You can use both special programs and built -in tools of this OS.
Loading flash drives are used to install Windows on a computer. To create such a carrier, you need to write the image of the operating system for any USB device, the volume of which exceeds 4 GB. In the process, all the information located on the flash drive will be erased.
1. Using the Media Creation Tool utility
- Operating system: Windows.
This method is official. It is suitable if you want to install a license copy of Windows. But for its activation, you must have the appropriate key. The Media Creation Tool utility downloads the Windows licensed image from the Microsoft server and writes it on a flash drive. As a result, you will receive a boot drive.
Download Microsoft from the Media Creation Tool, designed to create a installation flash drive, clicking the large blue button “Download the tool now”.
Launch the utility and select “Create an installation medium”. Then note “Use the recommended parameters for this computer” if you plan to install Windows on the current PC, or enter the parameters suitable for another computer.
Next, select the “Flash Mapiapi” USB device, mark the desired drive in the list of available devices and confirm the choice. After that, wait for the completion of operations with files. In a few minutes, the installation flash drive will be ready for use.
Download Media Creation Tool →
2. Without third -party programs
- Operating system: Any.
For this and the following methods you will need the image of Windows in ISO format. It can be downloaded, for example, from torrent trackers.
This method is suitable if you are going to install Windows on a more or less modern computer with a UEFI shell (graphic interface instead of old BIOS). The essence is as follows: clean the contents of the flash drive and copy the image of the system exclusively by means of the OS.
Before creating a loading flash drive, format the drive in the FAT32 file system. Then open the ISO image in the conductor, select all the internal files and folders and click on them with the right mouse button. In the context menu, select “Send” and indicate the target flash drive in the list.
When copying objects ends, the drive will be ready to install the system.
3. Using Ultraiso
- Operating system: Windows.
This option is suitable for new computers with UEFI and for old ones with BIOS.
Ultraiso is a paid program, but for our task there is enough free test version. Just install the utility and, after the first launch, select the “trial period”.
In the program menu, click “File” → “Open” and select ISO image. On the top panel, click “Self -loading” → “Write the image of a hard disk”. In the next window, indicate the path to the target flash drive in the Disk Drive field. Then format the drive using a special button (choose the FAT32 system), then click “Write down”.
After waiting for the recording, you can use the loading flash drive for its intended purpose.
Download Ultraiso →
4. With rufus
- Operating system: Windows.
An extremely popular program that copes with the recording of loading flash drives with support for both MBR and GPT. According to the authors, it differs in an incredible speed of work – at least twice as fast as Media Creation Tool.
Download and run the portable version of Rufus. Select the desired flash drive in the “Devices” field. Then click the “Select” button and indicate the image of the operating system disk.
After that, click the Start and wait until the program reports the successful recording.
Download rufus →
5. Using etcher
- Operating system: Windows, MacOS, Linux.
ETCher is an open source program that helps to record loading flash drives. The principle of operation is even easier than in other applications.
Download and install etcher for your operating system – Windows, MacOS and Linux are supported. Then open the program, press Select Image and select an ISO file with the system.
Click Flash and wait for the end of the process.
Download etcher →
6. With the help of “Assistant Boot Camp”
- Operating system: MacOS.
Sometimes it is necessary to prepare an installation medium for a PC without an operating system, and only Mac. In this case, you can use the program “Assistant Boot Camp”.
Open the “Boot Camp” assistant and click “Continue”. Then remove the “install Windows 10” or newer tick. The box “Create a Windows 10 or newer installation disk left.
Click “Continue”, make sure “Boot Camp’s assistant” has chosen the right flash drive, click “Continue” again and wait until the record is finished.
The text of the article was updated on February 11, 2023.
Loading flash drives are used to install Windows on a computer. To create such a carrier, you need to write the image of the operating system for any USB device, the volume of which exceeds 4 GB. In the process, all the information located on the flash drive will be erased.
1. Using the Media Creation Tool utility
- Operating system: Windows.
This method is official. It is suitable if you want to install a license copy of Windows. But for its activation, you must have the appropriate key. The Media Creation Tool utility downloads the Windows licensed image from the Microsoft server and writes it on a flash drive. As a result, you will receive a boot drive.
Download Microsoft from the Media Creation Tool, designed to create a installation flash drive, clicking the large blue button “Download the tool now”.
Launch the utility and select “Create an installation medium”. Then note “Use the recommended parameters for this computer” if you plan to install Windows on the current PC, or enter the parameters suitable for another computer.
Next, select the “Flash Mapiapi” USB device, mark the desired drive in the list of available devices and confirm the choice. After that, wait for the completion of operations with files. In a few minutes, the installation flash drive will be ready for use.
Download Media Creation Tool →
2. Without third -party programs
- Operating system: Any.
For this and the following methods you will need the image of Windows in ISO format. It can be downloaded, for example, from torrent trackers.
This method is suitable if you are going to install Windows on a more or less modern computer with a UEFI shell (graphic interface instead of old BIOS). The essence is as follows: clean the contents of the flash drive and copy the image of the system exclusively by means of the OS.
Before creating a loading flash drive, format the drive in the FAT32 file system. Then open the ISO image in the conductor, select all the internal files and folders and click on them with the right mouse button. In the context menu, select “Send” and indicate the target flash drive in the list.
When copying objects ends, the drive will be ready to install the system.
3. Using Ultraiso
- Operating system: Windows.
This option is suitable for new computers with UEFI and for old ones with BIOS.
Ultraiso is a paid program, but for our task there is enough free test version. Just install the utility and, after the first launch, select the “trial period”.
In the program menu, click “File” → “Open” and select ISO image. On the top panel, click “Self -loading” → “Write the image of a hard disk”. In the next window, indicate the path to the target flash drive in the Disk Drive field. Then format the drive using a special button (choose the FAT32 system), then click “Write down”.
After waiting for the recording, you can use the loading flash drive for its intended purpose.
Download Ultraiso →
4. With rufus
- Operating system: Windows.
An extremely popular program that copes with the recording of loading flash drives with support for both MBR and GPT. According to the authors, it differs in an incredible speed of work – at least twice as fast as Media Creation Tool.
Download and run the portable version of Rufus. Select the desired flash drive in the “Devices” field. Then click the “Select” button and indicate the image of the operating system disk.
After that, click the Start and wait until the program reports the successful recording.
Download rufus →
5. Using etcher
- Operating system: Windows, MacOS, Linux.
ETCher is an open source program that helps to record loading flash drives. The principle of operation is even easier than in other applications.
Download and install etcher for your operating system – Windows, MacOS and Linux are supported. Then open the program, press Select Image and select an ISO file with the system.
Click Flash and wait for the end of the process.
Download etcher →
6. With the help of “Assistant Boot Camp”
- Operating system: MacOS.
Sometimes it is necessary to prepare an installation medium for a PC without an operating system, and only Mac. In this case, you can use the program “Assistant Boot Camp”.
Open the “Boot Camp” assistant and click “Continue”. Then remove the “install Windows 10” or newer tick. The box “Create a Windows 10 or newer installation disk left.
Click “Continue”, make sure “Boot Camp’s assistant” has chosen the right flash drive, click “Continue” again and wait until the record is finished.
The text of the article was updated on February 11, 2023.