(Two Useful Ways) How to Create a Windows 10 Installation USB Drive

Quick Navigation:

1. Method 1. How to Create a Windows 10 Installation USB Drive Without an ISO
2. Method 2. How to Create a Windows 10 Installation USB Drive by Downloading an ISO

What is a Windows 10 Installation USB Drive?

If you need to install a clean copy of Windows 10, you can perform the installation from a USB drive. Within minutes, you can set up a new version of Windows on your supported device. A Windows installation USB drive is typically favored due to its portability and compatibility with all desktop and laptop computers. Since some PCs might not have a DVD drive, they typically have multiple USB ports available.

Installing Windows 10 from a USB drive is also much quicker since a USB drive boots up faster than an optical disc drive. You might be asking how to create a Windows 10 installation drive. There are several methods, with the most popular being to use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.

Using the Windows Media Creation Tool, for instance, is a more time-consuming and intricate process compared to employing the OS2Go software. Nevertheless, the Windows Media Creation Tool remains the official and recommended method to create a Windows installation USB drive. Let's briefly explore both approaches.

Method 1: How to Create a Windows 10 Installation USB Drive Without ISO

Before proceeding, it's essential to understand what an ISO file is. An ISO file, also known as an ISO image, is a single file that encapsulates all the installation files for a particular software program. Windows operating systems are distributed as ISO files to facilitate their installation. The Windows Media Creation Tool employs these files for its function; however, this also constitutes a drawback, as it necessitates having an ISO file to operate.

You can also create a Windows 10 installation USB drive without an ISO file using the tool OS2Go. OS2Go can effortlessly download the desired Windows 10 version for you with just a few clicks. It enables you to create a portable Windows 7/10/11 on a USB drive. This is particularly advantageous if you frequently travel and require your Windows system with you but cannot carry your laptop everywhere.

It can be accessed from multiple computers and allows you to run Windows on a Mac without Boot Camp if necessary for running Windows-specific applications or games. You can also create Windows To Go without an Enterprise edition on non-certified USB drives using the OS2Go utility. It provides seamless integration and excellent 24x7 customer support.

Here are the detailed steps:

Step 1. Install the OS2Go tool on your Windows computer. Connect a USB drive or external hard drive with sufficient capacity.

Step 2. Select the third tab, "Windows Install Drive Creator." First, choose the version of Windows you wish to install; OS2Go supports creating installation media for Windows 11, 10, and 8.1. You also have the option to select a local ISO file. When you have made your selections, click "Create."

Step 3. You'll then see a warning message telling you that all data on the selected disk will be erased. Click "Continue" to proceed.

Step 4. OS2Go will then begin creating the Windows installation media. The download of the ISO file usually takes some time, depending on your operating system and network conditions. When the process reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable.

Step 5. Insert the Windows Installation media into your computer and initiate the installation process.

方法2：如何下载ISO创建Windows 10安装USB驱动器

This is the official and most straightforward method of creating Windows 10 installation media using the Media Creation Tool. This tool enables you to download either the Home or Pro version of the Windows 10 operating system. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to create a Windows 10 installation USB drive by downloading an ISO file.

Create a Bootable USB for Windows 10

Insert your formatted USB drive into your laptop or PC. Next, we'll download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. To do this, go to the Media Creation Tool page and click on "Download Tool now."

Download this tool onto your computer and make sure you have a stable internet connection. Once the software is downloaded, choose the option to Create installation media for another PC. Windows 10 will be downloaded within the application itself, where you can select your preferred version, system architecture, and so on. If you want to install it directly onto a USB drive, follow the instructions below.

直接从微软下载Windows 10 ISO

Here's the method to download the Windows 10 ISO:

Step 1: Go to the Windows 10 ISO website and press F12 on your keyboard to open the Developer Options.

Step 2: Press CTRL + SHIFT + M to open the Toggle device toolbar, which will appear above the webpage. From the dropdown menu, select Responsive and press F5 to refresh the page.

Step 3: After the page refreshes, select the latest version of Windows 10. Confirm the download.

Create Windows 10 Installation Media

You'll need an ISO to USB burning tool to create the USB installation media. For this scenario, we'll be using Rufus.

Translate the following text into English:
• Download and install the Rufus application on your computer.
• Select the desired USB drive from the dropdown menu, and choose the Windows 10 ISO file.
• Rufus will now automatically update the properties and burning settings.
• Click on 'Start' to begin burning the Windows 10 ISO to the USB drive.

It will take some time to finish the burning process completely.

Closing Words 英文翻译：Closing Remarks

Utilizing OS2Go is a swift and straightforward method to create a Windows 10 installation drive, as it bypasses the need for downloading ISO files, thereby lessening the workload and accelerating the process.

Additionally, it comes packed with a multitude of helpful features to assist you. You can also utilize the Media Creation Tool, the most popular method for creating a Windows 10 installation media, which also requires downloading an ISO. You can choose either option based on your preferences, as both are optimized for your efficiency.