Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system was released on July 15, 2015. It is the follow-up to Windows 8.1. OneNote, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are all available online. This operating system’s main feature is that it can run on a variety of devices, including desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones.
In this article, we’ll go over how to install Windows 10 from a USB drive, what the hardware requirements are, the benefits of installing Windows 10, why you need to install Windows 10 from a USB drive, and how to install a new Windows without using data. In a nutshell, this article is all about installing Windows 10 using a USB drive.
Things you need to install Windows from USB
Over the years, Microsoft has made a lot of changes to its operating systems. If you are still working on an older OS, now is the perfect time to make the switch to the new one. Microsoft has also offered a lot of simple methods to install new versions. But if we talk about Windows 10, then you can easily install it by using a bootable USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file.
However, most modern computers or laptops don’t support CD or DVD drives. A USB is the solution to this problem. Because USB is compatible with every computer and laptop, you can easily turn a USB into a bootable installation drive.
Here are some things that you require before installing Windows from USB.
- You will need a USB flash drive that must be at least 4GB in size. You should always remember that if there is some data on the drive, then it will be erased during the installation process. It is always recommended to back up anything that may have been saved on your drive before you start the installation.
- A working Windows PC is also required to format the USB flash drive.
- You also need a Windows product key before installation.
Hardware Requirements of Windows 10
Now let’s talk about some hardware requirements you must have installed before installing Windows 10.
- You will need at least 16 GB of free space on your hard drive if you are going to install the 32-bit version of Windows 10, but in the case of the 62-bit version of Windows 10, you will need at least 20 GB of free space on the hard drive.
- In the case of the processor, you will need 1 GB of it if you are going to install the 32-bit version of Windows 10. On the other hand, if you are going to install the 62-bit version of Windows 10, then you will need 2 GB of it.
- At least 1 GB of RAM for a 32-bit version of Windows 10 is required, and in the case of a 64-bit version, 2 GB of RAM is a must.
- If we talk about graphics cards, Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics with the WDDM driver is a must.
Benefits of Installing Windows 10
Windows 10 has a very appealing user interface and a slew of new features that are completely free to use. Furthermore, whether you’re using a PC, a smartphone, or a tablet, you’ll always need a compatible operating system to work with. Windows 10 possesses all of the characteristics of a compatible operating system. In this section, we will go over some of the advantages of installing Windows 10.
1. Advanced Security Features
Windows 10 comes with advanced security features like Windows Hello, Microsoft Defender, and Automatic Updates. These features assure you of full proof of security and protection of your data when moving from device to device.
2. Start Menu
In the Start Menu of Windows 10, you get two panels side by side. The left column shows the pinned, recently used apps, and the right panel shows live tiles, meaning large icons, which further include mail, calendar, and weather information. You can also customize, resize, and reorganize these tiles with the help of in-built apps.
3. Cortana
Cortana, Microsoft’s digital assistant, is available on Windows 10. If you want to do some work with your voice instead of traditional methods of clicking or typing, then Cortana can do it easily with your voice commands. With the help of Cortana, you can search your hard drive for some specific files, launch PowerPoint presentations, or send an email with the help of Cortana.
4. Improved Device Management
Windows 10 provides you with built-in mobile device management capabilities and cloud-based functionalities. This gives you more control over Windows devices.
5. A Better Browser
Microsoft Edge is the new default browser for Windows 10. This new browser improves the compatibility and speed of the applications. This gives you a better browsing experience.
Why do you need to install Windows Operating System from USB?
There are many options available to install Windows, but which one to choose depends on many factors. Here, we are discussing why we choose a USB for the installation of Windows. Additionally, we are also going to discuss the benefits of USB.
1. Faster Read Write Capabilities
The read and write speed of a USB is much faster than a CD or DVD. This feature allows for a faster installation and saves you time.
2. Portability
USB drives are easy to carry and are much tinier than hard drives. If you work on different computers, you may find it difficult to work without the necessary tools you need. You can solve this issue by putting Windows on a USB flash drive, and then you can access your data at any time.
