Whether you arrived at Windows 10 through a defended upgrade or a shiny new Windows 10 license, you will somewhen have to restore or reset Windows 10.

There are now a whole host of ways to install Windows ten. Read on for our comprehensive guide to creating Windows ten installation media.

The first and nigh obvious choice for creating Windows x installation media is the Windows Media Creation Tool. This application allows y'all to download the Dwelling or Pro versions of Windows 10, and y'all tin pick from the 32-flake or 64-bit version for both. Following your selections, you can choose to install directly to a USB drive or download a unmarried or dual-use ISO to install to a disc at a later time.

  1. Download the Windows Media Creation Tool.
  2. One time downloaded, run the awarding and select Create installation media for another PC. Windows 10 volition download inside the application, ready for yous to choose your version, system architecture, and which versions yous'd like to include in your Windows 10 installation media.
windows 10 media creation tool

If yous choose to install directly to a USB or disc, follow the onscreen instructions to consummate your installation. If y'all're installing Windows 10 further downward the line, read the next section on how to create bootable media.

Download Windows 10 ISO Direct from Microsoft

Yous tin can download Windows 10 direct from Microsoft without the Windows Media Cosmos Tool. The Windows 10 ISO was bachelor from the Microsoft Tech Bench Upgrade Programme for a long time, although this option is no longer available.

download windows 10 iso direct microsoft

However, there is an alternative method for downloading a Windows 10 ISO.

  1. Caput to the Windows 10 ISO
  2. Printing F12 to open the Developer Options.
  3. Press CTRL + Shift + M to open up the Toggle device toolbar, which appears above the webpage. From the dropdown menu, select Responsive, so press F5 to refresh the page.
  4. When the page reloads, select the latest edition of Windows ten from the dropdown, and so Ostend the download.

After the ISO finishes downloading, head to the section below.

If you downloaded a Windows 10 ISO to install later on, y'all need to create bootable Windows ten installation media using an ISO called-for tool. You can burn down the Windows x ISO to a USB flash bulldoze or a disc. You'll find instructions for both options below.

Windows 10 USB Installation Media

To create USB installation media, you'll demand ISO to USB burning tool. I'm using Rufus for this tutorial, but there many other ISO to USB called-for tool options.

rufus burn iso to usb
  1. Download and install Rufus.
  2. Select the target USB Device from the dropdown carte, then Select the Windows 10 ISO. Rufus will update the properties and called-for options automatically.
  3. Press Get-go to burn the Windows 10 ISO to the USB drive.

The burning process will vary depending on your computer merely ordinarily takes around ten-15 minutes.

Windows 10 Disc Installation Media

You don't take to use a USB to create your installation media. Many people prefer the traditional disc approach, and there are numerous costless applications to aid you lot get the chore done. For this example, I'm going to use ImgBurn.

imgburn windows 10 iso
  1. Download and install ImgBurn.
  2. At present, select Write epitome file to disc.
  3. On the adjacent window, select the Scan for file icon, which looks similar a folder, so browse to and select your Windows 10 ISO.
  4. Set the Destination using the dropdown menu, and then set the Write Speed toMAX.
  5. When you're ready, hit the ISO to disc icon to start the burn down process.

Already take a Windows disc but want to create an ISO? Here's how you create a bootable USB drive from your Windows CD.

three. Unattended Windows 10 Installation

If y'all're pressed for time, heading out for the evening, or simply accept other tasks to become on with while installing Windows 10, you could try an unattended install. An unattended install is as it sounds: you take no input during the installation. All it takes is a lilliputian setting up beforehand.

I will be creating a bootable USB for this part of the article.

First off, y'all need to generate an Autounattend.xml answer file. This reply file will be included in our bootable USB and will "answer" the questions throughout the Windows x installation.

Create Your Respond File

Head to the Windows Answer File Generator (WAFG). Enter your Windows 10 product central or use the generic product key provided by the WAFG. Windows x generic product keys permit you to complete the setup earlier entering a unique cardinal after installation.

windows 10 unattended installation options

At present, choose the options y'all want to include in your unattended installation. For example, accepting the EULA, skipping automatic activation, skipping the license rearm, the setup linguistic communication, entering your computer name, keyboard language and input, whether to use express privacy and sharing settings, and more than.

Input Your Sectionalisation Settings

Adjacent, you need to input your sectionalisation settings for the unattended Windows 10 installation. It is of import to get these settings correct. If yous use the incorrect disk and partition information, you lot could wipe data from another drive on your system.

To begin, decide if you are performing a clean install or upgrading your organisation. If you're opting for a make clean install, change the Wipe Disk selection to Yep. Select the number of the disk to install to. If yous're unsure of the disk number, type disk direction in your Commencement Menu search bar and select the Best Lucifer. Note the disk number and the partition number y'all are installing Windows on. Use the following images every bit a reference:

windows 10 unattended installation partition options

I will exist installing to disk 0. Select Yep to Main Partition Active. Ensure your Chief Division Format is NTFS. Set a proper name for your Chief Partition Characterization. Brand sure your Chief Partition Letter of the alphabet matches the Sectionalization Gild, e.thou., my C: partition is equivalent of partitioning order number two.

windows 10 disk management unattended installation

Finally, enter your User Account information, including a User Proper noun, whether you'd similar UAC enabled, and whether y'all'd like your account to Auto-Logon. You're all ready!

Download and Re-create Your Answer File

Gyre down to the console box. Download your Autounattend.xml file using the Download File located underneath the box.

To complete your unattended Windows 10 installation media, follow the Make Windows 10 Installation Media department covered before in the article. When you cease burning the Windows ten installation to your USB wink bulldoze or disc, you must re-create the Autounattend.xml file into the root directory, alongside the installation files.

The next fourth dimension you need to install Windows 10, the entire process volition exist automated, leaving you free to drink tea and eat scones.

The Piece of cake Way to Install Windows 10

You now know the three main methods of creating Windows x installation media. You can use whatsoever of these methods for a clean installation of Windows 10. Before commencing with your clean install, please make sure to support any important files to a safety location—not the aforementioned drive you'll be installing to!

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About The Author

Gavin Phillips (1061 Articles Published)

Gavin is the Junior Editor for Engineering Explained, a regular correspondent to the Really Useful Podcast, and a frequent production reviewer. He has a degree in Gimmicky Writing pillaged from the hills of Devon, and more than a decade of professional writing feel. He enjoys copious amounts of tea, board games, and football game.

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