How to make Windows 10 bootable USB flash drive

Discussion in 'Windows 10' started by littledebbie, Jun 2, 2016.

  1. littledebbie

    littledebbie MDL Member

    Aug 30, 2009
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    I did do searches and I see a lot of various posts about this topic...but a lot of the posts were quite old and dealt with Windows 7/8...so I don't know if anything's changed since then.

    Since a lot of computers don't seem to have CD drives now a days, I'd like to learn how to create bootable USB drives with Windows 10 images....I'd prefer to actually choose which ISO I use...I know there's the official Windows 10 media creator, but it really doesn't let you choose which ISO to use...it just downloads one from Microsoft

    So, I've heard of pendriveinstaller, Rufus, and a few others. However, some of them have all kinds of options to choose from (UEFI settings, format for the flash drive, etc.)...this kind of gets me a bit confused. Do I need to check if the PC I'm installing on is UEFI or Legacy before I create the flash drive? No clue.

    Is there a reliable way to create a Windows 10 bootable flash drive with the ISO I want? Can anyone give me some guidance on the matter? I'd prefer a way where I can verify the integrity of the image once it's put on the drive...kind of like most DVD burning software has a "verify contents of the disc" that you can select to run at the end of the burning of the ISO...

    I suppose I could always just get an external DVD drive (USB)...but I'd rather not spend money if I don't have to.

    Thanks in advance for your thoughts and information.
     
  2. NICK@NUMBER11

    NICK@NUMBER11 MDL Expert

    Mar 23, 2010
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    I used UltraISO and just extract the image to a formatted USB stick :rolleyes:
     
  3. MrMagic

    MrMagic MDL Guru

    Feb 13, 2012
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    #3 MrMagic, Jun 2, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2016
    Probably the best way to learn that, would be to read up on different types of installations

    BIOS vs UEFI
    MBR vs GPT

    Once you know that, programs like Rufus will make sense
     
  4. шдяу183

    шдяу183 MDL Novice

    Jul 23, 2015
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    The best is - run cmd command -diskpart -and use next commands:
    list disk
    select disk 1 (you flash drive letter)
    clean
    create partition primary
    active
    format fs=ntfs quick ( for uefi/gpt - format fs=fat32 quick)
    assign
    exit

    And copy all win 10 distributive files on flash drive.
     
  5. cuteee

    cuteee MDL Guru

    Oct 13, 2012
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    Wait to Win10 RS1 RTM
    I saw windows to go in Control panel build 14352.
     
  6. garlic

    garlic MDL Novice

    Nov 27, 2015
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    How to create a dual boot mode Windows 8/10 USB flash drive which can support both UEFI mode and Legacy BIOS mode?

    - Connect your USB flash drive.
    - Open a command prompt as administrator and type (or copy and paste) the following commands.

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk # (Replace # with your target USB flash drive)
    clean
    create partition primary
    format fs=fat32 quick (You must use FAT32 file system)
    active
    exit

    - In Windows 8/10, mount the Windows 8/10 ISO image file by right-clicking the ISO image file and choosing Mount. If you don’t see Mount command from the context menu, go to "Open with" -> "Windows Explorer" instead.
    - Select everything in the mounted ISO image file, and copy them into the USB flash drive you prepared earlier.
     
  7. kaljukass

    kaljukass MDL Guru

    Nov 26, 2012
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    NICK@NUMBER11 is absolutely correct, there is not needed any other chemistry.
     
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  8. MrMagic

    MrMagic MDL Guru

    Feb 13, 2012
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    UltraISO is not free, and adds more steps to the process than just using Rufus, which is free
     
  9. LatinMcG

    LatinMcG Bios Borker

    Feb 27, 2011
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    if pc isnt MBR CSM then the copy to usb works as it doesnt need a MBR on usb if pc is EFI on Secureboot Off
     
  10. lgj1952

    lgj1952 MDL Member

    Jul 24, 2009
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    #12 lgj1952, Jun 5, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2016
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  11. dhjohns

    dhjohns MDL Guru

    Sep 5, 2013
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    This is what I do all the time. Open Windows PowerShell as admin. Type in diskpart (assume enter each time.) List disk. Sel disk (number of your usb disk.) Clean. create part pri. sel part 1. format fs=ntfs quick or format fs=fat32 quick for uefi. assign. active. exit. exit. Now I mount my ISO, and copy all files to USB drive. Now you can boot to it, and install Windows. For a new release you need just delete old files, and copy over new ones.
     
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  12. lgj1952

    lgj1952 MDL Member

    Jul 24, 2009
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    #15 lgj1952, Jun 6, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2016
    I do not the DISKPART thing, only format fat32 and adds the files to the memory.
    Works with both legacy and UEFI
     
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  13. bodmas

    bodmas MDL Senior Member

    Jul 26, 2011
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  14. MrG

    MrG MDL Expert

    May 31, 2010
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    Are you wanting to build a Windows 2 Go external flash drive.
    How about using a 500 GB WD Passport drive, would that qualify for your request?

    I have Win8.1 installed on the above, it also will install updates, really don't want Win10 on it though or I would test updating to Win10 for you.
    On the Test rig2 I have Win8.1 x64 Enterprise (legal) installed (W2G available in Ctrl Pnl), that's how I have the W2G installed on the above Passport drive.
     
  15. lgj1952

    lgj1952 MDL Member

    Jul 24, 2009
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    #18 lgj1952, Jun 6, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2016
    Try it yourself, do not run the whole installation procedure if you are not going to reinstall :D
     
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  16. LatinMcG

    LatinMcG Bios Borker

    Feb 27, 2011
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    unless its EFI not mbr csm type.
    efi dont need active or mbr.