How To Create A Bootable Usb Windows 10

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by

Vector Linux
in

Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 can be a handy tool to have in your technical arsenal. Whether you’re looking to install a fresh copy of Windows, repair your current installation, or troubleshoot issues, having a bootable USB can save you time and effort. In this article, I will guide you through the steps to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10, offering personal touches and commentary along the way.

Gathering the Required Materials

Before we dive into the process, let’s make sure we have everything we need:

  1. A USB drive with at least 8GB of storage capacity.
  2. A Windows 10 ISO file. You can either download it directly from Microsoft’s website or use a previously downloaded file.
  3. A computer running Windows or macOS.

Step 1: Formatting the USB Drive

The first step is to format the USB drive to ensure it is compatible with the Windows 10 installation files. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Insert the USB drive into your computer.
  2. Open the Disk Management utility by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Disk Management.”
  3. Locate your USB drive in the list of available drives.
  4. Right-click on the USB drive and select “Format.”
  5. Choose the “FAT32” file system and give your USB drive a name.
  6. Click “OK” to start the formatting process.

Step 2: Creating the Bootable USB

Now that our USB drive is formatted correctly, we can proceed with creating the bootable USB. Here are the steps:

  1. Connect the USB drive to your computer.
  2. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Command Prompt (Admin).”
  3. In the Command Prompt window, type “diskpart” and hit Enter. This will open the DiskPart utility.
  4. Type “list disk” and hit Enter to view the list of available disks.
  5. Identify the number assigned to your USB drive. Make sure to double-check this step to avoid formatting the wrong disk.
  6. Type “select disk X” (replace X with the number assigned to your USB drive) and hit Enter.
  7. Type “clean” and hit Enter to remove any existing partitions on the USB drive.
  8. Type “create partition primary” and hit Enter to create a new primary partition on the USB drive.
  9. Type “format fs=ntfs quick” and hit Enter to format the USB drive with the NTFS file system.
  10. Type “active” and hit Enter to make the partition active.
  11. Type “assign” and hit Enter to assign a drive letter to the USB drive.
  12. Type “exit” and hit Enter to exit DiskPart.

Step 3: Copying Windows 10 Installation Files

With the USB drive prepared, it’s time to copy the Windows 10 installation files onto it:

  1. Mount the Windows 10 ISO file by double-clicking on it.
  2. Open File Explorer and navigate to the mounted ISO file.
  3. Copy all the files and folders from the ISO file to the USB drive.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully created a bootable USB drive for Windows 10. This versatile tool will come in handy for various troubleshooting and installation tasks. Remember to always keep your bootable USB drive in a safe place, as it can be a lifesaver in critical situations. Enjoy exploring the world of Windows 10 with your new bootable USB!