Forum Discussion

Deborahind's avatar
Deborahind
Copper Contributor
Mar 12, 2026

How can I download or make Windows 10 bootable USB for reinstall?

My computer is currently running Windows 10, but it has become very slow and unstable lately. I am planning to reinstall the system from scratch to fix these issues. However, I'm not very familiar with the correct process for downloading the Windows 10 installation files and making Windows 10 bootable USB drive.

I tried searching online but found many different tools and guides, which made it a bit confusing. I'm not sure which method is the safest and easiest yo download windows 10 bootable usb.

Could someone explain the best way to download the official Windows 10 ISO and create a bootable USB drive for reinstalling Windows 10?

Also, what size USB drive is required, and will this process erase all data on the USB?

8 Replies

  • Okimms's avatar
    Okimms
    Iron Contributor

    The official tool does not perform well. That's why a lot of folks using 3rd-party app for making Windows 10 bootable USB.

  • MarlonSP's avatar
    MarlonSP
    Brass Contributor

    Et-cher is a popular and user-friendly tool primarily designed for creating bootable USB drives and SD cards from ISO and image files. While it is widely used for flashing Linux distributions and other OS images, it can also be used to make Windows 10 bootable USB, provided you have a Windows 10 ISO file.

    After making Windows 10 bootable USB drive, you can use it to reinstall the system on your computer. The process is roughly as follows:

    Insert the USB drive and restart: Insert the prepared USB drive into the computer that needs to be reinstalled, and then restart it.

    Boot from USB drive: When the computer boots up, a prompt usually appears on the screen, such as "Press F2/F12/Del for boot menu". At this point, you need to quickly and continuously press the corresponding startup shortcut keys (common ones include F2, F12, Delete or ESC, depending on your computer brand), and then select your USB drive from the pop-up boot menu.

    Start the installation: The computer will boot from the USB drive and enter the blue Windows 10 installation interface. You just need to follow the prompts on the screen, make selections step by step for language, click "Install Now", and then when choosing the installation location, it is recommended to format the system drive (usually the C drive), and then select it for installation. This will result in a completely clean system.

    Completion of setup: The remaining process is mostly automatic. The computer may restart several times, and eventually it will enter the Windows personalization settings interface. After setting it up, you can then access the brand new system desktop.

  • Atharvco's avatar
    Atharvco
    Copper Contributor

    To make Windows 10 bootable USB for reinstall, you can utilize the DiskPart utility, which is a powerful command-line tool built into Windows for managing disks and partitions. The process involves formatting the USB drive and preparing it to be bootable, ready for Windows installation.

    First, insert your USB flash drive into the computer. Then, open Command Prompt as an administrator. You can do this by searching for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-clicking on "Command Prompt," and selecting "Run as administrator."

    This command erases all existing data and partitions on the drive, leaving it blank and ready for new formatting. Your USB drive is prepared but still needs the Windows installation files and boot information to be added. To make Windows 10 bootable USB for reinstall, you need to copy the Windows installation files onto the drive. 

    Replace E: with the drive letter of the mounted ISO and X: with your USB drive's drive letter.

    This process installs the bootloader on your USB, making it bootable. Now, your USB is a Windows 10 bootable USB for reinstall. You can restart your PC, enter the BIOS or UEFI settings, select the USB as the boot device, and proceed with installing Windows.

  • Quincos's avatar
    Quincos
    Iron Contributor

    UNet bootin is a popular tool primarily designed for creating bootable Linux USB drives, but it can also be used to make Windows 10 bootable USB for reinstallation, though with some limitations. Here’s a general overview of how you might use UNet bootin for this purpose:

    First, you would need to download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft's official website. Once you have the ISO, you can open UNet bootin and select the option to create a bootable USB drive. Instead of choosing a Linux distribution, you would select “Diskimage” and browse to the location of your Windows 10 ISO file.