3. Affordable
USB drives are cost-effective and affordable. If we compare the price with that of a hard drive, the USB is the cheaper option. As a result, using a USB to install Windows is a better option.
4. Supportive
Most modern computers or laptops don’t support CD/DVD drives. So it is the best option to use USB for installation because it supports all types of devices.
5. Durability
USB drives are more durable compared to other installation options. Your installations are safe for a long time on USB until you don’t want them anymore.
How to install New Windows without losing data?
Virus and malware attacks can have a significant impact on the performance of your system. If all of your attempts to resolve these issues have failed, it may be time to install a fresh copy of Windows. You can easily install new windows without fear of losing existing data. Microsoft provides some methods for installing Windows without losing your data. You may select any of them. Here’s the rundown:
Using the “Reset this PC” option.
Use the following steps if you are choosing the “Reset this PC” option for a new installation.
- First, open the settings menu on the screen by right-clicking on the Windows Start button.
- Click the “Settings” option from there.
- Click on the “Update & Security” option.
- In the left pane of the screen, select the “Recovery” option.
- Click “get started” under the “Reset this PC” option.
- Then a pop-up message will appear. Choose the “keep my files” option from it.
- If you are switching from an old version of Windows to Windows 10, you will get a warning message that will tell you that you can’t undo your actions. Click “Next” to continue.
- Then click the “Reset” button in the “Ready to reset this PC” interface. After that, your system will reboot and begin to reinstall Windows 10.
Using the “Advanced Startup Menu”
Use the following steps if you are choosing the “Advanced Startup Menu” option for a new installation.
- Click on the start button on the screen.
- In the Start menu, select the “Settings” option.
- Click the “Update & Security” option, and then click on the “Recovery” option.
- Under the “Advanced Startup” section, click on the “Restart now” option. Now Windows will restart in WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) mode.
- When you enter WinRE mode, click on “Troubleshoot.”
- Now click “Reset this PC.”
- Select the “Keep my files” option. Then click “Next” and then click the “Reset” button.
- Then a popup message will appear, which prompts you to continue with the installation; click on “Continue.”
- Using “ISO Image File”
Using the “ISO Image File”
Use the following steps if you are choosing the ‘ISO Image File’ option for a new installation.
- First of all, you have to download Microsoft’s media creation tool to create Windows 10 ISO file.
- After downloading, right-click on the ISO file and then select “Mount” to continue the process.
- At the root directory, double-click on the “Setup.exe” file.
- A prompt message will appear, which shows you the “Download and install updates” option. Choose the correct option from it and then click “Next.”
- Then a popup window will appear; click on the “change what to keep” option from it.
- Now choose options according to your storage needs. If you want to keep only personal files, then click on the “Keep personal files only” option.
- Click “Next” to continue with the installation process.
Steps to Install Windows 10 from USB Drive
We have already discussed the basic requirements for installing Windows 10 using a USB flash drive. Moreover, we have also discussed the hardware requirements for installing Windows 10. After this detailed knowledge, we are going to tell you about the steps needed in the installation process of Windows 10 using a USB drive. We hope that this will help you with an easy installation.
A USB stick is portable and also compatible with all types of computers and laptops. And it is always an easy way to install Windows 10 from a USB because of its fast booting capability. It also quickly instals your operating system.
Here are some steps that you have to follow while installing Windows 10 using a USB.
Format the USB and set the Primary Partition as Active
The USB need not be blank, but all your data will be erased during the setup. So, it is better to format the USB or transfer its data to another location. To format the USB, follow these steps.
- First of all, connect the USB flash drive to your PC or laptop.
- Right-click on the Start button and open Disk Management from it.
- Right-click on the USB drive partition and choose the format from it.
- Also, after right-clicking on the USB drive partition, select the “Mark Partition as Active” option.
