What is the Windows Media Creation Tool?
It is a software tool that is used to:
- Upgrade your PC to Windows 10, if you have Windows 7 or 8.1.
- Reinstall Windows 10 and get the latest version, if you already have Windows 10 installed but something is not working.
- Create a bootable USB, which can be used to install Windows 10 somewhere else.
- Download .ISO file of Windows 10, which can then be burnt onto a DVD.
What are the requirements to create a bootable Windows 10 USB using the Windows Media Creation Tool?
You will need:
- Internet Connection
- A USB of at least 8 GB.
Note: Any existing data in the USB will be overwritten after making it an installer USB.
How to Create a Bootable Windows 10 USB using the Windows Media Creation Tool?
- Install Media Creation Tool, from the link below:https://software-download.microsoft.com/download/pr/MediaCreationTool1903.exe
- Accept the Microsoft terms by clicking “Accept” button.
- Click on the “Create Installation Media (USB Flash Drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” option.
- Click “Next” button.
- Select the suitable Language, Windows 10 edition, and System architecture.Note: If you want to use the bootable USB with different architecture (i-e 32 bit and 64 bit), then select “Both” from architecture drop down menu.
- Click “Next”.
- Select “USB Flash Drive” option.
- Select the desired USB drive from the list. If you don’t see your desired drive in the list, then refresh the list.
- Click “Next” button.
- Click “Finish” button.
After completion of steps, required files will be downloaded and a bootable Windows 10 USB with UEFI and BIOS support will be created.
Alternate Methods of Creating a Bootable Windows 10 USB
- Using a third-party software called “Rufus”:
- For this you need Windows .iso file, which can be downloaded using the Media Creation Tool.
- Download “Rufus”, using the following link;
https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases/download/v3.8/rufus-3.8.exe
- Now run the downloaded .exe file.
- Insert the USB drive.
- Select “Yes”.
- Fill in all the fields.
- Select your USB from the “Device” dropdown.
- Use “SELECT” option to locate .iso file in your PC.
- Chose “Standard Windows installation” from Image option dropdown.
- Choose “UEFI (non-CSM) from Target system dropdown. (for UEFI support).
- Choose “GPT” from partition scheme dropdown.
- Click Start.
- Your bootable USB will be created with UEFI support.
FAQs
Is a product key needed for creating a bootable Windows 10 USB?
No, product key is not needed while creating a bootable Windows 10 USB. But it is needed when this USB will be used on any other system to install or upgrade Windows 10.
Why do we need to create a Bootable Windows 10 USB?
USBs are convenient to be used than CDs in many ways;
- They are easier to use
- Larger Capacity.
- Faster Speed.
- Compatibility with almost all the systems.
How to use a bootable Windows 10 USB?
There are three methods to use the bootable USB;
- Boot while you have already started up.
Goto “Advanced Start-up” and select restart now.
After your device restarts. Click on “Use a device”option, then from the next screen choose the bootable USB. - Boot while you turn on the PC.
- Connect the bootable USB to the USB port.
- Turn on the PC.
- Press the key for showing boot menu (ex: F11).
- Choose your USB from boot menu.
- To Boot from Surface
- Turn off the Surface
- Connect the bootable USB to the USB port.
- Press and hold DownVolume button.
- Now press and release PowerButton.
- As Surface logo appears on the screen, release the DownVolume button.
- Surface will boot from the USB now.
