Is it possible to install windows 10 from a flash drive. How to install a system from a hard drive
If XP and the seven already bear the title of legendary operating systems from Microsoft, then Windows 10 appeared relatively recently. Many users want to get such a novelty, but then the eternal question arises about installing Windows 10 from a USB flash drive? The use of a USB drive for this purpose has always been plagued by many difficulties, it is different from installing an OS from a CD. Fortunately, the problem can be solved, but for this you will have to prepare a little.
Create a bootable flash drive
At the very beginning of the process, you need to create a boot drive with the programs and files necessary to install the OS. In the case when Windows is licensed, then to create a bootable drive, you can use the official application from the company, which can be found on the Microsoft website.
Do not forget about the digit operating system, so you need to download the OS taking into account this indicator in the current version (32 or 64-bit). After downloading and running the utility, you need to click on "Create installation media for another PC", then you need to select the OS version and the language in which it will work.
An important point. If you have a license for the Home version, install Pro variant will not work, the OS simply cannot be activated. As for the bit depth, everything here is at the discretion of the user, even if you have x86, you can download x64.
The next step in creating a bootable drive is to select "USB flash drive" from the create menu. Then you just need to wait until all the files for installation "move" to the USB flash drive.
Using the utility from the official site, you can also get ISO image operating system, which can later be written to a disk or flash drive. By default, the program prompts the user to download exactly the version that will work best on the computer (taking into account specifications and version of the current OS).
Preparation process
Before you update Windows on your computer, you need to think about the safety of your personal data (especially those that are lying around on your desktop). It is best to move them to a separate flash drive or CD. You can also save them to a separate partition on your hard drive, which will not be formatted during the process.
Next, you need to put the boot from the drive. First you need to restart the computer (just turn off and then turn on the equipment is not worth it, in this mode, the fast boot features will interfere with the installation process, so you should use the reboot).
- Through BIOS.
- Through the Boot Menu.
BIOS settings
To enter this menu, press a certain key during boot. AT personal computers most often, BIOS is called by the Del button, and in laptops, when you press F2. The whole procedure is done in several stages:
boot menu
Using this method is considered more convenient. This is such a special menu, which is also called using certain keys. Most often it is F11, F12 or Esc. Further, a flash drive is also selected as a priority.
When the distribution kit of the new operating system is loaded, the message “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD” will appear on the screen with a black background. Then you need to press any key and wait until the installation starts.
Installing Windows 10
In the first installation window, the user can select the language, the keyboard input method, and even the time zone format. In principle, all settings can be left by default by selecting only Russian (or whatever you need) language.
Next, the installer will require you to enter a key. If purchased original disc with Windows 10, the secret combination of letters and numbers can be found on the box or in the confirmation email. There were also some changes in the policy of Microsoft since October 2015, you can enter license key for Windows 7 or 8.1. When there is no key, we simply skip the menu for entering it, the system will install without problems, but will not be activated. However, activation can be done after installation.
In the next window, a license agreement will appear, which ideally needs to be read, check the box to agree to its terms and click "Next".
Installation options
An important step is the choice of installation option, there are two of them at once:
- Update. It is recommended to install in this way when you need to save all the files and settings of the old OS, and it will be stored in the Windows old folder. This is a normal operating system update.
- Custom installation. This option provides only partial data storage. Also in the process, it will be possible to split the hard disk into special partitions and format them, that is, completely clear them.
Completing the installation
If you select the second option, a window will open in which you need to select a location for the new OS. When the choice is made, the traditional "Next" button is pressed. After that, the installation of OS files on the computer begins, upon completion of the process, a reboot will occur. This time, the computer will again ask you to press a key, but you should not do this. In this case, you only need to wait until the operating system boots not from a USB flash drive, but from a hard disk.
Then again you have to wait, without pressing anything, the system will automatically configure certain components. At this time, there may be a computer freeze, frequent reboots, etc. No action should be taken, this is a normal process.
At the next stage, the program will again ask you to enter the key, in this situation we do the same as in the previous one. Then there will be a setting of certain parameters, here you can stop at default settings systems.
