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How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive

How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive

create bootable windows 10 pendrive

Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 or 11 is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide: How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive

Prerequisites

  1. USB Drive: At least 8 GB of storage capacity.
  2. Windows ISO File: Download the Windows 10 or 11 ISO file from Microsoft’s official website.
  3. Rufus Tool: A free utility to create bootable USB drives. Download it from Rufus Website.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Drive

Option 1: Using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool

  1. Download and Install Tool:
    • Visit the Microsoft website and download the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 or 11.
  2. Run the Tool:
    • Launch the Media Creation Tool as Administrator.
  3. Choose Action:
    • Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.”
  4. Select Preferences:
    • Choose the language, edition (Windows 10 or 11), and architecture (64-bit/32-bit).
  5. Insert USB Drive:
    • Connect the USB drive to your computer.
  6. Create Bootable Drive:
    • Select the USB drive, and the tool will download Windows files and create the bootable drive.
  7. Completion:
    • Once done, eject the USB drive safely.
How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive
How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive

Option 2: Using Rufus

  1. Download and Install Rufus:
    • Install Rufus on your computer.
  2. Launch Rufus:
    • Insert the USB drive into your computer and open Rufus.
  3. Select ISO File:
    • Under “Boot Selection,” click on the “SELECT” button and browse to the Windows ISO file.
  4. Configure Settings:
    • Partition Scheme: GPT (for UEFI systems) or MBR (for legacy BIOS).
    • File System: NTFS (preferred).
  5. Start the Process:
    • Click “START” to begin creating the bootable USB.
    • Confirm if any warnings about data loss appear.
  6. Wait for Completion:
    • Rufus will complete the process and notify you when done.
  7. Eject USB:
    • Safely remove the USB drive.

Using the Bootable USB

  1. Insert USB:
    • Plug the USB drive into the computer you want to install Windows on.
  2. Enter Boot Menu:
    • Restart the computer and press the designated key (e.g., F2, F12, DEL, ESC) to access the boot menu.
  3. Select USB Drive:
    • Choose the USB drive from the list to boot from it.
  4. Follow Installation Instructions:
    • Proceed with the on-screen prompts to install Windows.

Here’s a detailed expansion on each method and troubleshooting tips for creating a bootable Windows USB drive:

How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive
How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive

Detailed Steps for Option 1: Using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool

1. Download the Media Creation Tool

2. Run the Tool

  • After downloading, double-click the Media Creation Tool file to launch it.
  • Accept the license agreement.

3. Select Your Purpose

  • Choose “Create installation media for another PC” and click Next.

4. Choose Settings

  • Select the preferred Language, Edition (e.g., Windows 10 Home/Pro), and Architecture (64-bit/32-bit).
    (Tip: If unsure, use the “Use the recommended options for this PC” checkbox.)

5. Select USB Drive

  • Insert your USB drive into the computer and ensure it’s detected.
  • Select USB flash drive as the media to use and click Next.

6. Download and Create Bootable USB

  • The tool will download Windows files and write them to your USB drive.
  • Once completed, you’ll see a confirmation message.

7. Finalize

  • Eject the USB drive safely by right-clicking its icon in File Explorer and selecting Eject.

Detailed Steps for Option 2: Using Rufus

1. Download Rufus

2. Prepare USB Drive

  • Insert your USB drive into your computer.
  • Ensure it has at least 8 GB of space and is empty (Rufus will erase all data).

3. Configure Rufus

  • Open Rufus and locate your USB drive in the Device dropdown.
  • Under Boot selection, click SELECT and choose your downloaded Windows ISO file.

4. Adjust Partition Scheme

  • Set the Partition scheme based on your system:
    • GPT for UEFI (modern systems).
    • MBR for legacy BIOS (older systems).

5. Start the Process

  • Click START, and Rufus will prompt you for confirmation.
  • Select your preferred Windows installation mode (Standard or with custom files).

6. Monitor Progress

  • Rufus will format the USB drive, copy Windows files, and create the bootable media.
  • Wait for the process to finish; it can take 10-20 minutes.

7. Eject the Drive

  • Once completed, eject the USB drive safely.
How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive
How to create bootable windows 10 pendrive

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. USB Drive Not Detected

  • Ensure your USB drive is properly inserted.
  • Try plugging it into a different USB port.
  • Use Disk Management to check if the drive is recognized (press Win + X → Disk Management).

2. Rufus Errors

  • Ensure the ISO file is not corrupted by re-downloading it.
  • Run Rufus as Administrator.
  • Check the log in Rufus for detailed error messages.

3. Cannot Boot from USB

  • Access the BIOS/UEFI settings and ensure USB boot is enabled.
  • Adjust the boot order to prioritize the USB drive.
  • Ensure the USB drive is fully formatted and bootable.

4. Slow Creation Process

  • Use a USB 3.0 drive and port for faster data transfer.
  • Close background applications during the creation process.

Using the Bootable USB for Installation

  1. Boot from USB
    • Restart the target computer and enter the boot menu by pressing the specific key (e.g., F2, F12, Esc, Del) during startup.
  2. Select Installation Options
    • Choose the language, time, and keyboard preferences, then click Next.
  3. Install Windows
    • Select Install Now and follow the on-screen instructions.
    • Enter your product key or skip it to activate later.
  4. Partition the Drive
    • Choose the partition where Windows will be installed. Format it if necessary.
  5. Complete Installation
    • Wait for the installation to finish. The system will restart several times during the process.

Would you like more help with troubleshooting or advanced configuration options?

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