Creating a Bootable Windows ISO on a Thumb Drive: A Step-by-Step Guide (Without PXE)

Abstract: Learn how to create a bootable Windows ISO on a thumb drive without using PXE. Follow this step-by-step guide.

Created: 2024-02-19 by UserComp.com Editors

Creating a Bootable Windows ISO Thumb Drive: A Step-by-Step Guide (Without PXE)

In this article, we will walk you through the process of creating a bootable Windows ISO thumb drive, without using PXE. This method is useful if you don't have access to a network or if you prefer to use a physical medium to install Windows.

What you will need:

A thumb drive with at least 8GB of storage
A Windows ISO file
A computer with a USB port

Step 1: Format the thumb drive

The first step is to format the thumb drive. This will erase all data on the drive, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.

To format the thumb drive, insert it into a USB port on your computer. Then, open File Explorer and find the thumb drive in the list of devices. Right-click on the thumb drive and select "Format." In the Format window, choose the "FAT32" file system and click "Start."

Step 2: Download and install Rufus

Rufus is a free program that can be used to create bootable USB drives. To download Rufus, go to the Rufus website and click the "Download" button. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the prompts to install Rufus.

Step 3: Create the bootable USB drive

Now that Rufus is installed, insert the formatted thumb drive into a USB port on your computer. Then, open Rufus.

In Rufus, select the thumb drive from the "Device" drop-down menu. Then, click the "Select" button next to the "Boot selection" field and browse to the location of the Windows ISO file. Rufus will automatically detect the ISO file and fill in the other fields.

Click the "Start" button to begin creating the bootable USB drive. Rufus will format the thumb drive and copy the Windows ISO file to it. This process may take several minutes.

Step 4: Boot from the thumb drive

Once the bootable USB drive has been created, restart your computer and boot from the thumb drive. You may need to change the boot order in your computer's BIOS settings to do this.

When the Windows installation process begins, follow the prompts to install Windows on your computer.

References:

Download Windows 10
Rufus
How to change the boot order in the BIOS - How-To Geek

Note: The user mentioned that they are looking to use PXE and directly download the Windows 10 ISO. This guide does not cover that method, but the references provided may be helpful in achieving that goal.

Tags: Windows Thumb Drive ISO Bootable

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