Then you need to log into your account or create it locally (suitable in cases where there is no Internet). The final step will be the installation of standard programs and their configuration. The operating system will accompany the process with a notification that this will not take much time, but it all depends on the hardware. In some cases, the last stage can last up to half an hour.
More and more users prefer the Windows 10 operating system. It combines the functionality of the "seven" and the ergonomic design of Windows 8. It turned out to be such a hybrid, I must say, the product was really a success. Windows 10 has a number of advantages over both Windows 7 and Windows 8. And more and more users want to install it on their PC. Of the installation options, you can note the update to the latest current version and a clean install. Installation methods may also differ: this is an installation from USB and from CD-DVD. In the article we will analyze how to install Win 10 from a USB flash drive.
Reinstalling Windows 10 via flash drive
To do this, you first need to create a removable bootable media, in our case a USB flash drive, using the MediaCreationTool utility.
- Then we insert the USB flash drive into the connector of the computer or laptop and reboot the PC.
- Then we begin to actively press a key on the keyboard to get into the menu BIOS and these keys are mainly used - F1, F2, F10, Del, Esc .
These are the most common entry keys in BIOS but depending on the model motherboard computer or laptop, another key or key combination may be used. More details can be found on the website of the manufacturer of a specific motherboard model.
- After that, getting into BIOS, moving through the tabs, switch the OS boot priority to the USB drive.
- Save changes and restart your computer again. Now, when an inscription appears on the screen asking you to press any key on the keyboard to start the installation, press and wait.
There is another way how to install Windows 10 through a USB flash drive without BIOS a. Need to get on the menu Windows boot - boot menu . You can do this when you restart your computer by pressing the enter key in this menu. Most often this F12, F11, Esc , but there may be another option. You can try restarting your computer several times to try different options. Once in boot menu , moving the arrows on the keyboard to select removable media, in our case it is a USB flash drive.
Installing Windows 10 from a flash drive
- The installation will begin, select the language in the first window.
- We click the button " Install».
- In the next window, you need to enter the product license key and click " Further».
But, if on the equipment on which Windows 10 is being reinstalled, 10 was already installed (perhaps it was an update during the promotion period or a previously purchased OS) and for some reason it needs to be reinstalled (virus infection or software failure). Or you just plan to activate the product via the Internet later, then you need to select the button " I don't have an activation key».
- Select the version and click " Further».
- We accept the terms of the license agreement (you must read it beforehand).
- Next, switch to the download option " Custom installation for advanced users”, in which case the clean install with the ability to format the partition to install the OS.
The first option is to update, in this case all the files of your current system will not be deleted, but will be placed in a folder Windows old, with the help of which it is possible to roll back the system within 30 days, if for some reason reasons Windows 10 is not satisfied.
Clean install of Windows 10
Next, you need to select a partition for installation: if you plan to completely delete everything, completely all information from all disks, before installing Win 10 from a USB flash drive, feel free to delete all partitions, create new ones and format, in that order. If you plan to save information contained on other drives, but you need to format only the system drive, then you can format only the one where the installation will be performed. You can determine which disk you need by size (partitions - there can be several disks in the list, these are reserved partitions)
- We allocate desired disk and click " Further».
- The installation will begin and will take approximately 20 minutes.
- After that, the computer will automatically restart, we remove our installation drive so that the installation does not start again if the boot priority was switched to USB in the BIOS settings.
- Next, you should be patient, as loading services and configuring parameters will take some time.
- The computer will restart again, then you need to follow the prompts on the screen to configure your OS.
- Log in using account Microsoft. Or create it. Or create a local account by clicking on the " Offline account».
- Then you need to adjust the privacy settings, carefully study each item and disable everything unnecessary.
- The system will notify you about the progress of setting the parameters so that the user is not bored. It is worth being patient here, since the entire setup process can take about 30-40 minutes.
- After that, the desktop will load, and you can install drivers and software.
Now you know how to reinstall Windows 10 from a flash drive. The process, in fact, is simple, although it takes a little more time than, for example, with Windows installation 7. And there seem to be more settings, but everything happens with the help of system prompts, so it’s hard to get confused here.
Equipment requirements:
USB Drive Requirements:
1. Memory at least 16 GB (preferably 32 GB or more).
2. NTFS file system.
3. USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 interface (the second one is preferable, as it has a much higher read / write speed).
