How to Install Windows 10 from a Bootable USB Drive

Installing Windows 10 from a bootable USB drive is a cost-effective and straightforward method to get a fresh installation of the operating system. This guide will walk you through the process of creating a bootable USB drive, changing your computer's boot order, and finally, installing Windows from the USB.

Creating the Bootable USB Drive

To create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10, you need to download the Windows Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website. Follow these steps:

Visit Microsoft's Windows Media Creation Tool page. Start the download and run the tool after it completes. Follow the on-screen instructions to create the bootable USB drive. The tool will guide you through the process of selecting the source ISO file and the destination USB drive.

Alternatively, you can use other software like PowerISO or AnyBurn to create the bootable USB drive. Here’s how to do it using PowerISO:

Open PowerISO. Select Tools from the main menu. Choose Create bootable USB. A pop-up window will appear. Select your downloaded or available ISO file as the source and your USB drive as the destination. Click Start and wait for the process to complete.

Installing Windows from the USB Drive

Once you have a bootable USB drive, follow these steps to install Windows:

Plug in the bootable USB drive to your computer. Restart the computer. Access the UEFI or BIOS settings (usually by pressing a specific key like F1, F2, Esc, or Delete during startup). In the BIOS/UEFI settings, change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive. This means the USB drive should come before the hard drive in the boot order. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing F10 or according to your system's prompt. Your computer should now boot from the USB drive and start the Windows 10 installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

During the installation process, you'll be prompted to enter a product key. However, you can skip this step and install Windows without a key if desired. You can enter the key after the installation is complete to activate the operating system.

Additional Tips

If the installation restarts and you see the setup again, remove the USB drive, restart your computer, and it will resume the installation process. Once the installation is complete, you will see the Windows 10 desktop.

Conclusion

Installing Windows 10 from a bootable USB drive is a relatively simple task that can save you time and money. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can install Windows 10 on your computer effortlessly.