Start Downloading Windows 10 Setup
Windows 10 is free to install, but you will have to pay for the activation key to unlock all its features. Listed below are the steps to download the setup of Windows 10:
- Insert USB drive to the computer / device where Windows 10 needs to be installed.
- Now open the browser and type “Download Windows 10” in the search bar. This will display the related links. Click on one of them. Then scroll down to the “Create Windows 10 installation media option” and click on the “Download tool now” button.
- Now save the tool on your system. It is about 20 MB in size. If your internet speed is fast, this will not take a long time.
- When the software downloads to your system, run it and accept the licence agreement.
- If you want to do the installation on another PC, then you have to click on the “Create installation media for another PC” option on the “What do you want to do?” page. But if you want to install it on the PC on which you are working, then you have to click on “Upgrade this PC now.” After that, click “Next.”
- If you want to change the default settings like language, edition, or architecture, then clear the checkbox for “Use the recommended options for this PC” on the next page and then choose the settings that you want. Then click “Next.”
- Choose the “USB flash drive” option on the “Choose which media to use” page. Click “Next.”
- All the USB drives connected to your system will be displayed there. Select the right one on which you want the installation and click “Next.”
- Then all the installation files will be copied to your USB.
Installing of Files
Before starting the installation process of files from USB, you have to understand the difference between UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) and BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). They are both used to boot the operating system and manage the data between the operating system and other devices. Many older systems rely on the BIOS method to boot the operating system.But with time, BIOS has been replaced by UEFI. All modern systems support UEFI. With UEFI, diagnosing all the system faults and repairing them becomes easy without the need for any additional software.
Although all the common methods of installing Windows 10 using USB support both UEFI and legacy BIOS hardware, the choice is yours to make.
Now, you are ready to install Windows 10 from a USB. Here are the steps to install all the files from the USB to your system.
- Start the computer. Connect the USB drive to your system. Wait for the computer to detect the USB drive.
- If your system doesn’t detect the USB drive, then press the correct key to launch UEFI or BIOS controls. You can do it by pressing the F1, F2, Escape, or Delete keys. This will change the boot order of your system.
- Now in the startup menu, find the “Boot” control menu. You will have to ensure that your computer is configured to boot from USB. Select your USB drive as the new boot device for your system and then exit.
- Now the system will boot from the USB drive after being restarted. Moreover, this process will also automatically start the Windows 10 installation program. Thus, you don’t need to press or click any buttons.
- Just follow the instructions that are present on the screen now to install Windows on your system.
- You will need a Windows product key to complete the setup process if you are installing Windows for the first time on your system or moving to a different edition of Windows. When you purchase a digital or physical copy of Windows, you will find a label inside the box that Windows came in that contains the Windows key for that specific version.
- If you don’t have the product key, then you can enter it later, and your copy of Windows will be automatically activated later if you are connected to the internet, and then click on “Next.”
- You can easily run your Windows 10 now, but in a limited state because some features of it will be disabled if you don’t enter the product key. After purchasing the product key, you can get all the features of it.
After installation, it is always good to check for new updates. This will ensure that you are running the latest version of Windows 10. You can do this by using these steps.
- Click on Settings.
- Now click on Updates & Security option.
- Click on “Windows Update.”
Conclusion
We hope that by the end of this article, you will have gained a good understanding of the Windows 10 installation process via USB. In addition to this, we also hope that you are well versed with the hardware requirements before starting the installation, the benefits of installing Windows, why USB is the best choice for this process, how we can install Windows without losing our data, and the step-by-step installation process using USB.
After going through the article, one can easily conclude that Windows 10 is very popular among users due to its appealing interface and compatibility features.
This OS is simple to use, whether you are working on a PC, mobile phone, or tablet.
The use of a USB drive during the installation process is a new addition to its popularity because all modern systems support USB, and it also makes the installation process quick and easy.
Furthermore, USB is a portable device.
You can keep it in your pocket and use it on any other system, anywhere.
I hope this article has provided you with the most up-to-date information on the benefits of Windows 10 and the installation process.