Computer requirements:
1. Processor with a frequency of at least 1 GHz.
2. RAM at least 2 GB.
3. Availability of a USB port with support for USB 2.0 or USB 3.0.
It is worth noting that booting the operating system from a USB drive is possible only if it is connected directly to the computer (booting from a drive connected to a USB hub is not possible).
Some remarks.
1. Due to the fact that the operation of the operating system requires a huge number of read / write operations, we recommend using it as a removable media for Windows entries 10 removable hard drive or SSD drive with a USB interface, since a flash drive that is not suitable for such a number of operations can quickly fail.
2. Please note that the speed of such an operating system when using USB 2.0 drives will be significantly lower than the speed of the system in normal mode (we recommend using USB 3.0).
3. When preparing the USB drive to write the operating system to it, it will be completely cleared, so pay attention that no valuable information is left on it.
Ways to install Windows 10 on a USB drive.
To solve our goal, we can use programs specially designed for this, such as WinNTSetup or PWBoot. Or do it with standard (built into the operating system) means. For the most inquisitive, we will also describe in detail the installation option using command line. In all cases, we need an image of the operating system. It must first be unzipped using some archiver, such as WinRar.
1 way. Installing Windows 10 on a USB drive using the WinNTSetup program.
The first time you run WinNTSetup, you will be prompted to download ADK files. We agree by clicking "OK".
In the main window of the program, set the installation parameters. In our case, we need a second tab. Here we first specify the path to the install.wim file, which is located in the folder with the unzipped system image. Then we indicate the disk on which the bootloader will be installed, and below, the disk on which the system will be installed - in both cases we indicate the USB drive (in our example, drive E). And, if OS optimization is not required, click the "Install" button.
If necessary, you can configure some parameters that optimize the installed operating system by clicking the "Optimize OS" button.
After clicking the "Install" button, an information window will appear as in the figure below. Without changing anything, click "OK".
If during the installation process the error "Failed to apply the system image! 0x52" appears as in the figure below,
then you need to check whether you have chosen correctly file system USB media. The disk must be formatted in NTFS system. After formatting to the desired file system, repeat the steps described above.
If there were no errors, then after 1.5 - 2 hours the unpacking of the archive will be completed, and you will be prompted to reboot. We agree and boot from USB.
Now it remains to boot from a USB drive, how to do this is described.
Video of installing Windows 10 using WinNTSetup
2nd method Install Windows 10 on a USB flash drive / hard drive using the command line.
Advantages this method ahead of others in that no additional software is required, it is implementable on any Windows versions(including Home and Professional), any drive with enough memory is suitable for installation. To install, we need only a few utilities built into the operating system, which we will work with using the command line interface and, of course, the image of the operating system. Windows systems 10.
So, start the command line and enter diskpart. The diskpart.exe utility window will open, where we sequentially enter the following commands (run the command by pressing the "Enter" key):
1. list disk– show a list of disks (we can determine the number of the USB drive we need by the size of the disk);
2. select disk 1– select disk 1 (In your case, this may be a different disk number. Choose the number very carefully so as not to delete anything superfluous);
3. clean– clear partition configuration;
4. create partition primary– creation of the main section;
5. format fs=ntfs quick- formatting the created partition (quick - for quick formatting);
6. active- make the section active;
7. assign letter=Z- assign a letter to the section (you can choose any other letter that is not occupied by other sections);
8. exit- terminate the application.
To perform the next step, create on drive C Windows folder togo and copy the image of the Windows 10 operating system (install.wim file), which is located in the Sources folder, there.
Now we need to deploy on our media Windows image 10. To do this, use the dism.exe utility. Run the command prompt again, but now with administrator privileges (click right key on the command line icon and from context menu select "Run as administrator").
First, let's find out what images are inside the install.wim file.
You can do this with the command:
dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:c:\windowstogo\install.wim, where c:\windowstogo\install.wim is the path to the previously copied image.
Now that we know the image number, we can start unpacking it on our drive. To do this, enter the command:
dism /apply-image /imagefile:c:\windowstogo\install.wim /index:1 /applydir:z:\, where c:\windowstogo\install.wim is the path to the operating system image, /index:1 is the image number, z is the partition letter on the USB drive.
