Not so long ago, the latest Windows 10 OS was presented . Installing on a computer or laptop that has a DVD drive does not raise any questions. Netbooks are more complicated. Let's look at the installation options for Windows 10 from a flash drive to such devices. Here it must be understood that other methods simply do not exist.
The simplest method of installing Windows 10 from a flash drive on top of an existing system
Actually, you don’t have to go far to install the new OS. It is installed without any problems or additional actions, as it was with Windows 7 and 8, from a regular USB-drive.
In the simplest version, a program is used to install Windows 10 from a flash drive called Media Creation Tool. In this case, the new OS is put on top of the old one (upgrade to a more recent version). Simply run the program to start the distribution download process with the subsequent installation, where the Upgrade item is selected in the installation parameters, which allows you to save absolutely all previously set system settings.
How to install "Windows 10" from a flash drive with the removal of the old system
Another thing is when the old OS needs to be completely removed. If anyone does not know, this is achieved by formatting the partition into which the installation will be performed. Only here you need to keep in mind that initially in the "top ten" the possibility of rollback (return to the old OS to the state prior to the installation of Windows 10) is assumed.
As already clear, after formatting the hard drive or hard disk partition, this possibility will be completely excluded. So first think about which option is preferable.
Image creation
Now consider the method of installing Windows 10 from a USB flash drive with the condition that the existing OS be completely removed. Needless to say, you need to download the installation distribution or disk image. If the distribution is not downloaded as an image, you will have to create it.
To do this, you can use any utility that can work with disk images. Then you need to write it to a USB stick. For example, in the UltraISO program, the desired file is first opened, after which the boot menu is used, where the command to write the hard disk image is selected (in this case, our flash drive is selected in the window that appears). A warning appears that all data from the media will be deleted. We agree and begin the recording process.
Please note: if the USB-HDD recording mode is not enabled by default, it is strongly recommended to use it.
BIOS settings
The problem of how to install Windows 10 from a USB flash drive is not limited to just creating a bootable USB drive . In order for the computer system to respond to such a boot device, it must be set first in the boot priority in the BIOS settings.
Access to the BIOS is carried out using the Del, F2, F12 keys, etc. (it all depends on the model of the device and the manufacturer of the BIOS). Here you need to find settings such as Boot Device Priority and specify the flash drive as the main boot device. Such actions can be performed only if the USB flash drive was inserted into the appropriate port before turning on the computer, laptop or netbook. Otherwise, the device will not be detected, and it simply will not be in the list of available devices.
Installation process and initial setup
So, the download from the USB drive has occurred, and the installation process has begun. At the first stage, you will need to specify the language used, the time and currency format, as well as the keyboard layout or input method. Next, we agree with the license, after which in the new window we select the Custom item, not Upgrade, and activate the installation process.
It remains to wait 10-15 minutes (again, depending on the device model), and after the installation is complete, reboot the system (if it will not be done automatically), go back into the BIOS settings and install the hard drive in the boot priority of the first device.
Now let's look at the bootstrap OSes. Here you need to select the Settings item, and then go to either Express Settings, if you do not need to change the default settings, or use their Customize if you need to configure the basic configuration for yourself. As practice shows, it is better not to change anything.
However, you can play around with the settings and rebuild them in terms of updating drivers, ensuring privacy on the Internet, providing or prohibiting the tracking system of your current location or personal data in some other applications, immediately create a Microsoft account and a backup method for restoring it, for example via e-mail or mobile phone, check the created account, provide the ability to save photos or other documents in the Microsoft One Drive cloud storage, etc. However, behold it is done solely at the request of the user.
Upon completion of all settings, the installation can be considered completed. The system is ready to use.
Conclusion
Finally, it remains to add that the process of installing Windows 10 from a USB flash drive is not so complicated. It looks much simpler than installing the same "seven". Sometimes, however, an error may occur when installing Windows 10 from a USB flash drive. This is most often associated with incorrect BIOS settings, damage to the USB drive itself, a lack of free space on the hard drive, or incorrect entries in the system registry. As practice shows, an error can occur mainly when updating an existing OS to version 10. In most cases, when installing, so to speak, from scratch, this happens extremely rarely.