Creating a Bootable USB Drive for Windows 10 Installation

Windows 10 makes it easy to install the operating system on a new or existing PC using a USB drive. This guide will walk you through the process of creating a bootable USB drive, formatting the drive, and copying the necessary files. Follow these steps to ensure your installation is successful and your system is up to date.

What You Need

To create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10, you will need:

Windows installation media: This can be a .ISO file or a DVD A USB flash drive with at least 5GB of free space. It is recommended to use a 16GB or larger USB drive for better performance and health Techician PC: A Windows PC that can be used to format the USB drive Destination PC: The PC that you will install Windows 10 on

Step-by-Step Guide

This guide covers the traditional method, but we also discuss an alternative using Ventoy, which simplifies the process by eliminating the need to format the drive every time.

Method 1: Using a Technician PC

Prepare the USB Drive: Connect the USB flash drive to your technician PC. Open (Disk Management) by right-clicking on Start and selecting Disk Management. Select the partition on the USB drive (it should be highlighted with a green background). Right-click the partition and choose Format. Select the FAT32 file system. Note, FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB. If your WIM image is larger than 4GB, see 'If your Windows image is larger than 4GB' below. Mark the partition as active by right-clicking the partition again and selecting Mark Partition as Active. If this option is not available, you can use diskpart to mark it active. Copy Windows Setup Files: Use File Explorer to copy and paste the contents of your Windows product DVD or ISO file onto the USB flash drive. Optional: Add an Unattend File (Automation): If you want to automate the installation process, add an unattend file to the USB drive. For details, see 'Automate Windows Setup' below. Install Windows on New PC: Connect the USB flash drive to the destination PC. Power on the PC and use the Boot Menu key (usually Esc, F1, F2, or F12) to set the USB drive as the primary boot device. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.

Method 2: Using Ventoy

A more streamlined alternative to traditional bootable USB creation is Ventoy. Ventoy allows you to create a single bootable USB drive that can read multiple ISO files, eliminating the need to format and rewrite the USB drive each time.

Install Ventoy: Download and install Ventoy on your technician PC. Ventoy will populate the USB drive with a Ventoy directory. Place ISOs on USB: Copy your Windows 10 ISO file onto the Ventoy USB drive. The USB drive will automatically be bootable and ready for installation. Install Windows on New PC: Boot your destination PC from the USB drive and follow the on-screen installation instructions. Ventoy will handle the process without requiring additional steps.

Additional Tips

Check System Requirements: Ensure your technician PC meets the minimum system requirements for formatting and creating the USB drive. Verify ISO: Before copying files, verify the integrity of the Windows 10 ISO to ensure it is complete and uncorrupted. Backup Data: Make sure all important files on your technician PC are backed up before beginning the USB creation process.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 is a straightforward process. Using the methods described in this guide, you can ensure your system is updated and ready for installation. If you are setting up a new PC, a bootable USB drive is a versatile and efficient solution.

If you have any questions or run into issues, please refer to Microsoft's official documentation or seek assistance from a qualified professional.