On a medium power computer ( intel processor i3 2 GHz, RAM 4 GB), deploying the image to a USB 3.0 flash drive took about two hours.
It remains only to wait for the end of the deployment procedure. After the reboot, it will take another 15 minutes to prepare for the first launch.
The next step is to boot from the created media, how to do this is described.
Video of installing Windows 10 on a USB flash drive using the command line.
Method 3 - Windows To Go
Installation in this way is not suitable for everyone due to the fact that this option is available only to users of Windows 10 versions of Enterprise (Corporate) and Education (For educational institutions). The fact is that Windows to go was conceived for large organizations as a way to organize the activities of workplaces with the possibility of non-standard placement. In addition, not every media is suitable for writing an operating system to it c Windows to go, as there are certain requirements for the drives used for this.
The list of devices certified for Windows to go can be viewed on the MicroSoft technical portal (https://technet.microsoft.com/ru-ru/library/hh831833(v=ws.11).aspx#wtg_hardware). If your equipment does not meet the specified requirements, then try other installation methods.
To start Windows to go, use the built-in "search engine" and enter to go or windows to go there. Choose the one you need from the suggested options and follow the instructions of the wizard.
Friends, hello everyone! In this article, I want to show you how clean installing windows 10 from flash drive through BIOS. This whole thing will take place on a living example of a budgetary Lenovo laptop. After all, if you remember, then a special boot drive has already been prepared.
Therefore, now the whole process will be shown from beginning to end, so that even novice users will not have any questions. And we must immediately say that there is nothing abstruse in this matter, you just need to do it with your own hands once and all fears will go away on their own.
At the first step, you need to go to BIOS to install the initial boot from a pre-prepared USB flash drive. How to do this, I described in great detail in. In our case, the correct parameters are as follows.
Before exiting, do not forget to press the key combination to save the changes. The next step is to indicate your regional preferences. In general, no comments, just look at the picture below.
In the next window, we are waiting for "Windows Activation". Therefore, if you have a license key, you can enter it. If it is not there, or some pirated activator will be used in the future, click the item "I don't have a product key".
Now you will need to specify the version and bit depth of the operating system to be installed. Personally, I recommend the most complete, that is, select the item "Windows 10 Pro".
After that, you should accept several license agreements of the following form.
And here comes one of the key moments. Now you need to select the installation type. Since we want to carry out a clean installation, then, accordingly, we select the second item, which is called "Custom: only install Windows".
It is important to understand that in this case all information will be deleted from the system drive C, since in the future we are waiting for full formatting. But only after that you can be sure that the system has become really pristine chapter.
This is followed by the second key episode. Here you should specify the logical one on which the installation will be performed. Of course, logically, this would be the aforementioned section C, but how to correctly determine it in the installer?
If you look at the screenshot above, it becomes clear that we have a computer hard drive that has never been used, since it is not even properly labeled. Therefore, using the "Delete - Create - Format" buttons, we bring it to the desired form. Like this.
Note that "Disk 0 Partition 4" will be system drive C in our case, but "Disk 0 Partition 5" is a logical one, which is needed to store music, videos and other nonsense.
Therefore, if your hard drive has already been used before, then there may be several such additional partitions. Therefore, do not try to format them, otherwise you will lose all data.
Let's once again consolidate this common truth: it is imperative to format only the partition on which Windows 10 will be installed cleanly. You can, of course, additional "fix", but this is done if the process is fully understood, so that later it would not be a shame for the lost information .
And now let's touch on the items "Disk 0 Partition 1-2-3" in more detail. As you can see in the picture above, they take from 16 to 450 MB. So, these are service hidden partitions that are automatically created by Windows 10. They are needed to store system files and backups. Of course, we do not take them into account and, in general, do not touch them.
As a result, after all the above manipulations, the process of copying files should start. I will say right away that it will be necessary to be patient here, since it will not be possible to quickly skip this stage.
Upon completion, the PC should reboot and setup will begin various services. First, you will be prompted to select your country of residence, language, and keyboard layout.
