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Creating A Windows 10 Boot Drive Is Easy Peasy. Here's How: Use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool

The document provides step-by-step instructions for creating a Windows 10 boot drive using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool. It explains that the tool downloads the Windows 10 system image and creates a bootable USB drive in about 30 minutes. Key steps include downloading the tool, selecting the desired Windows 10 version and language, choosing the USB drive, and letting the tool complete the process while monitoring progress. Creating a Windows 10 boot drive allows users to reinstall Windows from the USB if needed.

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452 views9 pages

Creating A Windows 10 Boot Drive Is Easy Peasy. Here's How: Use Microsoft's Media Creation Tool

The document provides step-by-step instructions for creating a Windows 10 boot drive using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool. It explains that the tool downloads the Windows 10 system image and creates a bootable USB drive in about 30 minutes. Key steps include downloading the tool, selecting the desired Windows 10 version and language, choosing the USB drive, and letting the tool complete the process while monitoring progress. Creating a Windows 10 boot drive allows users to reinstall Windows from the USB if needed.

Uploaded by

jayaramanrathnam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Creating a Windows 10 boot

drive is easy peasy. Here's


how
Use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool to ensure you have a
Windows 10 boot drive handy should you ever run into
issues with your current PC.

Besides an empty 8GB USB drive and a Windows PC, you'll need
to set aside roughly 30 minutes, maybe longer, depending on your
internet speed.

To be clear, it's possible to use a Mac to create a Windows 10 boot


drive, but the process is fairly technical and requires familiarity with
Terminal, the Mac's command-line tool. It's not a process that I'd
recommend for the average user. I recently built my first gaming
PC, and despite my mild comfort level with Terminal, I still found a
using Windows computer to be a safer and easier process.

Use Microsoft's media creation tool


Microsoft has a dedicated tool that you can use to download the
Windows 10 system image (also referred to as ISO) and create
your bootable USB drive. 

1. Get started by going to this page and clicking on Download tool


now.

2. Once the download finishes, double-click the file


called MediaCreationToolxxxx to run it. (The last four digits of the
file name indicate the version number of Windows 10. Right now,
the filename is MediaCreationTool1909, but that will change as
newer versions are released.) The file should be in your Downloads
folder.

3. Accept Microsoft's terms and conditions, select Create


installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for
another PC, and click Next.
Adjust your settings as needed. 
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

4. You'll be asked to select the language, edition and architecture


you want to use. By default, the tool will use the best options for the
PC you're creating the boot drive on. You can change any of the
options by unchecking the box next to Use the recommended
options for this PC and using the drop-down options. If you're
unsure about whether you need a 64-bit or a 32-bit architecture,
select Both from the Architecture drop-down.
Select USB flash drive. 
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

5. Click Next when you've adjusted the options, leave USB flash


drive selected, and plug your USB drive into your computer.
Select Next to continue.
Double-check that you're selecting the proper drive for your USB thumb drive. 
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

6. Finally, select the USB drive from the list. If you have more than
one drive connected to your computer and are unsure which one to
pick, disconnect the extra drives. With the right drive selected,
click Next.
It'll take a bit of time to complete, but Microsoft's tool takes care of the rest for you. 
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Microsoft's tool will take care of the rest from there. Go get a drink,
take a walk or browse the internet while the tool does its job. Again,
the process should take about 30 minutes, give or take, depending
on your internet speed.

When the tool is done, click Finish and remove the USB drive from
your computer. Going forward, if you need to install or reinstall
Windows, you can connect the drive to your computer and reboot it.
Your PC should boot to the drive, giving you the option to install
Windows. 
If that doesn't happen, you'll need to reboot your computer into its
BIOS firmware -- usually done by pressing Esc, F2, or a similar key
while the computer is starting up -- and change the boot drive or
"bootmenu" to your flash drive. The process for each computer (or
motherboard if you're building a gaming PC) will be different. I
suggest consulting your manual for instructions. 

You can also use the media tool to upgrade from Windows 7 to
Windows 10, following these instructions. After getting Windows
10 installed, here are some tips to help get you started. If
reinstalling Windows 10 feels like too much, use these tips to
troubleshoot and speed it up.  
What's the difference between
Windows 7 and Windows 10? 
Besides a suite of security tools, Windows 10 also offers more user
features. One is the Your Phone app, which allows you to access
texts, notifications and apps on your phone using your PC -- similar
to Apple's Continuity features. A feature called Calls allows you
to place and answer Android calls on your PC (and you
can connect your iPhone to your Windows PC as well). A
dictation feature lets you easily record ideas. 

Microsoft's digital assistant Cortana is also available on Windows


10 PCs. The OS also integrates better with Microsoft
OneDrive and other cloud tools.

Read more: 11 easy Windows 10 tricks you didn't know about 

The most recent Windows 10 November 2019 update includes


some new features such as changes to notifications that will make
them easier to configure and manage from an app or website, and
the ability to create events directly from the Calendar flyout on the
Taskbar, instead of opening the app. 

Unlike previous versions of the OS, Windows 10 offers automatic


updates by default, to keep systems more secure. (You can turn
these off if you want to, by going to Windows Update Settings >
Advanced Options and changing from Automatic to another option
in the drop-down menu.) 
How do I upgrade from Windows 7 to
Windows 10? How much will it cost
me?
You can buy and download Windows 10 via Microsoft's website
for $139. While Microsoft technically ended its free Windows 10
upgrade program in July 2016, as of January, CNET has confirmed
that the free update is still available for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1
users. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to upgrade to
Windows 10 free. 

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