Install Windows 10 From USB: 2025 Step-by-Step Guide

Oct 30, 2025 by Jhon Lennon 53 views

How to Install Windows 10 from a USB Drive: 2025 Step-by-Step Guide

Hey guys! Ready to get Windows 10 up and running on your machine using a USB drive? It might seem a bit daunting, but trust me, it's totally doable, and I'm here to walk you through every single step. By following this guide, you'll be able to perform a clean install of Windows 10, upgrade your current system, or even rescue a computer that's acting up. This comprehensive guide will cover everything from creating a bootable USB drive to configuring your BIOS settings, and finally, installing the operating system. So, let's dive right in and get your system ready for Windows 10!

What You Need Before You Start

Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, let's make sure you have everything you need. This is like gathering your tools before starting a big DIY project. Here's a quick checklist:

A USB Drive: You'll need a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage. Make sure it's empty because the process will erase everything on it. Grab one that you don't mind dedicating to this task.
Windows 10 ISO File: This is the master image of the Windows 10 operating system. You can download it directly from Microsoft's website. Just search for "Download Windows 10 ISO" on your favorite search engine, and you'll find the official link.
A Computer: Obviously! This is the machine you're going to install Windows 10 on. Make sure it meets the minimum system requirements for Windows 10 to ensure a smooth experience.
Internet Connection: You'll need this to download the Windows 10 ISO file and any necessary tools. A stable connection is key to avoid interruptions during the download.
A Working Computer (If Your Current One is Unusable): If your current computer is completely bricked, you'll need another working computer to create the bootable USB drive.
Product Key (Optional): If you've previously activated Windows 10 on the machine, it should automatically reactivate once you connect to the internet after the installation. However, if you have a product key, keep it handy just in case.

Having these items ready will make the installation process much smoother and less stressful. Trust me, being prepared is half the battle!

Step 1: Downloading the Windows 10 ISO File

The first critical step is getting your hands on the Windows 10 ISO file. This ISO file is essentially a digital image of the Windows 10 installation DVD, and we'll use it to create our bootable USB drive. Head over to the official Microsoft website – a quick search for "Download Windows 10 ISO" will get you there. Make sure you're on the genuine Microsoft site to avoid downloading any potentially harmful files. On the download page, you'll be prompted to select the version of Windows 10 you want to download. Choose the edition that matches your license (e.g., Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro). After selecting the edition, you'll need to choose your language. Pick the language you want Windows 10 to be installed in. Once you've made these selections, you'll be given options to download either the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10. Most modern computers use the 64-bit version, but if you're unsure, you can check your current system information to find out. To check on Windows, go to Settings > System > About. The “System type” entry will tell you whether you have a 64-bit or 32-bit operating system. If you're downloading on a non-Windows machine (like a Mac or a Linux system), the Microsoft website might directly download the ISO file for you. If you're downloading on a Windows machine, it will likely download a Media Creation Tool. This tool will guide you through the process of downloading the ISO file and creating a bootable USB drive. If you choose to use the Media Creation Tool, it will handle most of the work for you, but we'll also cover the manual method in the next step in case you prefer more control over the process. Once the ISO file is downloaded, make sure to keep it in a safe and accessible location on your computer. You'll need it for the next step. The download size is typically around 4-5 GB, so it might take a while depending on your internet speed. Grab a coffee, stretch your legs, and get ready for the next stage!

Step 2: Creating a Bootable USB Drive

Okay, you've got your Windows 10 ISO file – awesome! Now, let's transform that USB drive into a bootable installation medium. This means we're going to copy the contents of the ISO file onto the USB drive in a way that your computer can recognize as a startup disk. There are several tools you can use to achieve this, but one of the most popular and user-friendly is Rufus. Rufus is a free, open-source utility that makes creating bootable USB drives a breeze. You can download it from its official website – just do a quick search for "Rufus download" and make sure you're downloading from a reputable source. Once you've downloaded Rufus, launch the application. You'll see a simple interface with a few options. First, make sure your USB drive is detected and selected in the "Device" dropdown menu. If you have multiple USB drives connected, double-check that you've selected the correct one to avoid accidentally formatting the wrong drive. Next, in the "Boot selection" dropdown menu, select "Disk or ISO image" and then click the "Select" button to browse for the Windows 10 ISO file you downloaded in the previous step. Once you've selected the ISO file, Rufus will automatically configure most of the settings for you. However, it's worth checking the "Partition scheme" and "Target system" settings. If you're installing Windows 10 on a modern computer with UEFI firmware, you should select "GPT" for the partition scheme and "UEFI (non-CSM)" for the target system. If you're installing on an older computer with BIOS firmware, you should select "MBR" for the partition scheme and "BIOS or UEFI" for the target system. If you're unsure which settings to use, you can usually leave the default settings, and Rufus will try to detect the correct settings automatically. Before you start the process, Rufus will warn you that all data on the USB drive will be erased. Make absolutely sure that you've backed up any important files from the USB drive before proceeding. Once you're ready, click the "Start" button to begin creating the bootable USB drive. The process usually takes around 10-20 minutes, depending on the speed of your USB drive and computer. During the process, Rufus will display a progress bar, so you can keep an eye on its progress. Once the process is complete, Rufus will display a "Ready" status. You can then close Rufus and safely remove the USB drive from your computer. Congratulations, you've successfully created a bootable USB drive with Windows 10! Now, let's move on to the next step: configuring your BIOS settings.

