The fact that using a USB flash drive or optical media to install the tenth version of Windows is not always advisable, apparently, even those users who are far from such nuances have heard. Isn't it easier to install Windows 10 from the hard drive of a computer or laptop? As it turns out, confusion arises quite often with these questions. The installation process itself does not differ from the standard, but the actions at the preparatory stage may seem quite complicated to many. That is why it is worth dwelling on such issues in more detail.
Can I install Windows 10 from my hard drive?
To begin with, let's decide whether such actions can be performed at all. By and large, installing the tenth modification of Windows from the hard drive, which already has a working OS, is not difficult. The essence of the question is to initially create on the hard drive a special boot partition with a distribution kit, which on the computer or laptop will be determined as the first to start. In other words, installing Windows 10 from a laptop hard drive or a stationary PC in this respect somewhat resembles the most common installation from removable media (a USB flash drive or an external USB-HDD), with the only difference being that the media itself is built into the main hard drive. Next, we will consider all the preparatory operations. As additional information, we will briefly talk about some of the nuances of installing a fully working or portable OS and on external hard drives (or similar media), if initially they do not have an operating system as such.
What is needed for this?
To complete the installation of Windows 10 from the hard drive from the basic tools and components, you will need:
- image downloaded to the computer with the distribution kit;
- EasyBCD utility for creating a bootloader;
- any program that works with image files and virtual drives (UltraISO, Daemon Tools, Alcohol 120% and the like).
In addition, as an alternative to the disk management tools of the operating system itself, you can recommend simpler applications like AOMEI Partition Assistant or similar packages developed at one time by Acronis.
Preliminary stage to create a new section
So let's get started. When installing Windows 10 from a hard disk, the main attention should be paid to the preparatory stage, since the correctness of the actions performed to a very high degree affects the correct conduct of the installation process itself. First of all, through the computer properties, call the disk management tool (diskmgmt.msc) and select the partition from which you will need to "pinch" about 6 GB of space. It is better to set an even slightly larger value, but here everything will depend on the version of the system being installed.
Through the PCM menu, go to the volume compression item, and enter 6000 MB in the size field and confirm the action by pressing the corresponding button below.
Now, through RMB, already in unallocated space, activate the creation of a simple volume, and then follow the instructions of the “Wizard”. Here the main parameter is the choice of file system (NTFS). You can also specify the name of the section (volume label) under which it will be visible in the system. After that, confirm the formatting, and after it is finished, make sure that the section you just created appears in the "Explorer".
Note: if you are talking about installing Windows 10 from a hard drive without an OS (for example, when replacing a hard drive with a new one), on another computer you will first need to initialize it using the same disk management tool, and then proceed to the above steps.
Creating an installation section in alternative programs
In a working system, it is completely optional to use its own tools to partition the main disk into partitions. Much easier to perform such operations in programs like AOMEI Partition Assistant.
In the application, to resize one of the available sections, use the corresponding item in the RMB menu or in the list at the bottom left, and the size is set by setting a special slider. After setting all the options in the transition to pending operations, you need to confirm the partition, and the main procedure will be launched when the computer system restarts.
Actions with image
The second stage is as follows. First, from the downloaded image file, you need to mount a virtual drive using one of the above programs.
If you have Windows 8 installed on your computer or one of the higher modifications, you can simply double-click on the file, after which the drive will be created automatically. After that, copy all its contents to the previously created new section.
EasyBCD Actions
In the third stage, first install the application on a computer or laptop, and then start it. Now be extremely careful!
In the application, first click the add record button in the menu on the left, and then in the lower right window go to the WinPE tab, select the WIM image in the type, and in the name field, specify the volume label that was assigned to the new partition. To specify the path to the boot.wim file, click the browse button and find the object in the Sources directory in a new section. After specifying the path in the upper window of the program, click the "Add" button.
Now move to the download editing section and save the changes, and then select the immediate reboot item from the tool menu on the top panel. When the restart is made, on the special screen with the operating systems, select the one that corresponds to your section, after which the standard installer will start.
Note: if there is no already installed operating system on the hard disk, the installation will start automatically.
Install Windows 10 from a portable hard drive
With the installation of "tens" directly from the HDD figured out. Now briefly consider the process of installing Windows 10 from an external hard drive. By and large, it is almost completely analogous to all those actions that are performed when the installer starts from the most usual flash drive after recording the image on it (even for those cases when you do not have a USB-HDD, but a connected stationary disk). To start the installation of Windows 10 from the hard drive via BIOS, simply set it as the priority device to boot, as is the case for optical drives and removable USB-drives. After saving the set parameters and rebooting, the installation will start automatically.
Installing Windows 10 on a removable drive without an OS
Finally, to install the system on another device (USB flash drive or external HDD), you can use two proven methods:
- transfer the working "top ten" using the tools of Windows To Go;
- perform installation in the form of a portable OS using the WinNTSetup utility.
In the first case, you need a medium whose volume is compatible with the system partition of the existing system, and in the second case, a flash drive with a volume of about 16 GB for x86 systems or 32 GB for 64-bit versions will be enough. Naturally, it is advisable to format such media first by choosing the preferred type of file system.
Possible mistakes
If, for some reason, the system is not installed or problems arise during media preparation (for example, in the WInNTSetup program, when they appear, the three color indicators on the right will turn red), you can automatically correct them using the small portable Bootice utility. In it, depending on the type of error, you need to click a few buttons.