Whether you are installing a fresh copy of Windows, repairing a broken computer, or simply running a portable version of the operating system, booting from a USB drive is an essential skill for any PC user. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it. Prerequisites Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
A USB flash drive (at least 8GB). A working computer to prepare the USB drive. The Windows 10 ISO file (available from the Microsoft website).
Phase 1: Create a Bootable USB Drive You cannot simply copy and paste the Windows 10 ISO file onto a USB drive; it must be made "bootable."
Download the Media Creation Tool: Go to the Microsoft Windows 10 download page and download the Media Creation Tool . Run the Tool: Open the downloaded file and accept the license terms. Select Installation Method: Choose "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC" and click Next. Select USB: Ensure the correct language, edition, and architecture (usually 64-bit) are selected, then choose USB flash drive as the media type. Finish: Select your connected USB drive from the list. The tool will automatically download Windows 10 and format the USB drive to be bootable. This may take some time depending on your internet speed. boot windows 10 from usb drive
Phase 2: Configure the Target Computer BIOS/UEFI Now that you have the drive ready, you need to tell the target computer to look at the USB drive before it looks at its internal hard drive.
Insert the Drive: Plug the bootable USB drive into the target computer.
Access the Boot Menu (The Easy Way):
Turn on the computer. Immediately look for a prompt on the screen that says something like "Press F12 for Boot Menu" or "Press Esc for Startup Menu." Common keys include F12, F10, F8, F2, Del, or Esc . Press this key repeatedly until a menu appears listing your storage devices. Select your USB drive from the list and press Enter.
Access the BIOS/UEFI (The Manual Way):
If the Boot Menu key doesn't work, you may need to enter the BIOS setup (usually F2 or Del ). Navigate to the Boot tab using the arrow keys. Look for "Boot Priority" or "Boot Order." Move the "USB Storage Device" or "Removable Media" to the top of the list, usually by pressing F5/F6 or +/- keys. Save and Exit (usually by pressing F10 ). Whether you are installing a fresh copy of
Note for Windows 10/11 Users with Fast Boot: If your computer loads Windows too quickly to press a key:
Hold the Shift key and click Restart from the Windows Start Menu. Select Use a device > USB Storage .