Here's how to create a bootable Windows installation USB drive starting with a Windows .iso file or a Windows Setup DVD.
Note
For new Windows 10 installations, we've got a tool that does this for you. See Download Windows 10.
Infopackets Reader Perry F. Writes:' Dear Dennis, I have two laptops with Windows 7 that I would like to upgrade to Windows 10. From what I understand, I can use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to download Windows 10 in an.ISO file format. When that is done downloading, I would then burn the.ISO disc image file onto a DVD, then use the DVD to install Windows 10 onto my machines. Nov 22, 2016 Although the Media Creation Tool allows you create a bootable DVD or USB of Windows 10, many of you might be wondering if it’s possible to clean install Windows 10 right from the ISO image. Install Windows 10 directly from ISO file. Well, it’s possible to clean install Windows 10 from an ISO file.
What you need
- Windows 10 install .iso or DVD
- USB flash drive with at least 5GB free space. This drive will be formatted, so make sure it doesn't have any important files on it.
- Technician PC - Windows PC that you'll use to format the USB flash drive
- Destination PC - A PC that you'll install Windows on
Step 1 - Format the drive and set the primary partition as active
Connect the USB flash drive to your technician PC.
Open Disk Management: Right-click on Start and choose Disk Management.
Format the partition: Right-click the USB drive partition and choose Format. Select the FAT32 file system to be able to boot either BIOS-based or UEFI-based PCs.
Set the partition as active: Right-click the USB drive partition and click Mark Partition as Active.
Note
If Mark Partition as Active isn't available, you can instead use diskpart to select the partition and mark it active.
Step 2 - Copy Windows Setup to the USB flash drive
Use File Explorer to copy and paste the entire contents of the Windows product DVD or ISO to the USB flash drive.
Optional: add an unattend file to automate the installation process. For more information, see Automate Windows Setup.
Step 3 - Install Windows to the new PC
Connect the USB flash drive to a new PC.
Turn on the PC and press the key that opens the boot-device selection menu for the computer, such as the Esc/F10/F12 keys. Select the option that boots the PC from the USB flash drive.
Windows Setup starts. Follow the instructions to install Windows.
Remove the USB flash drive.
Troubleshooting: file copy fails
This can happen when the Windows image file is over the FAT32 file size limit of 4GB. When this happens:
Copy everything except the Windows image file (sourcesinstall.wim) to the USB drive (either drag and drop, or use this command, where D: is the mounted ISO and E: is the USB flash drive.)
Split the Windows image file into smaller files, and put the smaller files onto the USB drive:
Note, Windows Setup automatically installs from this file, so long as you name it install.swm.
Related topics
How to Download Official Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft
If you need to install or reinstall Windows 10, you can use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft to download a Windows 10 ISO file that you can use to create your own installation media using either a USB flash drive or DVD/Blu-ray.
This tool provides the best download experience for customers running Windows 7, 8.1 and 10.
This tutorial will show you how to download an official Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft directly or by using the Media Creation Tool.
You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to run the Media Creation Tool.
Windows 10 System Requirements
If you would like to download a 90-day evaluation of Windows 10 Enterprise, then:
- Windows 10 Enterprise ISO download:Windows 10 Enterprise | TechNet Evaluation Center
- Windows 10 Enterprise FAQs:Windows 10 IT Pro FAQ - App Compat, Installation, Virtualization
- See also: Volume Licensing Service Center.
- Option One: To Download Windows 10 Home or Pro ISO using Media Creation Tool
- Option Two: To Download Windows 10 Education ISO using Media Creation Tool
- Option Three: To Directly Download Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft
- Option Four: To Directly Download Windows 10 Insider Preview ISO from Microsoft
An ISO file from the Media Creation Tool (MCT) uses sourcesinstall.esd which is a compressed version of install.wim, but can still be used as a source image for DISM.
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
- Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
1. Click/tap on the Download button below, and click/tap on the Download tool now button at Microsoft's site. (see screenshot below)
2. Save the MediaCreationTool1903.exe file (version 10.0.18362.1) to your desktop, and run it.
3. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.
4. Click/tap on Accept for the license terms. (see screenshot below)
5. Select (dot) Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
6. Uncheck the Use the recommended options for this PC box. (see screenshot below)
Leaving the Use the recommended options for this PC box checked will have the Media Creation Tool download an ISO that's the same language, edition, and architecture as the current PC.
7. Select the Language, Edition, and 32-bit (x86), 64-bit (x64), or both (32-bit and 64-bit in same ISO) Architecture you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
The Windows 10 option includes both the Home and Pro editions. The product key you enter during installation (Windows Setup) is what determines which edition gets installed.
If you select both for the Architecture, you will need to use at least an 8 GB USB flash drive if creating Windows 10 USB installation media with the ISO.
Your digital entitlement or product key determines if Home or Pro gets installed during Windows Setup.
If you skip entering a product key during Windows Setup, then you will be prompted to select to install the Home or Pro edition.
8. Select (dot) ISO file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
9. Select where you would like to save the ISO file to, type in a name you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)
10. The Windows 10 ISO file will now begin to download. (see screenshot below)
11. When the download has finished, select where you selected to save the ISO file at, and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
An ISO file from the Media Creation Tool (MCT) uses sourcesinstall.esd which is a compressed version of install.wim, but cannot be used as a source image for DISM.
Before you begin, make sure you have:
- Your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx).
- An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
- Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
1. Click/tap on the Download button below, and click/tap on the Download tool now button at Microsoft's site. (see screenshot below)
2. Save the MediaCreationTool1903.exe file (version 10.0.18362.1) to your desktop, and run it.
3. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.
4. Click/tap on Accept for the license terms. (see screenshot below)
5. Enter the product key for your Windows 10 Education, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
6. Select (dot) ISO file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)
7. Select where you would like to save the ISO file to, type in a name you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)
8. The Windows 10 Education ISO file will now begin to download. (see screenshot below)
9. When the download has finished, select where you selected to save the ISO file at, and click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)
1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Go to: Download Windows 10
3. Press F12 to open Developer Tools, or open the 'Settings and more' menu and click/tap on F12 Developer Tools. (see screenshot below)4. Click/tap on the Undock (Ctrl+P) button in Developer Tools. (see screenshot below)
5. Click/tap on the Emulation tab in the undocked Developer Tools, select either Apple Safari (iPad) or Micosoft Edge - Windows 10 Mobile in the User agent string drop menu. (see screenshot below)
6. Select the Windows 10 edition you want to download, and click/tap on Confirm. (see screenshot below)
7. Select the language you want for Windows 10, and click/tap on Confirm. (see screenshot below)
8. Click/tap on the 32-bit Download or 64-bit Download button to download the 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file you want. (see screenshot below)
9. Click/tap on Save to start downloading the Windows 10 ISO file. (see screenshots below)
10. When the Windows 10 ISO file has finished downloading, you can click/tap on View downloads to find it. (see screenshot below)
12. You can now close Microsoft Edge if you like.
Flight Hub is a 'dashboard' for Windows Insiders to quickly identify the latest Insider Preview releases for PC, Server, IoT, and SDKs as well as ISO images.
How to Get Windows Insider Fast Ring ISO image for latest build
1. Click/tap on the Download button below to go to the Microsoft site below, select the ISO you want, and click/tap on Confirm. (see screenshot below).
(Client Insider Preview)
OR
(Advanced Options for more Insider Preview editions and builds to select from)
That's it,
Shawn