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Installing Windows 10 from a Downloaded Image with Rufus: A Step-by-Step Guide
Rufus, a popular tool for creating and managing bootable USB drives, is an essential utility for anyone looking to install Windows 10 directly from a downloaded image. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Windows 10 using Rufus, so follow these steps carefully.
Prerequisites:
- A computer with a valid Rufus installation (downloaded and installed on your system)
- Rufus software
- The Windows 10 download from Microsoft (ensure it’s for a compatible architecture, such as x86 or x64)
Step 1: Prepare Your USB Drive
- Insert the downloaded Rufus ISO file into your computer.
- Ensure the USB drive is set to boot from USB.
Step 2: Enter Rufus and Set Boot Options
- Launch Rufus on your computer.
- Select the Rufus image file as the source drive.
- Choose a boot order, ensuring that Windows is first in line. You can also select “No boot device” if you have another operating system installed.
Step 3: Create a Bootable USB Drive
- Click “Start” to create the bootable USB drive.
- Select the location for the USB drive and enter any password or press Enter without entering anything.
- Rufus will now start creating the bootable USB drive. You may see an progress bar as it’s loading.
Step 4: Boot from USB Drive
- Once the boot process is complete, your computer should now start booting from the USB drive.
- The installation process should begin automatically.
- You can monitor the installation by checking Rufus and ensuring Windows is detected.
Step 5: Activate Windows 10 (Optional)
- If prompted, enter your product key to activate Windows 10. This step may take a few minutes.
- Wait for the activation process to complete before closing Rufus or shutting down your computer.
After following these steps and completing the installation process, you should now have successfully installed Windows 10 from a downloaded image using Rufus.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Ensure that the USB drive is not damaged or corrupted.
- If Rufus fails to detect the boot device, verify the boot order in Rufus settings.
- Make sure your computer meets system requirements for installing Windows 10.