    However, it’s important to note that UNet bootin isn’t specifically optimized for Windows ISO files, and sometimes it might not create a fully bootable Windows installation USB. For the most reliable results, tools are often recommended because they are specifically designed to handle Windows ISO files and ensure the USB is properly prepared to make Windows 10 bootable USB for reinstallation.

    While you can attempt to use UNe tbootin to make Windows 10 bootable USB by selecting your ISO file, it’s not the most recommended tool for this task. For a more straightforward and reliable process, consider using dedicated tools.

  • Luxix's avatar
    Luxix
    Brass Contributor

    Ven toy is a free and open-source tool that allows you to make Windows 10 bootable USB drive. This can be a workaround for your situation, especially if you want to reinstall but can't because of the hardware limitations.

    Steps to Make Windows 10 Bootable USB

    1. Preparation of the USB Drive:

    Ensure you have a USB drive with enough space (at least 8 GB for Windows 10). You can delete any existing data on the USB drive, but if it's a new one, you're good to go. You can also use a USB drive that already has data on it; Ven toy will automatically detect and erase it.

    2. Make the Bootable USB:

    Follow the Ven toy instructions to make Windows 10 bootable USB drive. This involves running the Ven toy ISO, selecting the USB drive, and choosing Windows 10 as the OS to boot.

    3. Booting from the Ven toy USB:

    Once you have your Windows 10 bootable USB created, you'll need to configure your laptop to boot from the USB drive instead of the internal hard drive. This is usually done by entering the BIOS settings (you might need to press F2, F12, or DEL depending on your laptop model) and changing the boot order. Save the changes and restart your laptop. It should now boot from the USB drive.

    4. Installing Windows 10:

    After booting from the USB drive, follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10 on your laptop. This will involve selecting the language, time zone, and other settings. You'll also need to accept the licensing terms and agree to the terms of service.

    Important Note:

    While this process can help you install Windows 10 on your laptop, it does not upgrade your existing Windows 10 installation to Windows 11. Instead, it creates a new installation of Windows 10 on your laptop.

  • EmmettBrooks's avatar
    EmmettBrooks
    Iron Contributor

    HeiDoc assists you in creating a bootable USB drive for installing Windows 10. It directly retrieves the genuine, unmodified Windows 10 installation image from Microsoft servers, enabling you to produce a clean installation medium.

    User Guide: After launching the tool, select Windows 10 from the available options. Once you have chosen the desired edition, language, and architecture, a direct download link from Microsoft's official servers will be generated. After downloading the Windows 10 ISO file, use a third-party tool to create a bootable USB drive from the ISO file.

    This enables swift acquisition of the official files required for creating a bootable USB drive, facilitating the

    create bootable usb for windows 10.

  • JettStone's avatar
    JettStone
    Iron Contributor

    UUP Dump is a powerful tool offering a fully customisable method for downloading Windows 10 bootable USB installation files directly from Microsoft's official update servers. It supports creating bespoke, up-to-date Windows 10 ISO images.

    1. Search for your desired Windows 10 version
    2. Select language, edition, and architecture options
    3. Download the script package
    4. Run the script to automatically download and build the ISO

    Cons

    • Requires running a local script to build the ISO
    • Needs separate tool for USB creation
    • Process takes longer than pre-made ISOs

    It is an excellent solution designed for users who wish to exercise complete control over the download process, enabling you to download windows 10 bootable usb with the latest updates and custom configurations.

  • HoltSawye's avatar
    HoltSawye
    Iron Contributor

    TechBench is a trusted and widely used online service that enables you to securely and officially download Windows 10 bootable USB drives directly from Microsoft servers. It allows you to effortlessly obtain clean installation files.

    Step 1: Access the software via your web browser

    Step 2: Select Windows → Windows 10 from the menu

    Step 3: Choose your preferred edition, language and architecture

    Step 4: Obtain the official direct download link

    Step 5: Use the downloaded ISO to download windows 10 bootable usb drive

    It is the most reliable solution for downloading ISO files, offering a secure and official method for anyone requiring genuine Windows 10 installation media.