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A Beginner’s Guide to Installing Windows 10 from a Downloaded ISO with Rufus
Installing Windows 10 from a downloaded ISO can be a straightforward process, thanks to the use of tools like Rufus. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a bootable USB drive and install Windows 10 from it.
Prerequisites:
- A Windows 10 ISO file
- Rufus (a free and popular tool for creating bootable USB drives)
- A computer with a valid Internet connection
Step 1: Create a Bootable USB Drive
To create a bootable USB drive, you’ll need to use Rufus. Here’s how:
- Download Rufus from the official website.
- Run the executable file (usually located in the ZIP archive).
- Select the Windows 10 ISO file and choose “Create Bootable USB Drive” as the destination.
- Set the boot order to prioritize your USB drive (usually it’s set to the second device by default, so you can use a different one if needed).
- Click on “Start” to create the bootable drive.
Step 2: Transfer Files from the ISO to Your Computer
Once Rufus has created the bootable USB drive, you’ll need to transfer files from the Windows 10 ISO file to it.
- Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer.
- Open a command prompt or PowerShell window (you can do this by pressing Win + R and typing “cmd” in the Run dialog box).
- Navigate to the folder where you saved Rufus (usually it’s C:\Windows\USBCreateOrReinstall).
- Use the “xcopy” command to transfer files from the Windows 10 ISO file to the USB drive:
xcopy /s /w .\ windows10.iso C:\Windows\USBCreateOrReinstall
This will copy all files and folders from the Windows 10 ISO file to the USB drive. Make sure to replace “.” with the actual location of your Windows 10 installation.
Step 3: Boot from the USB Drive
Now that you have a bootable USB drive, let’s boot into it!
- Insert the USB drive into your computer.
- Restart your computer (usually by pressing F10).
- The computer should now boot from the USB drive. You’ll see a Windows 10 installation screen.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.
Step 4: Activate Windows 10
Once you’ve completed the setup process, it’s time to activate your new Windows 10 installation!
- Go to the Microsoft Store (or download and install from the official website).
- Sign in with your Microsoft account or create a new one.
- Enter your product key (you’ll receive this via email after purchasing or activating your Windows 10 license).
Tips and Variations
- Make sure to use the correct version of Rufus that supports the latest versions of Windows 10.
- If you encounter any issues during the installation process, don’t hesitate to seek help from online forums or Microsoft support.
- You can also use other tools like Acronis True Image or Macrium Reflect for creating bootable USB drives.