How to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 10

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The following steps detail how to create an Windows 10 install USB drive.

This may be useful if:

  • your computer did not come with any install media,
  • you did the ‘free upgrade’ to Windows 10
  • or you want to do a fresh install/upgrade.

Please note: you will need a USB drive of at least 8 GB. The USB drive will be reformatted and all contents deleted.

  1. Find a USB drive of at least 8 GB, plug it into your computer and ensure there’s nothing on there you want to keep – the drive will be erased.
  2. Go to the official Microsoft website here =>  https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/software-download/windows10 
  3. Scroll down to ‘Create Windows 10 installation media’ and click on ‘Download tool now’
  5. Once downloaded, run the download tool
  6. Click ‘Accept’ to accept the terms and conditions
  8. Select ‘Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC’ and click ‘Next’
  10. OPTIONAL: Choose the language, edition and architecture you require and
  11. Click ‘Next’
  13. Select your USB flash drive and click ‘Next’
  14. TIP: if your USB drive does not appear
    1. check that the drive is big enough,
    2. check that the drive is accessible from ‘This PC’
    3. try another brand USB drive.
  16. The tool will now begin downloading the install files for your selected Windows 10 version and will automatically create the install USB drive.
  18. When finished the tool will display ‘Your USB flash drive is ready’.
  20. Click ‘Finish’ to close the tool.