Creating a bootable USB flash drive for Windows 10 is a straightforward process that can be accomplished using either software or the Command Prompt. For those who prefer a user-friendly approach, using a tool like Rufus is the most efficient method.
- To begin, download Rufus and open the executable file.
- Connect your USB drive to your computer, and the software will detect it automatically.
- Select the “Create a bootable USB drive” option and choose “ISO Image” from the dropdown menu.
- Click the button next to the dropdown to locate and select the Windows 10 ISO file you wish to use.
- Finally, click “Start” and allow Rufus to create your bootable USB drive.
For more advanced users, the Command Prompt provides an alternative method for creating a bootable USB drive.
- Start by plugging in your USB drive.
- Launch the Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Open the disk management utility by typing “diskpart” and pressing Enter.
- Display the available disks by typing “list disk” and hitting Enter.
- Select your USB drive by typing “select disk #” (replace “#” with your disk number) and pressing Enter.
- Clean the USB drive by typing “clean” and hitting Enter.
- Create a bootable partition by typing “create partition primary” and pressing Enter.
- Select the newly created partition by typing “select partition 1” and hitting Enter.
- Activate the partition by typing “active” and pressing Enter.
- Format the USB drive by typing “format fs=fat32” and hitting Enter.
- Assign a letter to your USB drive by typing “assign” and pressing Enter.
- Finally, copy all the Windows 10 files from an extracted ISO or a Windows 10 disk and paste them into your USB drive. Your bootable USB drive is now ready to install Windows 10 on your device.
While both methods are effective, using Rufus is recommended for less experienced users to ensure a smooth and error-free process.