or product key determines if Home or Pro gets installed during Windows Setup.

    If you skip entering a product key during Windows Setup, then you will be prompted to select to install the Home or Pro edition.


    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-2.png

    9 Select (dot) USB flash drive, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-3.png

    10 Connect your USB flash drive, click/tap on the Refresh drive list link, select the USB flash drive, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-4.png

    11 It will now start Downloading Windows 10 and Creating Windows 10 media. (see screenshots below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-5.png Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-5b.png

    12 When finished, your USB flash drive will be ready. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-windows_10_download_tool-6.png






    OPTION TWO

    Use "Rufus" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI


    1 If you have not already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

    2 Download the latest version of Rufus, and save its .exe file to your desktop.

    This is a standalone exe file that doesn't install anything to your PC. For Rufus FAQs, see: rufus FAQ on GitHub


    3 Connect the USB flash drive that you want to use for this.

    4 Run the Rufus .exe file, and click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.

    5 Do step 6 (BIOS or UEFI), step 7 (UEFI only), or step 8 (Legacy BIOS only) below depending on if you want to create a bootable USB with or without UEFI support.


    6 To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 with Legacy BIOS or UEFI

    UEFI Requirements:
    *64-bit Windows 10 ISO file. 32-bit is not supported.
    *At least a 8GB USB flash drive depending on how large the ISO file is.
    *To boot from an external UEFI USB flash drive, be sure to temporarily disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot (if applicable) in your UEFI firmware settings until the Windows installation is finished.


    A) Set Rufus using the settings below, click/tap on Start, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)

    • Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
    • Under Boot selection, click/tap on the SELECT button, and navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file.
    • Under Image option (if available), select Standard Windows installation.
    • Under Partition scheme, select MBR.
    • Press the Alt + E keys.
    • Under Target system, select BIOS or UEFI.
    • Under Volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.
    • Under File system, select FAT32 (if able). If the file is larger than 4GB, you will only be able to select NTFS.
    • Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 16 kilobytes) it has listed.

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-rufus_bios_and_uefi.png


    7 To Create Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 only with UEFI

    UEFI Requirements:
    *64-bit Windows 10 ISO file. 32-bit is not supported.
    *At least a 8GB USB flash drive depending on how large the ISO file is.
    *To boot from an external UEFI USB flash drive, be sure to temporarily disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot (if applicable) in your UEFI firmware settings until the Windows installation is finished.


    A) Set Rufus using the settings below, click/tap on Start, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)

    • Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
    • Under Boot selection, click/tap on the SELECT button, and navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file.
    • Under Image option (if available), select Standard Windows installation.
    • Under Partition scheme, select GPT.
    • Under Target system, select UEFI (non CSM).
    • Under Volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.
    • Under File system, select FAT32 (if able). If the file is larger than 4GB, you will only be able to select NTFS.
    • Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 4096 bytes) it has listed.

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-rufus_uefi.png

    8 To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 only with Legacy BIOS (without UEFI)

    A) Set Rufus using the settings below, click/tap on Start, and go to step 9 below. (see screenshot below)

    • Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
    • Under Boot selection, click/tap on the SELECT button, and navigate to and select your 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file.
    • Under Image option (if available), select Standard Windows installation.
    • Under Partition scheme, select MBR.
    • Under Target system, select BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
    • Under Volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.
    • Under File system, select NTFS.
    • Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 4096 bytes) it has listed.

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-rufus_bios.png

    9 Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-rufus-1.png

    10 Rufus will now start creating the bootable USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-rufus-2.png

    11 When Rufus is "READY" (finished), you can close Rufus. (see screenshot below)

    It could take a little while to finish.

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-rufus-3.png






    OPTION THREE

    Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to create Bootable Window 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS


    1 If you have not already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

    2 If you have not already, click/tap on the Download button below, and download and install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
    3 Run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, and click/tap on the Browse button. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-1-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    4 Navigate to and select the downloaded Windows 10 ISO file, and click/tap on Open. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-2-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    5 Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-3-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    6 Click/tap on USB device. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-4-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    7 Select the drive letter of the USB, and click/tap on Begin copying. (see screenshot below)

    If the drive letter is not listed in the drop down menu, then click/tap on the refresh button and try again.


    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-5-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    8 If prompted, click/tap on Erase USB Device. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-6-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    9 If prompted, click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-7-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    10 When successfully finished, you can close the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

    It could take a little while to finish.

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-8-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-9-w7_usb_download_tool.jpg






    OPTION FOUR

    Manually create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI in Command Prompt


    Reference: Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive | Microsoft Docs


    1 If you have not already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

    2 Connect the USB flash drive.

    3 Open an elevated command prompt.

    4 Type diskpart into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 13)

    5 Type list disk into the elevated command prompt, press Enter, and make note of the Disk ### (ex: 4) for the USB flash drive from step 2.

    6 Type select disk # into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.


    Substitute # in the command above with the actual Disk ### (ex: 4) from step 5) above for the USB flash drive.

