Installation Media is an essential part of Windows devices, but many people don’t have much idea about it. An installation media has many benefits and can be used for various purposes. It is typically used for installing a new copy of the Windows operating system, reinstalling Windows 10, and performing the installation from scratch. Windows 10 often upgrades their OS, and any delicate or bug-filled update can lead you to use installation media. There can also be cases where you have to reset your PC’s operating system, and fortunately, over the years, doing so has become relatively easier. If you want to use the latest Windows 10, then follow the guide below:
Windows Media Creation Tool
Using the Windows Media Creation Tool is one of the most common ways of creating Windows 10 installation media. This app will quickly let you install the Home or Pro version of Windows 10. It offers its support for both 32-bit and 64-bit so that you can make your choice accordingly. You can also choose to install the operating system directly on a USB drive or download an ISO to install it to a disc later.
After downloading the Windows Media Creation Tool, open the app and click on Create Installation Media for Another PC. Your latest operating system will start downloading within the app. You can choose the version you want to use, along with some system structure and the version you want to perform. Out of the two options, if you choose to install the OS on your USB, then use the following steps:
Go to the Windows 10 ISO.
Press the F12 key for opening the Developer Options.
Press the CTRL + Shift + M keys together for opening the Toggle device toolbar, appearing above the webpage.
From the following dropdown menu, select ‘Responsive’ and press the F5 key to refresh the page.
Once the page reloads, select the latest edition of Windows 10 and click on Confirm.
After the ISO finishes downloading, check out the sections below.
Make Windows 10 Installation Media
If you are running out of time and prefer to install the Windows 10 ISO later (even if you’ve downloaded it), you have to create a bootable Windows 10 installation media. For this method, you will need an ISO to USB burning tool. If you choose to create USB installation media, then use the following steps:
Download and install Rufus – a utility that helps in formatting and creating bootable USB flash drives.
From the dropdown menu, select the targeted USB Device.
Then, select the Windows 10 ISO and tap on the Start button for burning the Windows 10 ISO to the USB drive.
The burning process may take some time based on your computer’s health.
If you are sticking to the traditional disc approach, find any good, robust, and free app to complete your work. Here, we are using ImgBurn and after installing this app, use the following steps:
Launch the app and select ‘Write Image File to Disc.’
On the following page, tap on the Browse for File icon, looking like a folder.
Then, select your Windows 10 ISO.
From the following dropdown menu, choose its Destination and set the Write Speed to MAX.
Now, click on the ‘ISO to Disc’ icon to start the burning process.
Unattended Windows 10 Installation
This method is ideal for those who won’t be able to attend the installation process. You can try to do an unattended install where you don’t have to participate while the Windows 10 ISO installs, but you have to set proper settings before getting into the process. In this method, we are creating a bootable USB and, for this purpose, generate an Autounattend.xml answer file. The bootable USB will also contain an answer file.
Start with creating an answer file by opening the Windows Answer File Generator (WAFG). Now, enter your Windows 10 or a generic product key. Now, select what you want in your unattended installation. Once done, you can start inserting the partition settings. You have to be very careful while inserting the partition information as it can lead you to lose all the data from another drive on your system.
If you are starting to clean your system, then tweak the Wipe Disk option to Yes. Then, choose the number of the disk. If you are unsure about choosing, navigate to the Start menu search bar and type ‘disk management’ and select a suitable match. From here, note down the disk number and the partition number. Once done, select Yes for the Main Partition Active option and switch your Main Partition Format into NTFS. Then, add a name for your Main Partition Label and ensure that the Main Partition Letter and the Partition Order are equivalent to each other. Now, you can add your User Account information, and the process will be completed.
Download Answer File
After using the above steps, go to the console box and download your Autounattend.xml file using the Download File. You can now finish your unattended Windows 10 installation media by following the ‘Make Windows 10 Installation Media’ page. After burning the Windows 10 installation to your USB flash drive or disc, start copying the Autounattend.xml file into the root directory.
These are the most used methods that will help you install the Windows 10 ISO within minutes without getting confused.
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