Then all available Wi-Fi networks will be detected. If there is a desire, then you can immediately. In general, it is very cool when the system immediately activates network adapters laptop. In the future, this will greatly facilitate the installation of drivers from the Internet.
If for some reason you want to postpone this operation until later, select the "Skip for now" option. In the next step, the installer will ask you to enter an arbitrary account name and . By the way, the latter can not even be specified, just leave the line empty.
Next, the settings for some of the functions that Web users have nicknamed as "following a person" will be proposed. What to leave here and what to turn off is up to you.
After that, you will need to wait a bit, then the system will again go to reboot. But this is the last time. And here it is, so much desired desktop. This means that we have succeeded!
Therefore, now we can safely say that a clean installation of Windows 10 from a USB flash drive through BIOS was successful. What is left to do now? Of course, you need to update all device drivers, because some of them may not be in the installer. I strongly recommend here.
Then it remains only to install the necessary programs. Which ones and in what quantity you will think for yourself, but I will tell you about an interesting way to do it online in. So stay tuned for blog updates. And in conclusion, let's watch an interesting video.
Using USB stick, easy to reinstall latest Windows 10 on any desktop computer or laptop. In the modern world, flash drives are very popular, of course, they can be used to reinstall any operating system. To know how to reinstall Windows 10 from a flash drive, you do not have to be a programmer or other cool IT specialist. You can reinstall the operating system yourself by reading this detailed instructions. We are talking specifically about Windows 10, although the process is not much different from installing Windows 8 or 7.
The instruction is written on the example of an Asus laptop, so the screenshots will match. This article is suitable for those who are going to install Windows 10 on a computer without an operating system on it, instead of an existing operating system, or who want to install Windows 10 next to an existing operating system. The article provides instructions for installing Windows 10 from scratch, but not for updating an operating system already on the device.
For laptop owners, there are many articles on how to install Windows 10 on any model.
The procedure is divided into sections. The goal is not to confuse completely inexperienced users.
How to burn Windows 10 to a drive
We are preparing a USB flash drive, on which OS version 10 will be loaded. Why not download software, developed by Microsoft - Media Creation Tool. This application is available on the official Microsoft website.
After installing and running the program, you must select the item "Create an installation drive for another computer." You should select the language, version of the operating system and its architecture, select the media (in this case, a flash drive). After that, the download of the Windows 10 image will begin, copying it to the USB drive.
It's not hard to find on the internet various ways writing the operating system to a flash drive. Programs such as WinSetupFromUSB, UltraISO will help you transfer the downloaded operating system image to a USB flash drive.
Information on drive C
If you're installing Windows 10 on a new device that doesn't have personal data, you can skip this step and move on. If the laptop or computer contains personal information that needs to be saved, then it should be transferred to another hard drive. When installing a new operating system, all information from drive C will be deleted, that is, it will be formatted. In addition, files from the My Documents folder should be transferred, for example, to hard drive D, otherwise they will also be lost. good option will copy all personal information to a separate flash drive. This guarantees its safety.
Tip: Before starting the reinstallation, write down the size of the C drive and the unallocated space on a piece of paper. This information useful during installation in order not to accidentally install the operating system on disk D. In this case, all data from the disk will be irretrievably lost.
So all important information transferred from drive C, so you can start Windows installation 10 from a flash drive.
Settings for booting OS from a USB flash drive
To start the installation of Windows 10, you need to boot a laptop or desktop computer from a flash drive. When using a regular disk, just insert it into the computer drive and reboot. Starting the installation can be automatic after the reboot is complete. When Press any key to boot from CD or DVD appears, you must immediately press any key, then the installation of the operating system will begin.
- Using the Boot Menu is a more understandable and simple option. We reboot the device, immediately press the Esc button (for Asus laptops, there may be differences for other models). After that, a dialog box appears where you need to select a USB drive with a loaded operating system. Key combinations may vary between laptop manufacturers. For Enable Boot Menu press F11, Esc, F12, F8.
- When choosing settings in the BIOS, you must put the flash drive in the first place (or drive, depending on which boot option is planned). Please note that the USB drive must be connected to the device before entering the BIOS. The procedure may differ depending on the BIOS version on the device. For example, the old variant with a gray-blue background and working only with a keyboard, or a UEFI look with a modern appearance and the ability to control the mouse, not the keyboard.