    For example: select disk 4


    7 Type clean into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    8 Type convert mbr into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    9 Type create partition primary into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    10 Type format fs=fat32 quick into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    You can type format fs=exfat quick into the elevated command prompt instead if the install.wim or install.esd file from the ISO is larger than 4 GB in size.

    Not all computers can boot from exFat. Some can only boot from Fat32.

    If Windows 10 ISO contains WIM file that is too big for FAT32 file system


    11 Type active into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    12 Type assign into the elevated command prompt, and press Enter.

    13 You can now close the elevated command prompt.

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-usb_diskpart.jpg

    14 Mount the ISO file from step 1 above, and open it.

    15 Select all files in the mounted ISO, right click on the selected files, click/tap on Send to, and select the USB flash drive (ex: G) from step 2. It may take a while to finish copying. (see screenshots below)

    This is to copy all the files and folders from the mounted Windows 10 installation ISO to the USB flash drive.

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-copy_iso_to_usb-1.jpg Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-copy_iso_to_usb-2.jpg

    16 You can now unmount the ISO file. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-unmount_iso.jpg

    17 The bootable Windows 10 installation USB is now ready. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-bootable_usb.jpg






    OPTION FIVE

    Manually create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI using BAT file


    This option does the same as Option Four above, but uses a .bat file to make it easier.

    Special thank you to Matthew for providing the .bat file for this option.

    Not all computers can boot from exFat. Some can only boot from Fat32.

    If Windows 10 ISO contains WIM file that is too big for FAT32 file system


    1 If you have not already, you will need to download a Windows 10 ISO file.

    2 Connect the USB flash drive.

    3 Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below.

    Create_a_bootable_Windows_USB_device.bat

    Download

    4 Save the .bat file to your desktop.

    5 Unblock and run the downloaded .bat file.

    6 If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes to approve.

    7 Select an ISO file in the dialog box, and click/tap on Open. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-2.select_usb-1.jpg

    8 Type only the Disk number (ex: "3") of the USB flash drive, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-2.select_usb-2.jpg

    9 The script will automatically choose between FS=FAT32 (less than 4GB) and FS=exFAT (greater than 4GB) as per the size of "install.wim" or "install.esd". (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-3.clean_and_format.jpg

    10 The copying will start as soon as DiskPart has completed the operations. (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-4.copying.jpg

    11 When the copying has finished, it will display the following: (see screenshot below)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-5.finished.jpg

    That's it,
    Shawn Brink


    Related Tutorials



  1. Windows 11 Tutorials



  2. Stephanie
    Posts : 14,586
    Windows 10 Professional x64
       New #1

    Clear clean and easy to understand, thank you Shawn great tutorial, making my USB flash drive shortly
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. jack
    Posts : 45
    windows 7 64-bit
       New #2

    I would like to create a bootable dvd instead of a usb. I tried Rufus and did not have any success.
    Maybe my Sandisk is at fault. But I can put other things on it ok.
    I have my BIOS set to recognize a dvd instead of a usb. Would like to keep it that way.
    I have spent hours on this with no success. I intend to put windows 10 on another drive and
    manually disconnect my C drive which has windows 7 pro 64-bit on it.
    Thanks for any suggestion and this forum
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  5. Edwin
    Posts : 17,842
    Windows 10
       New #3

    jack said:
    I would like to create a bootable dvd instead of a usb. I tried Rufus and did not have any success.
    Maybe my Sandisk is at fault. But I can put other things on it ok.
    I have my BIOS set to recognize a dvd instead of a usb. Would like to keep it that way.
    I have spent hours on this with no success. I intend to put windows 10 on another drive and
    manually disconnect my C drive which has windows 7 pro 64-bit on it.
    Thanks for any suggestion and this forum
    Use Option Two in Brinks tutorial and in step #6 choose DVD instead of USB.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  6. jack
    Posts : 45
    windows 7 64-bit
       New #4

    Thank you very much for your reply Edwin.
    I had a hard time finding this post again this morning.
    Have no idea what forum it is in. Thought it was in the Windows 10 news.
    Would help guys like me if the forum name was posted somewhere at the top.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. Brink
    Posts : 71,719
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    jack said:
    Would help guys like me if the forum name was posted somewhere at the top.
    It is. :)

    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10-top.jpg
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  8. tinmar49
    Posts : 823
    W11 pro 64 beta channel
       New #6

    I have made a bootable dvd simply by burning a blank dvd straight from the downloaded iso using the basic Microsoft disc burning software in W7. Sofar, I have used it three times on two different pc's. These were clean installs.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  9. jack
    Posts : 45
    windows 7 64-bit
       New #7

    Thank you Tinmar49 for replying.
    I've it working now.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. Yasak Hayat
    Posts : 30
    Windows 10
       New #8

    Hi,

    Just curious;
    This option (OPTION TWO) doesn't work? (My favorite option )
    UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  12. Brink
    Posts : 71,719
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Hello Yasak, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Yes, that option can work with Windows 10 as well. I just didn't include it since it so much easier and risk free to use OPTION ONE here instead. :)
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

 

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