Booting from a USB drive is a convenient way to install or run an operating system, especially when it comes to Windows 10. In this article, I will guide you through the steps of booting from a USB drive on a Windows 10 computer. I will provide detailed instructions and share my personal experiences and insights along the way.
Gathering the Required Materials
Before we dive into the process, make sure you have the following materials:
- A USB drive: Ensure that you have a USB drive with sufficient storage capacity to accommodate the Windows 10 installation files.
- Windows 10 ISO file: Visit the official Microsoft website or use a trusted source to download the Windows 10 ISO file.
- Windows 10 Media Creation Tool: This tool allows you to create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 10 ISO file. You can download it from the Microsoft website.
Creating a Bootable USB Drive
Once you have gathered all the necessary materials, follow these steps:
- Insert the USB drive into an available USB port on your Windows 10 computer.
- Open the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool that you downloaded earlier.
- Agree to the license terms and select the “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” option.
- Choose the desired language, edition, and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) for Windows 10.
- Select the “USB flash drive” option and click “Next”.
- Select the USB drive you inserted earlier from the list and click “Next”.
- The Media Creation Tool will now format the USB drive and copy the Windows 10 installation files to it. This process may take some time, so be patient.
- Once the process is complete, you will have a bootable USB drive with Windows 10.
Booting from the USB Drive
Now that you have a bootable USB drive, it’s time to boot your Windows 10 computer from it. Follow these steps:
- Insert the bootable USB drive into an available USB port on your Windows 10 computer.
- Restart your computer.
- During the startup process, look for a message that instructs you to press a specific key (such as F12 or Esc) to access the boot menu.
- Press the designated key to enter the boot menu.
- Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate to the “Boot” or “Boot Order” section of the menu.
- Move the USB drive to the top of the boot order list.
- Save the changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI firmware settings.
- Your computer will now restart and boot from the USB drive.
Installing or Running Windows 10
Congratulations! You have successfully booted from the USB drive. Now, depending on your needs, you can either install Windows 10 or run it without installing.
If you want to install Windows 10, follow the on-screen prompts and provide the necessary information to complete the installation process. Make sure to back up any important data before proceeding with the installation.
If you only want to run Windows 10 without installing it, select the “Run without installing” or “Live” option when prompted. This allows you to test Windows 10 and its features without making any permanent changes to your computer.
Conclusion
Booting from a USB drive is a useful skill to have, especially when it comes to installing or running Windows 10. In this article, we discussed the steps involved in creating a bootable USB drive and booting from it on a Windows 10 computer. Remember to gather the necessary materials, create the bootable USB drive using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, and follow the instructions for booting from the USB drive. Whether you’re installing Windows 10 or running it without installation, make sure to enjoy the experience and explore all the possibilities that Windows 10 has to offer!