An ancient PC may be troubleshooted at home. Making a bootable USB device is another step you should do in addition to looking for typical problems. Yes, I am aware. When I first heard the phrase “bootable USB,” I was a little alarmed. It’s also OK if you do. Troubleshooting a sluggish PC is not enjoyable, and constructing the drive seems like a difficult operation that calls for a lot of tech know-how. In actuality, however, it only requires a few mouse clicks and a strong internet connection to finish. You won’t experience any intimidation. I swear.
If you have a Windows PC, you should absolutely create a USB device that can boot Windows 10. If you ever need to reinstall Windows, the backup media may save you time and hassle. Additionally, this is one of the last items you’ll need to complete your build if you’re creating a gaming PC. (If you want to try out the latest version of Windows before it’s launched on October 5, you may also make a boot disk for Windows 11.)
In addition to a Windows computer and an empty 8GB USB drive, you need allow around half an hour, or more if your internet bandwidth permits.
For those who are interested, it is feasible to construct a Windows 10 boot disk on a Mac, but it is a very complex procedure that requires experience with Terminal, the Mac’s command-line interface. I wouldn’t advise the typical user to go through this procedure. I just constructed my first gaming PC, and even though I’m not very comfortable with Terminal, I still think it’s safer and simpler to use a Windows machine.
Utilize the media production tool from Microsoft.
You may get the Windows 10 system image (also known as an ISO) and make your own bootable USB drive using a specific program from Microsoft.
1. Click “Download tool now” after scrolling down to “Create Windows Installation Media.”
2. Double-click the MediaCreationToolxxx file to launch it when the download is complete. (The file name’s last four numbers reveal the Windows 10 version number. MediaCreationTool21H1 is the filename as of right now, but it will change when subsequent versions are made available.) You should find the file in your Downloads folder.
An image of the second phase of the Windows 10 boot disk building tool
From the limited list of choices, choose Create installation media.
3. Choose Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click Next after accepting Microsoft’s terms and conditions when the software launches.
An image of step three of the Windows 10 boot disk building tool
As necessary, change your settings.
4 screenshot. You will be prompted to choose your preferred language, edition, and architecture. The application will automatically choose the optimal settings for the computer on which you are building the boot disk. To modify any of the settings, uncheck the box next to Make use of the drop-down menu and the suggested settings for this computer. Choose Both from the Architecture drop-down if you’re not sure whether you require a 64-bit or 32-bit architecture.
Please take note that when you choose Windows 10 as the Edition, this program will be included if you want to use it to flash a different version of Windows 10, such Windows 10 Pro (or vice versa), on a separate computer, according to Microsoft’s support website. Don’t waste your time searching for a Pro choice since Windows 10 is really the sole one available.
An image showing step 4 of the Windows 10 boot disk building tool
Choose a USB flash drive.
5 screenshot. After modifying the settings, click Next. Keep USB flash drive selected and connect your USB drive to your PC. To continue, choose Next.
An image of step 5 of the Windows 10-boot drive building tool
Verify again that you are choosing the correct USB thumb drive.
Jason Cipriani/CNET 6 screenshot. The USB drive may then be chosen from the list. Disconnect the additional drives from your computer if you have many drives attached and aren’t sure which to use. Because everything on the disk is erased during this operation, choosing the incorrect drive might have disastrous consequences. Click Next after selecting the appropriate drive.
An image showing step 6 of the Windows 10 boot disk building tool
It will take some time to finish, but Microsoft’s tool will handle the rest.
The remainder will be handled by Microsoft’s tool. While the tool is working, go grab a drink, go for a stroll, or surf the internet. Depending on your internet speed, the procedure should take around half an hour.
Click Finish after the utility is finished, then take the USB device out of your computer. In the future, you may connect the disk to your computer and restart it if you need to install or reinstall Windows. You should be able to install Windows when your computer boots up to the disk.
You’ll need to switch the boot drive or “bootmenu” to your flash drive and restart your computer into its BIOS firmware if it doesn’t boot to the drive automatically. This is often accomplished by hitting Esc, F2, or a similar key when the machine is starting up. Every computer (or motherboard, if you’re creating a gaming PC) will have a unique procedure. A brief line of text will appear when your computer first turns on, directing you to hit the appropriate button to access BIOS. I advise looking up instructions in your handbook if you don’t see it or if it disappears too quickly.
By following these steps, you may also utilize the media tool to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Here are some pointers to get you going after installing Windows 10. Try these troubleshooting and speeding up methods if you feel that reinstalling Windows 10 is too much.