Windows operating system is one of the most commonly used operating systems across the world. Windows 10, the latest version of Windows, comes with a lot of features and stability improvements over its predecessors. However, at times, you may face issues with the system, and the only way out is to reinstall the operating system. In this article, we will discuss how to reinstall Windows 10 using a flash drive.
Preparing the Bootable Flash Drive
The first step in reinstalling Windows 10 with a flash drive is to prepare the bootable flash drive. This can be done by following the below steps:
Step 1: Download the Windows 10 ISO file
The first step is to download the Windows 10 ISO file from the official Microsoft website. You can choose between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions depending on your system architecture. It is important to note that the Windows 10 ISO file is quite large and may take some time to download depending on your internet speed.
Step 2: Download and install Rufus
The next step is to download and install Rufus, a free and open-source utility that helps in creating bootable flash drives. You can download Rufus from their official website. Once the download is complete, install Rufus on your system.
Step 3: Insert the flash drive and select it on Rufus
Insert the flash drive that you want to use as the bootable drive, and open Rufus. Rufus automatically detects the flash drive that is connected to the system, and you need to select it under the “Device” dropdown. Ensure that you have selected the correct flash drive as Rufus will format the drive when creating the bootable drive.
Step 4: Select the Windows 10 ISO file
The next step is to select the Windows 10 ISO file that you downloaded earlier. You can do this by clicking on the “Select” button next to the “Boot selection” dropdown. Browse to the location where you have saved the Windows 10 ISO file, and select it. Once you have selected the file, Rufus will automatically fill in the other details such as file system, cluster size, and partition scheme.
Step 5: Create the bootable flash drive
After selecting the Windows 10 ISO file, click on the “Start” button to initiate the creation of the bootable flash drive. Rufus will format the flash drive and copy the contents of the Windows 10 ISO file to the drive. This may take some time depending on the size of the ISO file and the speed of the flash drive. Once the process is complete, Rufus will display a message stating that the process was successful.
Reinstalling Windows 10
Now that you have created the bootable flash drive, you can proceed with reinstalling Windows 10 on your system. Follow the below steps to reinstall Windows 10 using the flash drive:
Step 1: Boot from the flash drive
The first step is to boot from the flash drive that you created. To do this, insert the flash drive into the system and restart the system. During the startup process, enter the BIOS settings by pressing the key that is displayed on the screen. The key varies depending on the manufacturer of your system. Once you are in the BIOS settings, select the boot options and change the boot priority to the flash drive. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings. The system will now boot from the flash drive.
Step 2: Select the language and other preferences
Once the system boots from the flash drive, you will be prompted to select the language and other preferences such as the time zone, keyboard layout, and currency format. Select the appropriate options and click on “Next.”
Step 3: Enter the product key
If you have a product key for Windows 10, enter it in this step. If you do not have a product key, you can click on “Skip” to continue with the installation. You can always enter the product key later once the installation is complete.
Step 4: Select the installation type
Next, you will be prompted to select the installation type. You can choose between “Upgrade” and “Custom.” If you want to keep your files and settings, select the “Upgrade” option. If you want to perform a clean installation, select the “Custom” option.
Step 5: Select the hard drive and partition
If you selected the “Custom” option in the previous step, you will be prompted to select the hard drive and partition where you want to install Windows 10. Select the appropriate hard drive and partition and click on “Next.”
Step 6: Install Windows 10
Once you have selected the hard drive and partition, click on “Next” to begin the installation process. Windows will now copy the necessary files to the hard drive and install Windows 10. This may take some time depending on the speed of your system.
FAQ
Q1. What are the minimum system requirements to install Windows 10?
A1. The minimum system requirements to install Windows 10 are:
- Processor: 1 GHz or faster processor or SoC
- RAM: 1 GB for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
- Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS or 20 GB for 64-bit OS
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display: 800 x 600 resolution
Q2. Can I reinstall Windows 10 without losing my files and settings?
A2. Yes, you can reinstall Windows 10 without losing your files and settings. Select the “Upgrade” option when prompted to select the installation type.
Conclusion
Reinstalling Windows 10 can be a daunting task, but with the help of a bootable flash drive and the above steps, it can be easily done. Follow the above steps carefully and ensure that you have backed up all your important files before proceeding with the reinstallation. If you face any issues during the process, feel free to refer to the FAQ section in this article.
Video Tutorial
Check out this video tutorial on how to reinstall Windows 10 using a flash drive:
