How to create bootable USB with Windows 10 Setup

Creating a bootable USB drive with Windows 10 setup is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Method 1: Using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool (Recommended)

This is the easiest and official method.

Requirements:

• A USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage.
• A working Windows PC with internet access.
• Enough free space to download the Windows 10 ISO (around 5GB).

Steps:

1. Download the Media Creation Tool:
   • Go to Microsoft’s official Windows 10 download page.
   • Click “Download tool now” under “Create Windows 10 installation media.”
2. Run the Media Creation Tool:
   • Open the downloaded MediaCreationTool.exe.
   • Accept the license terms.
3. Choose Installation Media:
   • Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” and click Next.
4. Select Language, Edition, and Architecture:
   • Choose your preferred language, Windows 10 edition (Home/Pro), and architecture (32-bit, 64-bit, or both).
   • Click Next.
5. Select USB Flash Drive:
   • Choose “USB flash drive” and click Next.
   • Insert your USB drive if not already done.
6. Select the USB Drive:
   • The tool will detect your USB. Select it and click Next.
7. Wait for Completion:
   • The tool will download Windows 10 and create a bootable USB automatically.
   • Once done, click Finish.
8. Boot from USB:
   • Restart your PC and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing F2, F12, DEL, or ESC during startup).
   • Set USB as the first boot device and save changes.
   • Follow on-screen instructions to install Windows 10.

Method 2: Using Rufus (For ISO Files)

If you already have a Windows 10 ISO file, you can use Rufus (a free tool) to create a bootable USB.

Requirements:

• A USB drive (min. 8GB).
• Windows 10 ISO file.
• Rufus tool (download from rufus.ie).

Steps:

1. Download and Open Rufus:
   • Run Rufus.exe (no installation needed).
2. Select USB Drive:
   • Under “Device”, select your USB drive.
3. Select Windows 10 ISO:
   • Click “SELECT” and browse to your Windows 10 ISO file.
4. Partition Scheme:
   • For UEFI (modern PCs): Choose GPT.
   • For Legacy BIOS (older PCs): Choose MBR.
   • File System: FAT32 (for UEFI) or NTFS (for Legacy).
5. Start the Process:
   • Click START and wait for completion.
6. Boot from USB:
   • Restart PC, enter BIOS, and boot from USB to install Windows.

Method 3: Using Command Prompt (Manual Method)

If you prefer using CMD (advanced users only):

1. Insert USB and open Command Prompt as Admin.
2. Run: cmd Copy Download diskpart list disk select disk X (replace X with your USB disk number) clean create partition primary format fs=fat32 quick active assign exit
3. Mount the Windows 10 ISO and copy all files to the USB.

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Final Notes:

• Backup USB data before proceeding (it will be erased).
• For UEFI systems, use FAT32 formatting.
• If installation fails, check BIOS settings (Secure Boot / Legacy Mode).