Whether you lot arrived at Windows ten 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 10. Read on for our comprehensive guide to creating Windows 10 installation media.

The first and well-nigh obvious selection for creating Windows ten installation media is the Windows Media Cosmos Tool. This application allows yous to download the Home or Pro versions of Windows 10, and you tin option from the 32-bit or 64-scrap version for both. Post-obit your selections, you can choose to install directly to a USB drive or download a single or dual-employ ISO to install to a disc at a later time.

  1. Download the Windows Media Creation Tool.
  2. Once downloaded, run the application and select Create installation media for another PC. Windows x will download inside the awarding, ready for you to cull your version, organization architecture, and which versions you lot'd like to include in your Windows 10 installation media.
windows 10 media creation tool

If you cull to install direct to a USB or disc, follow the onscreen instructions to consummate your installation. If yous're installing Windows x further down the line, read the adjacent section on how to create bootable media.

Download Windows ten ISO Directly from Microsoft

Y'all can download Windows ten straight from Microsoft without the Windows Media Creation Tool. The Windows 10 ISO was available from the Microsoft Tech Demote Upgrade Programme for a long fourth dimension, although this option is no longer available.

download windows 10 iso direct microsoft

However, in that location is an alternative method for downloading a Windows 10 ISO.

  1. Head to the Windows ten ISO
  2. Press F12 to open the Developer Options.
  3. Press CTRL + Shift + 1000 to open up the Toggle device toolbar, which appears in a higher place the webpage. From the dropdown card, select Responsive, then press F5 to refresh the page.
  4. When the page reloads, select the latest edition of Windows 10 from the dropdown, then Confirm the download.

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

If you lot downloaded a Windows x ISO to install later, you need to create bootable Windows 10 installation media using an ISO burning tool. You can fire the Windows 10 ISO to a USB flash bulldoze or a disc. Y'all'll find instructions for both options beneath.

Windows 10 USB Installation Media

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

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

The called-for process will vary depending on your computer but usually takes effectually 10-15 minutes.

Windows 10 Disc Installation Media

You don't have to use a USB to create your installation media. Many people prefer the traditional disc approach, and in that location are numerous gratuitous applications to help y'all get the chore done. For this instance, I'm going to use ImgBurn.

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

Already have a Windows disc but desire to create an ISO? Hither's how you create a bootable USB bulldoze from your Windows CD.

three. Unattended Windows 10 Installation

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

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

Showtime off, yous demand to generate an Autounattend.xml answer file. This reply file volition be included in our bootable USB and will "reply" the questions throughout the Windows 10 installation.

Create Your Answer File

Head to the Windows Answer File Generator (WAFG). Enter your Windows 10 product primal or use the generic product central provided by the WAFG. Windows 10 generic production keys permit yous to consummate the setup before entering a unique primal afterward installation.

windows 10 unattended installation options

Now, choose the options you want to include in your unattended installation. For example, accepting the EULA, skipping automated activation, skipping the license rearm, the setup language, inbound your computer name, keyboard linguistic communication and input, whether to utilize limited privacy and sharing settings, and more.

Input Your Partition Settings

Next, you lot demand to input your partitioning settings for the unattended Windows ten installation. It is of import to become these settings correct. If you apply the wrong disk and division data, you could wipe data from another drive on your arrangement.

To begin, decide if you are performing a clean install or upgrading your system. If you're opting for a clean install, change the Wipe Disk selection to Yep. Select the number of the disk to install to. If you're unsure of the disk number, type disk management in your Get-go Carte du jour search bar and select the All-time Match. Annotation the disk number and the segmentation number you lot are installing Windows on. Employ the following images as a reference:

windows 10 unattended installation partition options

I volition exist installing to disk 0. Select Yes to Principal Sectionalisation Agile. Ensure your Main Partition Format is NTFS. Gear up a name for your Main Partition Label. Brand sure your Main Partition Letter of the alphabet matches the Sectionalization Order, e.yard., my C: partition is equivalent of partitioning order number 2.

windows 10 disk management unattended installation

Finally, enter your User Account information, including a User Name, whether you'd like UAC enabled, and whether you'd like your account to Auto-Logon. Y'all're all prepare!

Download and Copy Your Answer File

Curlicue downward 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 ten Installation Media section covered earlier in the article. When yous finish burning the Windows 10 installation to your USB wink drive or disc, you must copy the Autounattend.xml file into the root directory, alongside the installation files.

The next time you demand to install Windows 10, the entire process will exist automated, leaving you lot gratuitous to drinkable tea and eat scones.

The Easy Style to Install Windows 10

Yous now know the three principal methods of creating Windows ten installation media. You lot tin can use any of these methods for a clean installation of Windows 10. Earlier commencing with your clean install, please make certain to support whatever important files to a safe location—not the same bulldoze yous'll exist installing to!

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Almost The Writer

Gavin Phillips (1061 Articles Published)

Gavin is the Inferior Editor for Technology Explained, a regular contributor to the Really Useful Podcast, and a frequent production reviewer. He has a degree in Contemporary Writing pillaged from the hills of Devon, and more than a decade of professional person writing feel. He enjoys copious amounts of tea, lath games, and football.

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