How To Install Windows 10 From USB (2022)

Summary

This tutorial guides you through installing Windows 10 from a USB drive. It starts with downloading the Windows 10 installation tool from Microsoft's website and creating a bootable USB drive with at least 8GB capacity. The process includes setting up the installation media, selecting the USB drive, and ensuring it's recognized by the BIOS. After booting from the USB, users can select their language, time zone, and input preferences, then choose whether to enter a product key or proceed without one. The script details the installation steps, including choosing the hard drive for installation and waiting for the setup to complete, culminating in a fully customized Windows 10 desktop.

Takeaways

• 💻 Start by preparing a computer to create a bootable USB drive.
• 🔍 Search for 'Windows 10 download' using a web browser.
• 📥 Download the Windows 10 installation tool from Microsoft.com.
• 📝 Agree to the terms and conditions to proceed with the installation.
• 📀 Choose 'Create installation media' for a USB device instead of direct installation.
• 🔧 Adjust recommended settings for language and OS version if necessary.
• 🔄 Ensure the USB drive is formatted to FAT32 if it's not recognized.
• ⏳ Wait for the tool to download necessary files for the installation media.
• 🖥️ Insert the bootable USB into the target PC and ensure no other USB drives are connected.
• 🔄 Access the PC's BIOS to select the USB drive as the boot option.
• 🔑 Enter the Windows 10 activation key if available, or proceed without it.
• 💾 Select the hard drive for the Windows 10 installation and wait for the process to complete.
• 🔄 Do not interrupt the boot process during the installation or restart.
• 🎉 Follow the setup prompts to customize Windows 10 and reach the desktop.

Q & A

What is the minimum capacity required for the USB drive to create a boot drive for Windows 10?

The USB drive should have a capacity of at least 8 gigabytes.

Where should I search for the 'Windows 10 download' to get the installation tool?

You should search for 'Windows 10 download' in your browser and click on the result from Microsoft.com.

What should I click after downloading the Windows 10 installation tool?

After downloading, you should run the installation and click 'Yes' to continue, then agree to the terms and conditions.

How do I select the option to create installation media instead of installing Windows 10 directly?

During the setup, choose 'Create installation media' instead of the direct installation option.

Can I change the language or system architecture of the installation media?

Yes, you can change the language of the OS or switch to a 32-bit version if needed.

What should I do if my USB drive does not appear in the list during the creation of the boot drive?

If the USB drive doesn't appear, you should refresh the drive list. If it still doesn't show up, try formatting it to FAT32.

How long does it take for the creation tool to download the necessary files for the boot drive?

The time it takes will vary, but you should wait a few minutes for the process to complete.

What should I do after creating the boot drive and before inserting it into the PC for installation?

Ensure no other USB drives are plugged in and then boot up your PC. It should load into the Windows 10 installer automatically.

How can I access the PC's BIOS to ensure the USB drive is selected for booting?

You can usually access the BIOS by tapping the delete key while the PC boots up.

Do I need a product key to install Windows 10 from the USB drive?

While having a product key is preferred, you can still install Windows 10 by clicking 'I don't have a product key' and entering it later.

What should I do if the PC does not automatically restart after the installation is complete?

If the PC does not restart, do not interrupt the boot process by shutting down or unplugging the PC. Wait for it to boot up automatically.

Once the Windows 10 setup is complete, what can I expect to see?

After the setup, you should land at the Windows 10 setup screen where you can customize the OS to your preference.

Outlines

00:00

📥 Preparing the Windows 10 USB Installation Media

This paragraph outlines the initial steps for creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 installation. It begins with the requirement of a computer and a blank USB drive with at least 8GB capacity. The user is guided to download the Windows 10 installation tool from Microsoft's official website, run the tool, and agree to the terms and conditions. The process involves selecting the 'Create installation media' option, customizing the language and bit version if necessary, and choosing the USB flash drive for the installation files. The tool will then download the necessary files to the USB drive, completing the preparation for the installation media.

🔄 Booting from the Windows 10 USB Drive

This section details the process of booting a PC from the prepared Windows 10 USB drive. It advises removing other USB drives to avoid confusion and ensuring the PC is set to boot from the USB by accessing the BIOS, typically by pressing the delete key during startup. The user is then instructed to select their language, time zone, and keyboard layout before proceeding to the installation setup. The paragraph also covers the optional step of entering a product key if available, or continuing the installation without one, as Windows 10 can be activated later.

💿 Installing Windows 10 onto the Hard Drive

The paragraph describes the steps to install Windows 10 onto the desired hard drive. It starts with selecting the hard drive for installation and proceeding to the setup process. The user is informed that the installation will take some time and that the PC will automatically restart upon completion. It emphasizes the importance of not interrupting the boot process during this time. Once the PC restarts, the user is guided through the Windows 10 setup screen where they can customize the operating system according to their preferences. The paragraph concludes with the successful completion of the setup, leading to a new Windows 10 desktop ready for use.

Keywords

💡USB drive

A USB drive, also known as a flash drive, is a portable storage device that plugs into a computer's USB port. In the context of the video, a USB drive with at least 8 gigabytes of capacity is required to host the Windows 10 installation files. The script mentions formatting the drive to FAT32 if it doesn't show up during the creation process, which is an essential step for preparing the bootable media.

