Download and install the Rufus program from its website, then launch the software. When the installation process reaches 100 percent, indicating that it's finished, close the WinToUSB program and remove the USB drive.
Click Next and your Windows 10 USB drive will now be created. Click the MBR for BIOS option and hit Yes.Īt the next screen, click the option for Legacy to choose the Installation mode. A message pops up asking you to select a partition scheme. Open the drop-down menu and choose your USB drive. If you're using the free version, your only choice is one of the Windows 10 Home versions, so select that one and hit Next.Īt the next screen, you'll need to determine your destination disk. Select the version of Windows 10 you wish to clone onto the USB stick. At the introductory screen, click the button to the right of the Image File field and choose the ISO file you created for Windows 10. Launch WinToUSB from its Start menu shortcut. Next, connect a blank USB flash drive to your computer.
Download and install the WinToUSB software from the dedicated website. If you need either of these editions, the Professional version of WinToUSB costs $29.95, while the Enterprise option will run you $199.95.
Most notably, you can create an installation of Windows 10 Home but not Professional or Enterprise. Start with the free version to see if you like it, but be aware that the freebie poses certain limitations. This program comes in three flavors: Free, Professional, and Enterprise. Next, it's time to enlist the aid of a third-party Windows USB program. Windows 10 will then generate the necessary ISO file. Then click Next.Ĭhoose a location on your hard drive to store the Windows.iso file and click Save. Given the option between a USB flash drive and an ISO file, click ISO file. You'll then need to choose what media you want to use. Then click the Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC button and hit Next.Īt the Select language, architecture, and edition screen, confirm that all of the options are correct and then click Next. At the first screen for Applicable notices and license terms, click the Access button. This site offers the latest edition of Windows 10, which at this point is the Windows 10 November 2019 Update, or Windows 10 version 1909.Ĭlick the Download tool now button, then double-click the downloaded MediaCreationTool.exe file to install the program. To do this, browse to the Download Windows 10 website. If you want to run Windows from a USB, the first step is to sign into your current Windows 10 computer and create a Windows 10 ISO file that will be used to install the operating system onto the drive. These tools can create a bootable drive from any version of the operating system and on any type of USB drive. Instead, you can turn to two utility programs, WinToUSB and Rufus. However, the company has stopped development on that program and no longer updates it. Microsoft once offered its own tool called Windows to Go, which could generate a bootable Windows USB drive with the Enterprise and Education versions of Windows 10. But if you're in a pinch you can at least work with the OS and access different apps this way. The major downside of booting from a USB drive is that Windows 10 will run slower than it does off your hard drive. Once you're done, you'll be able to boot up off the drive to launch Windows 10. You can then use a Windows USB utility to set up the USB drive with Windows 10.
That means you have to either purchase one or use an existing one that is associated with your digital ID. You'll also need a license to activate Windows 10 on the USB drive.
You'll need a USB flash drive with at least 16GB of free space, but preferably 32GB. If you prefer to use the newest version of Windows, though, there's a way to run Windows 10 directly through a USB drive. You run Windows 10 on your own computer, but now you're using another PC outfitted with an older operating system.