How to create Bootable Windows 10 Installation USB Flash Drive

byraiden -February 28, 2021

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Tutorial on how to create a bootable USB Flash Drive (USB thumb drive, Pendrive) from Windows 10 Installation ISO image file. It can be used to install Microsoft Windows 10 Operating System on the computer from a USB Flash drive.

Additionally, it can be used to troubleshoot other issues:

Startup Repair : Automatic repair of startup issues.
Command prompt : Use command tools for troubleshooting.
Uninstall updates : Uninstall recently installed quality or feature updates in Windows OS.
UEFI Firmware Settings:
System restore : Use system Restore feature to restore the Windows OS into a recent previous state.
System Image Recovery : Recover the system using a system recovery image using a previously created Windows OS recovery image file.

Requirements:

A USB Flash drive with a capacity of 8 GB or more.
An original bootable Windows 10 installation media in ISO image file format.
Computer with Microsoft Windows 7 or later.

Bootable USB flash drives can be created for two types of firmware:

UEFI-based PC : The bootable Windows 10 Installation Flash drive will only boot in a computer in which the motherboard has UEFI firmware. Users who have computers with UEFI firmware are recommended to use this method for Windows 10 installation.
BIOS/ UEFI-CSM based PC: It will boot from a computer in which the motherboard has BIOS firmware. It can also boot in a computer in which the motherboard has UEFI firmware with CSM (Compatibility Support Module) enabled.

Rufus Application

Rufus application is one of the best choices for the creation of USB installation media from the bootable ISO image file of the Microsoft Windows 10 OS.

Download the Rufus app

1. Create a bootable USB Flash Drive for UEFI Firmware based PC using the Rufus app

This process will create a bootable Windows 10 installation USB Flash Drive using the Rufus app.
The source Windows 10 installation media is in ISO image file format.
It will boot only on computers with UEFI firmware.
The Microsoft Windows 10 OS will be installed on the Hard Disk or SSD in UEFI mode.

System config:

Rufus version 3.21
Microsoft Windows 10 x64

The File system for the partition in the USB Flash drive will be NTFS. Rufus automatically selects a File System for a USB flash drive.
It can boot into the computer with UEFI firmware. Support for UEFI boot must be enabled in UEFI firmware.

Instructions

Plug In the USB flash Drive on the computer.
Open File Explorer and note the Drive letter assigned to the USB flash drive.

Start the Rufus app.
Select the correct USB flash drive from the drop-down list labeled Device. Check that the selected device has the same drive letter as the inserted USB flash drive. The Microsoft Windows 10 installation files will be copied on the selected USB flash drive.
Select the SELECT button as shown in the image below. It is used to select the ISO image file of the installation media.

Select the Windows 10 ISO image file using File Explorer.
Select Open button

Select GPT from the drop-down list labeled Partition scheme.
Make sure UEFI ( non CSM ) is selected in the drop-down list labeled Target system.
Check that Standard Windows installation is selected in the drop-down list labeled Image Options.
The File System for the USB Flash drive is NTFS.
Select the START button to start the creation of a bootable Windows 10 installation USB flash drive.

Follow the instructions shown by Rufus.
Select the OK button when a warning message is displayed.

2. Create a bootable USB Flash Drive for BIOS/UEFI-CSM firmware based PC using the Rufus app

This process will create a bootable Windows 10 installation USB Flash Drive using the Rufus app. The source Windows 10 installation media is in ISO image file format.
It can boot in a computer with BIOS firmware.
It can also boot in a computer with UEFI firmware if the CSM (Compatibility Support Module) is enabled in the UEFI firmware. Support for legacy boot (legacy support) must be enabled in UEFI firmware.
The Microsoft Windows 10 OS will be installed on the Hard Disk or SSD in legacy BIOS mode.

System config:

Rufus version 3.21
Microsoft Windows 10 x64

Instructions:

Plug in the USB flash Drive in the computer.
Open File Explorer and note the Drive letter assigned to the USB flash drive.

Start the Rufus app.
Select the correct USB flash drive from the drop-down list labeled Device. Check that the selected device has the same drive letter as of the inserted USB flash drive. The Microsoft Windows 10 installation files will be copied onto the selected USB flash drive.
Select the SELECT button as shown in the image below. It is used to select the ISO image file of the installation media.

Select the Windows 10 ISO image file using File Explorer.
Select the Open button.

Select MBR from the drop-down list labeled Partition scheme.
Make sure BIOS ( or UEFI-CSM ) is selected in the drop-down list labeled Target system.
Check that Standard Windows installation is selected in the drop-down list labeled Image Options.
Select the START button to start the creation of a bootable Windows 10 installation USB flash drive.

Follow the instructions shown by Rufus.
Select the OK button when a warning message is displayed.

Installing the Windows 10 OS on the computer

After the bootable Windows 10 Installation USB flash drive has been created, there are other requirements that the user must check before starting the Windows 10 installation process.

It is recommended to disable the Fast boot (if it is available) feature in UEFI firmware before starting the Microsoft Windows 10 installation process.

Microsoft docs on booting in UEFI Mode or legacy BIOS mode

1. Target computer system: UEFI with CSM disabled

UEFI firmware requirements :

In the UEFI-based firmware, the user must disable Compatibility Support Module (CSM) in the UEFI firmware setting. Keep it disabled even after Windows 10 installation has been completed. Enable it only when it is required to boot a legacy OS.
If the boot mode setting is available in UEFI firmware, set it to UEFI mode (UEFI only) to boot in UEFI mode.
Hard disk or SSD requirements: The partition style of the hard disk or SSD in which Windows OS will be installed must be GUID Partition Table(GPT).

2. Target computer system: UEFI firmware with CSM enabled

UEFI firmware requirements :

In the UEFI-based firmware, the user must enable Compatibility Support Module (CSM) in the UEFI firmware setting. Keep it enabled even after Windows 10 installation has been completed. With CSM-enabled UEFI firmware, the PC will boot in legacy BIOS mode.
If the boot mode setting is available in UEFI firmware, set it to Legacy mode (legacy only, Legacy support) to boot in legacy BIOS mode.
The Microsoft Windows 10 OS will be installed in BIOS mode.
Hard disk or SSD requirements: The partition style of the hard disk or SSD in which Windows OS will be installed must be Master boot Record(MBR).
Installing the Windows 10 in

3. Target computer system: BIOS firmware

Computers with BIOS firmware should not face any issues. With BIOS firmware the PC will boot in legacy BIOS mode.

Hard disk or SSD requirements: The partition style of the hard disk or SSD in which Windows OS will be installed must be Master boot Record(MBR).

How to Check the Partition Style of the Hard Disk or SSD

Users can check the Partition Style of the hard disk or SSD in which Microsoft Windows 10 OS will be installed using Computer Management.

It is recommended to check the partition style before installing the Windows 10 OS.

To check the partition using Computer management, do the followings:

Open Start Menu.
Select Windows Administrative Tools > Computer management to open Computer management.
Select Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management.
Right-click on the Hard disk or SSD in which Windows 10 OS will be installed and select Properties.

Select Volumes tab.
The partition style will be stated as shown below.