Installing Windows 10 from a USB drive is one of the easiest ways to set up a new PC, replace an old operating system, or perform a clean Windows installation. In this guide, we walk through the basic process of downloading the Windows 10 installer, creating a bootable USB flash drive, booting from the USB drive, installing Windows 10, downloading any needed motherboard drivers, and activating Windows with a valid product key.
A USB installation is useful when building a new computer, replacing a hard drive or SSD, reinstalling Windows, or starting fresh with a clean operating system. Instead of installing Windows from a disc, you create a bootable USB flash drive that contains the Windows 10 installation files.
Once the USB drive is created, you plug it into the computer where you want to install Windows. Then you boot from the USB drive and follow the Windows installation steps.
Before creating your Windows 10 USB installer, make sure you have the basic items needed for the installation.
It is also smart to back up any important files before installing Windows. A clean installation can erase the selected drive, so make sure anything important is saved somewhere safe before continuing.
The first step is to go to the Windows 10 download page and download the installation tool. Once the installer is downloaded, run it on your current computer.
When the tool opens, choose the option to create installation media. This allows you to create a Windows 10 USB flash drive that can be used to install the operating system on a new PC.
After selecting the option to create installation media, choose the language, edition, and installation type. In the video, English and Windows 10 are selected.
Next, choose the USB flash drive option. Make sure the correct USB drive is selected. The tool will then download the Windows installation files and prepare the USB drive. This process can take a little while, so let the installer complete the setup.
Once the USB flash drive is ready, plug it into the computer where you want to install Windows 10. Then restart the computer and enter the BIOS or boot menu.
In the boot options, select the USB drive as the first boot device. In the video, the USB 2.0 option is selected as the boot option. After selecting the USB drive, the computer starts the Windows installation process.
After the computer boots from the USB drive, the Windows installer will load. From there, follow the on-screen installation steps to install Windows 10 on the new PC.
During installation, you may need to choose the drive where Windows will be installed. If this is a new build or a clean installation, make sure you select the correct drive. After Windows copies the installation files and completes setup, the computer will restart and continue through the setup process.
After Windows 10 is installed, your computer may need additional drivers depending on the motherboard and hardware you are using. These can include chipset drivers, network drivers, audio drivers, graphics drivers, and other motherboard-specific utilities.
Driver installation is important because it helps Windows properly communicate with your hardware. If Wi-Fi, Ethernet, audio, graphics, or USB features are not working correctly after installation, check the motherboard or hardware manufacturer's website for the correct drivers.
| Installation Step | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Download Windows 10 installer | Gets the official installation media creation tool. |
| Create USB installation media | Prepares the USB flash drive with Windows setup files. |
| Boot from USB | Starts the Windows installer on the new PC. |
| Install Windows 10 | Installs the operating system on the selected drive. |
| Install drivers | Helps the motherboard and hardware work properly. |
| Activate Windows | Uses a valid product key to fully activate Windows 10. |
The last step is activating Windows 10. After installation, enter a valid Windows 10 Home product key into the activation field. Once the key is accepted, Windows 10 will be fully activated.
The video mentions purchasing a Windows 10 Home product key and then entering that key into Windows activation. When buying a product key, make sure you use a legitimate source and purchase the correct edition that matches your Windows installation, such as Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro.
Installing Windows 10 from a USB drive is a straightforward process. Download the Windows 10 media creation tool, create a bootable USB flash drive, boot the new computer from that USB drive, complete the Windows installation, install needed drivers, and activate Windows with a valid product key.
This method is especially useful for new PC builds, fresh installs, upgrades, repairs, or replacing a drive. Once the USB installer is created, it becomes a handy tool to keep available for future Windows installations.
On today's video, I am going to show you how to do a brand-new Windows 10 installation using a USB stick.
The first thing you want to do is go to the Windows 10 download page. Go ahead and click "Download Now" for the installer.
Next, plug the USB drive into your old computer. After that, run the installer.
From here, choose the second option, which is to create installation media. Since we are using a USB flash drive, select that option. I already have one plugged into the computer.
Next, choose your language and Windows 10 edition. In this case, we are going with English and Windows 10. Then click "Next."
Choose USB flash drive and click "Next." You should see your USB drive listed. Select it and continue. Now just let the tool do its thing.
Once this process is finished, we will plug the USB drive into the new computer and install Windows on the new PC.
After the USB installer is ready, plug it into the new computer. Then go into the boot options. In this case, boot option one is the USB 2.0 drive, so we are going to boot from that.
We are now in the Windows installation. Whatever motherboard you choose, you may have to go through a process where you download drivers and install a few additional items after Windows is installed.
The last thing we have to do with the operating system installation is buy a Windows 10 Home product key. In the video, I am using Mr Key Shop to buy it for $44.99.
You can also go to Microsoft's website, where the price may be around $100 to $130. The key shop mentioned in the video has many reviews, so check it out and make sure you are comfortable with the source before buying.
After purchasing the key, it will be emailed to you. Then you can activate Windows 10 Home on the computer.
Enter the product key into the activation field, and Windows 10 is fully activated.
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