How to reinstall Windows 10 from a flash drive: step one
After starting to boot the operating system from a flash drive, you must specify the language, currency and time format, and keyboard layout (or data entry method). Click the Next button in the lower right corner.
Click "Install" (shown in the screenshot below).
The next screen prompts you to enter your product key.
- We enter the key if the OS was purchased officially.
- If Windows 7, 8 (8.1) was previously installed, namely licensed, with a key (not earlier than 11/12/2015), then you can try to enter it. The installation version must be downloaded from Microsoft after November 12, 2015.
- If the key is missing, then select the appropriate button at the very bottom of the screen.
When recording to USB two Windows options 10, such as x64 and x86 or Pro and Home, you will need to select one of them before starting the installation. Click "Next"
After that, you are invited to read and accept the license agreement. Reading this agreement or not is the choice of everyone. In the box "I accept the terms of the agreement" it is necessary to check the box, otherwise further installation will not work.
After that, you are prompted to select a custom installation of Windows. The first option (Updating the system, in the screenshot below) is not suitable, since this article is about installing the OS from scratch.
Where to install Windows 10: choosing a partition for installation
One of the most important steps. If with hard drive all important information has already been copied, then you can delete all the partitions shown. After that, all the necessary sections are created again using the "Create" button. From the newly created partitions, you need to select one for installing Windows 10.
Suppose that Windows is already installed on the computer, partitions are defined, then it remains only to click on the one that corresponds to drive C. The size of this disk was recorded earlier (recall the preparation for reinstallation), so it will not be difficult to identify it. If in doubt, we advise you to stop the download and recheck the size of the C drive. Select desired section, click Format, and then click Next.
The names of the sections in the proposed screenshot may differ, as they depend on the brand of the computer and laptop. The main guideline in this case is the size of the partitions.
If an error occurs - the wrong partition is selected, then another system will be installed. Moreover, when you turn on the computer, you must click on the name of the OS that you are going to run.
The appearance of an error
A detailed description of the solution when the error “Windows cannot be installed to the partition ...” appears is easily found on the Internet. Several solutions are offered. For example, to avoid this situation, you can select a non-UEFI-signed flash drive at boot.
File copying will start as soon as a partition is selected. You can follow the installation process by the green checkboxes next to the corresponding item.
When the computer finishes downloading data from the flash drive, it will automatic reboot devices.
If the installation of Windows 10 was carried out from a USB flash drive and the boot was via the BIOS, then as soon as the computer reboots, the system will boot again. All the required data has already been transferred to the device, so you can simply remove the USB flash drive from your computer or laptop. Next, the device will reboot again and installation will begin, but from the hard drive.
Next, the computer will prepare for installation, the settings will be configured. You must enter the key again. If the key is available, then enter. If not, select "Do it later" (in the lower left corner). Click "Next".
The next step is to connect to the wireless WiFi networks(if there is one in range). Then there are two options: come up with a username and password and register, or enter a username and password already an existing record. If there is no Wi-Fi connection and you can only make a local account, then you should skip this item (in the lower left corner).
During the installation, it is possible to manually select the desired parameters using the "Settings" button. satisfied standard parameters? Select the appropriate item - "Use default settings". Which items include the standard parameters is described in detail in the screenshot. We advise you to familiarize yourself with them.
After that, you need to create a regular account for the device to work. If there is a network connection, then we go to the existing Microsoft account.
You can start installing drivers and all kinds of utilities. The advantage is that Windows 10 independently selects and even installs almost all the drivers necessary for operation. Unfortunately, this scenario is rare. Finding and installing drivers most often takes time.
You should start searching for drivers from the official website of the manufacturer of the device and its components (motherboard, for example). A significant disadvantage is the lack Windows drivers 10 under specific model laptop or other device.
At any search engine you can easily find many useful articles on further personalizing the Windows 10 interface.
Many users are interested in how to reinstall Windows 10 from a flash drive: how to properly boot the operating system or which partition to choose for correct installation. This instruction gives a clear description of all activities. After reading this article, do reinstalling Windows 10 won't be difficult. Good luck!