Do you need to install Windows 7?
It is easy to boot Windows 10 (or Windows 7) from a USB drive. You can install a new version of Windows on your computer, laptop or media center in just minutes.
This article will show you how to install Windows 10 from a USB stick.
Why boot a Windows installation from USB?
A bootable USB stick can be a great option if your spare computer doesn’t have an optical disk or you don’t have DVDs.
A USB stick can be carried around and is compatible with all desktops and laptops. Although some computers may not have a DVD drive, all computers have a USB port.
A USB stick is a faster way to download Windows 10. A USB drive can be booted faster than an optical drive and it can also install the operating system faster.
You need at least 16GB of storage to install Windows 7 and Windows 10 from a USB flash drive. Before you proceed, make sure your USB flash stick has been formatted.
Ensure USB Stick Supports UEFI Boot
It is important to understand the differences between UEFI, and BIOS before you download a bootable Windows image.
Older computers rely on the basic output/output system (BIOS), to boot the operating systems and transfer data between devices and the operating system. Since the beginning of the last decade, UEFI (Unified Extensible Software Interface) has replaced bios, adding legacy support. UEFI is a tool that can help diagnose and repair your computer without the need for additional software or media. Windows 10 USB Installation
Fortunately, both legacy BIOS and UEFI are supported by the most popular methods for installing Windows 10. You should choose the option that works for your hardware.
Prepare the Windows 10 Bootable USB
Before you proceed, make sure to insert the USB flash drive formatted in your computer or laptop.
Are you ready to install Windows 10 There are many ways to install Windows 10, but the easiest is to use Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.
This can be downloaded by going to the Microsoft Windows 10 page and clicking the Download tool.
The tool can be saved to your computer. The tool is only 20MB so it shouldn’t take long to download on a fast internet connection. You will need an internet connection to create the Windows 10 USB installer.
Create a Bootable USB Installer for Windows 10
After downloading, launch the media creator tool and click Accept if prompted. Then:
- Choose For another computer, create installation media (USB flash drive or DVD, ISO file).
- Click Next to select the Language you prefer.
- Select the right Windows 10 Edition system architecture.
- Clear the box labeled “Make changes” The recommended options are for this computer
- Hit Next
- Select USB flash drive and then Next. Then, select the USB drive you want from the list.
- Click Next Again
The final step is to download the Windows 10 installation files.
While the USB Windows 10 bootable installer is being created, wait. It will take a while depending on how fast your internet is. It will take several gigabytes to install the data. You can download data from the library or work from your home if you don’t have an internet connection.
How to Install Windows 10 with a Bootable USB Drive
Once you have the media created, it is now possible to install Windows 10 via USB. Once the USB drive has been booted, you can remove it from your computer and then insert it into your target device.
Turn on the computer that you are installing Windows 10 and wait for the USB drive to be detected. Reboot the computer if this does not happen. Next, press the key to access the boot menu or UEFI/BIOS. After the USB device has been detected, select it to be the main boot device.
The Windows 10 installation media should be detected during the subsequent reboot. Now you are ready to install Windows 10.
After you have completed the wizard, Windows 10 should be installed. You should be patient as some of the installations might continue even after you log in. After installation, it’s worth checking for Windows updates ( Settings>> Updates & Security> Windows Update). This will ensure that you are running the most recent version of Windows 10.
How to install Windows 7 from a Bootable USB Drive
What if Windows 10 is too much for you? You can also use a USB flash drive to install Windows 7 if you have a valid Windows 7 license.
It’s a similar process, but older computers won’t have to worry about UEFI support. Windows 7 is an excellent choice for older PCs because it’s lightweight. The operating system will be discontinued in January 2020. You should upgrade to a more secure OS when it becomes available.
How to Reinstall Windows 10 from USB
You might think that you can simply reuse the USB drive after you have installed Windows 10 from the bootable USB. This is okay, but it may be worth keeping it as a Windows 10 repair and installation drive.
It’s simple. You can not only install Windows 10 directly from your drive but you can also reinstall Windows 10 using a USB stick. If Windows 10 does not behave as expected, the USB stick can be used to reinstall it.
Here are the steps to reinstall Windows 10 using your USB stick.
- Reinstall the computer that is in need of a reboot.
- Place the USB stick
- Turn on the computer
- Wait for Windows 10 to detect the disk. You may have to adjust the order of booting, as described above.
- To meet your needs, set the Language and Currency and Keyboard. The Next will follow.
- Do not click the Install button. Instead, click Repair Your Computer
- Select Troubleshoot > Reset this computer
- There are two options: Keep all my files or Take everything. Both options will allow Windows 10 to be reinstalled using the USB stick. One with your files retained and one without
After you have completed Windows 10 reinstallation, everything should be working as it was intended.
Keep Your Bootable Windows 10 Installation USB Drive Safe
It is easy to make a Windows USB drive that can be booted.
- Format a USB flash drive of 16GB or more
- Microsoft offers Windows 10 media creation software.
- To download Windows 10 installation files, run the media creation wizard
- Make the installation media
- Remove the USB flash drive
Windows 10 should provide trouble-free computing. However, it is a good idea not to lose the USB boot drive. You never know when a hard drive will crash or a partition table may be corrupted.
Windows 10’s boot drive contains various repair tools. The boot drive should be kept in a convenient place that can be quickly retrieved later for troubleshooting and reinstalling Windows.