Step 3: Configuring Your BIOS Settings

Alright, you've got your bootable USB drive prepped and ready to go. Now, we need to tweak your computer's BIOS settings to tell it to boot from the USB drive instead of your hard drive. The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is a firmware that controls the initial startup process of your computer. To access the BIOS settings, you'll need to press a specific key while your computer is booting up. The key varies depending on your computer's manufacturer, but it's usually one of the following: F2, Delete, F12, F1, Esc, or F10. The key is often displayed briefly on the screen during the startup process, so keep an eye out for it. If you're not sure which key to press, you can consult your computer's manual or search online for your specific model. Once you've identified the correct key, restart your computer and repeatedly press the key as soon as the computer starts booting up. This should take you to the BIOS setup utility. The BIOS setup utility typically has a text-based interface, and you'll need to use the arrow keys to navigate and the Enter key to select options. The exact layout and options may vary depending on your computer's manufacturer, but the general process is the same. Look for an option called "Boot Order," "Boot Sequence," or something similar. This option allows you to specify the order in which your computer tries to boot from different devices. You'll need to change the boot order so that the USB drive is listed before your hard drive. To do this, select the USB drive and use the arrow keys to move it to the top of the list. Once you've changed the boot order, save the changes and exit the BIOS setup utility. This is usually done by pressing the F10 key or selecting an option called "Save and Exit." Your computer will then restart and attempt to boot from the USB drive. If everything is set up correctly, you should see the Windows 10 setup screen. If your computer still boots from the hard drive, you may need to try again and double-check that you've selected the correct boot order in the BIOS settings. Some computers also have a "Boot Menu" that allows you to select the boot device without changing the boot order permanently. This can be accessed by pressing a different key during startup (usually F12, F11, or Esc). If you have a Boot Menu, you can simply select the USB drive from the menu, and your computer will boot from it without changing the BIOS settings. Configuring your BIOS settings can be a bit tricky, but it's an essential step in the Windows 10 installation process. Once you've successfully booted from the USB drive, you're ready to start the actual installation.

Step 4: Installing Windows 10

Okay, the moment of truth! You've successfully booted from the USB drive, and now you're staring at the Windows 10 setup screen. This is where you'll actually install the operating system on your computer. The first screen you'll see will ask you to select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method. Choose the options that are appropriate for your region and preferences. Once you've made your selections, click "Next." On the next screen, you'll see a button that says "Install now." Click it to begin the installation process. You'll then be prompted to enter your product key. If you have a product key, enter it now. If you don't have a product key, you can skip this step and enter it later. However, keep in mind that you'll need to activate Windows 10 within a certain period of time to continue using it. After entering your product key (or skipping the step), you'll be presented with the license terms. Read the license terms carefully, and if you agree to them, check the box that says "I accept the license terms" and click "Next." On the next screen, you'll be asked what type of installation you want. You have two options: "Upgrade" and "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." If you're upgrading from a previous version of Windows, you can choose the "Upgrade" option. This will preserve your files, settings, and applications. However, if you're performing a clean install, you should choose the "Custom" option. This will erase all data on your hard drive and install a fresh copy of Windows 10. If you're performing a clean install, make sure you've backed up any important files from your hard drive before proceeding. After selecting the installation type, you'll be presented with a list of partitions on your hard drive. Select the partition where you want to install Windows 10. If you're performing a clean install, you may want to delete all existing partitions and create a new partition for Windows 10. To do this, select each partition and click the "Delete" button. Once you've deleted all partitions, you can create a new partition by clicking the "New" button. Specify the size of the partition and click "Apply." Windows 10 will then create the partition and format it. After selecting the partition, click "Next" to begin the installation process. Windows 10 will then copy files to your hard drive, install features, install updates, and restart your computer several times. This process may take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the speed of your computer. During the installation process, your computer may restart several times. Don't worry, this is normal. Just let the process complete without interrupting it. Once the installation is complete, Windows 10 will boot up and ask you to configure your settings, such as your language, region, keyboard layout, and network connection. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your settings. After configuring your settings, Windows 10 will ask you to create a user account. Enter your name, username, and password, and click "Next." You'll then be asked to choose your privacy settings. Review the privacy settings carefully and choose the options that are appropriate for your preferences. After choosing your privacy settings, Windows 10 will finalize the installation and take you to the desktop. Congratulations, you've successfully installed Windows 10! Now, let's move on to the final step: installing drivers.

Step 5: Installing Drivers

So, you've got Windows 10 installed and running – high five! But, before you start diving into all the cool new features, there's one more crucial step: installing drivers. Drivers are small pieces of software that allow your computer's hardware (like your graphics card, sound card, and network adapter) to communicate with the operating system. Without the correct drivers, your hardware might not work properly, or it might not work at all. After installing Windows 10, some drivers may be installed automatically through Windows Update. However, it's always a good idea to check for the latest drivers from your hardware manufacturers' websites. To do this, you'll need to identify the make and model of your hardware components. You can usually find this information on the manufacturer's website or in your computer's documentation. Once you've identified your hardware components, visit the manufacturers' websites and download the latest drivers for Windows 10. For example, if you have an NVIDIA graphics card, you can download the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website. If you have an Intel network adapter, you can download the latest drivers from the Intel website. After downloading the drivers, run the installation programs to install them on your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. You may need to restart your computer after installing some drivers. Once you've installed all the necessary drivers, your hardware should be working properly, and you can start enjoying Windows 10. It's also a good idea to check for updates regularly through Windows Update. Windows Update can automatically download and install the latest drivers and security updates for your computer. To check for updates, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the "Check for updates" button. Windows 10 will then scan for available updates and install them on your computer. Installing drivers might seem like a technical task, but it's essential for ensuring that your hardware works properly and that your computer runs smoothly. By following these steps, you can make sure that your Windows 10 installation is complete and that your computer is ready to handle anything you throw at it. So, there you have it! A comprehensive guide on how to install Windows 10 from a USB drive. Follow these steps carefully, and you'll be up and running in no time. Good luck, and happy computing!