💡Windows 10 download

This refers to the process of obtaining the installation files for the Windows 10 operating system. The script instructs viewers to search for 'Windows 10 download' in a browser and select the download from Microsoft's official website. This is a crucial step as it ensures that the user gets genuine and secure installation files for setting up the OS.

💡Installation media

Installation media refers to the physical or virtual storage medium used to install an operating system or software. In the script, the term is used when selecting the option to 'Create installation media' instead of installing Windows 10 directly on the computer. This indicates the user's intention to use a USB flash drive as the medium for the OS installation.

💡BIOS

BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the booting process (startup) of a PC. The script mentions accessing the BIOS to ensure that the USB drive is selected for booting, which is necessary for the Windows 10 installer to load when the PC starts up.

💡Product key

A product key is a unique code used to activate and verify a software product, such as an operating system. In the script, the user is asked to enter a Windows 10 product key during installation. If the user does not have one, they can still proceed with the installation by clicking 'I don't have a product key,' allowing them to use Windows 10 without activation for a limited time.

💡Boot drive

A boot drive is a storage device that contains the operating system and is used to start the computer. The script describes creating a boot drive on a USB flash drive, which will be used to install Windows 10 on a target PC. The boot drive is essential for the installation process as it initiates the setup of the operating system.

💡Activation

Activation in the context of software refers to the process of confirming the legitimacy of the software copy and its eligibility for updates and support. The script explains that an activation key is required for Windows 10, but it also clarifies that the installation can proceed without one, allowing the user to activate it later.

💡Hard drive

A hard drive is a data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information in a computer. The script mentions choosing the hard drive where Windows 10 will be installed. This is an important decision as it determines where the operating system and user files will be stored on the computer.

💡Format

Formatting is the process of preparing a storage device, such as a USB drive or hard drive, for use by erasing all data and setting up a new file system. In the script, it is suggested to format the USB drive to FAT32 if it doesn't appear during the installation media creation, which is a necessary step for the drive to be recognized as a bootable device.

💡OS

OS stands for Operating System, which is the software that manages computer hardware resources and provides common services for computer programs. The script's main theme revolves around installing a new OS, specifically Windows 10, onto a PC using a USB drive as the installation media.

💡Customize

Customizing refers to the process of modifying or personalizing settings and features of a system or software to suit individual preferences. The script concludes with the user being able to customize the newly installed Windows 10 OS according to their preferences, which includes setting up language, time zone, and keyboard input.

Highlights

Need a computer to create a boot drive.

Use a blank USB drive with at least 8GB capacity.

Search for 'Windows 10 download' in your browser.

Download the tool from Microsoft.com.

Run the installation and agree to terms and conditions.

Select 'Create installation media' for a USB device.

Choose language and OS version settings.

Select 'USB flash drive' for installation media.

Ensure the USB drive is formatted to FAT32 if not recognized.

Wait for the tool to download necessary files.

Insert the boot drive into the PC to install Windows.

Ensure no other USB drives are connected during installation.

Access BIOS to select the USB drive as the boot device.

Select language, time zone, and keyboard input during setup.

Enter the activation key or proceed without one.

Choose the hard drive for Windows 10 installation.

Wait for Windows 10 to install and avoid interrupting the process.

Follow setup prompts to customize Windows 10.

Complete the setup to reach the Windows 10 desktop.

Transcripts

Here's how to install Windows 10 from USB.

Use the clickable sections below to skip to a specific step.

Before we get started, we'll need a computer

to create our boot drive on.

Grab a blank USB drive

with a capacity of at least 8 gigabytes

to host those files.

On your computer, go to your browser

and search for "Windows 10 download."

Click on the result from Microsoft.com

and click "Download tool now."

Once downloaded, run the installation.

Click "Yes" to continue,

then agree to the terms and conditions.

As we're going to run the install off a USB device,

select "Create installation media"

instead of installing directly.

Recommended settings should be fine,

but we can change the language of the OS

or change to 32-bit depending on our system.

To create the USB install,

select "USB flash drive" and click "Next."

With your USB drive inserted into the computer,

it should appear under the list.

If not, refresh the drive list.

If it isn't showing up, try formatting it to FAT32.

Select the drive and continue.

Wait a few minutes while the creation tool

downloads the necessary files.

When it's done, click "Finish."

Now that our boot drive is ready,

insert it into the PC you'd like to install Windows to.

Make sure no other USB drives are plugged in.

Then boot up your PC.

It should load right into the Windows 10 installer.

If it doesn't, check to make sure that the USB drive

is selected in the PC's BIOS.

You can usually access this by tapping your delete key

while the PC boots up.

Select your language, time zone, and keyboard input

and click "Next"

and then "Install now."

You'll be asked to enter an activation key.

If you've purchased a copy of Windows 10, enter it now.

If not, you can still install by clicking

"I don't have a product key."

Windows 10 will run perfectly fine without a key for now.

Here, you can choose the hard drive

you want to install Windows onto and click "Next.

Now wait as Windows 10 installs to your PC.

When it's done, your PC should automatically restart.

Do not interrupt the boot process by shutting down

or unplugging your PC during this process.

Once it's finally booted up,

we should land at the Windows 10 setup screen.

From here, you can customize the OS to your preference.

With the setup prompts complete,

we're now at the desktop with a new copy

of Windows 10 ready to go.