If you’ve got a computer that has yet to upgrade to Windows 10, you don’t have to rush out and buy a new computer to start using it. There’s the Media Creation Tool that you can download free of charge directly from Microsoft that’ll allow you to get up and running with Windows 10 within a few minutes.

You can use the Media Creation Tool to install Windows 10 directly on the computer without the need for anything other than the web browser you’re using. There’s also the added option of creating a bootable USB flash drive. Installing the Media Creation tool onto the USB flash drive means you can share the same copy of Windows 10 between computers.

The Media Creation Tool is going to get you running on one of the latest versions of Windows. It won’t be as new as Windows Insider builds—for example, you won’t have to worry about bugs and incompatibilities with your applications—but it’ll be a lot newer than some of the earlier versions of Windows 10. As time has gone on, Windows 10 has been updated with lots of innovative features that make it overall a more desirable operating system to use than several years ago.

This tutorial demonstrates how to create a bootable USB flash drive to install one of the latest version of Windows for legacy BIOS and UEFI.

Method One: Use Media Creation Tool to Create Bootable Windows 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI

Requirements to use the Media Creation Tool for creating a bootable flash drive:

  • You need to have a working internet connection to be able to download the Media Creation Tool. The Media Creation Tool is what’s going to allow you to download Windows 10 and then copy it over to a USB stick.
  • You need to have enough space on both the computer and USB drive to store the downloaded version of Windows 10.
  • You need a USB stick with 4 GB (32-bit or 64-bit) or 8 GB (both 32-bit and 64-bit) of space available for the download. (Note that all other data on the USB stick will be wiped, so use a blank USB stick or make sure you create copies of anything currently on the stick.)
  • There are quite a few system requirements that you should check before you get started if you’re using an older computer or one without modern hardware specifications.
  • Anyone installing Windows 10 for the first time on a computer and who wants to use a licensed version of the operating system will need to have their product key. For more information, see: Find your Windows product key.

1. Open Microsoft’s download software page click on the Download tool now button.

Create Windows 10 installation media: Download Media Creation Tool

2. Wait for the Media Creation tool to finish downloading to your computer and then click on the file to open it. (If you don’t see it in your web browser, you can open File Explorer and find it in your Downloads folder.)

Media Creation Tool downloaded in browser

3. Click on Accept when you get to the applicable notices and license terms page.

Media Creation Tool terms and conditions

4. Put a checkmark next to Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC by clicking on the box available for it.

Media Creation Tool: Create installation media checkbox

5. If you want to annually choose the language, Windows 10 edition, and the computer’s architecture, then you first must uncheck the box where it says Use the recommended options for this PC.

6. Click on the Next button to continue.

Media Creation Tool: Language, edition, architecture

7. If, though grayed out, you are happy with the details you can see from the language, edition, and architecture fields, then leave the Use the recommended options for this PC checked.

8. Click on the Next button to continue.

Media Creation Tool: Use recommended options for this PC

9. Choose USB flash drive by clicking on the checkbox available for it.

Note: beneath where it shows the USB flash drive option, take note of it letting you know that the flash drive needs to be at least an 8 GB thumb drive to be able to store Windows 10 on it.

10. Click on the Next button to continue.

Media Creation Tool: USB flash drive

11. The Windows 10 ISO operating system file will now be downloaded onto the flash drive.

Media Creation Tool: Downloading Windows 10

Method Two: How to Create Bootable Window 10 USB for Legacy BIOS and UEFI with Rufus

To use UEFI you’ll first need to meet the requirements:

  • A 64-bit of the Windows 10 ISO file.
  • At least GB’s of free storage space on the USB thumb drive that you want to use.
  • Temporarily disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot in Windows 10 if you plan on booting from an external UEFI USB flash drive.

1. Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s software download webpage.

2. Download the latest version of Rufus from its official source. (Want more information on Rufus? See the FAQ available on GitHub.)

3. Connect the USB flash drive to the computer.

4. Double-click on the Rufus executable file and you’ll see the Rufus box open similar to the one below.

5. Fill in the details as follows:

Device: select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
Boot selection: tap/click on the SELECT button, and navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file.
Partition scheme: select GPT.
Target system: select BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
Volume label: you can enter any name for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.
File system: select NTFS.
Cluster size: select the one listed as the Default.

Rufus: Drive properties

Method Three: How to Create Bootable USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 10 Using Legacy BIOS (without UEFI)

1. Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s software download webpage.

2. Download the latest version of Rufus from its official source. (Want more information on Rufus? See the FAQ available on GitHub.)

3. Connect the USB flash drive to the computer.

4. Double-click on the Rufus executable file and you’ll see the Rufus box open similar to the one below.

5. Fill in the details as follows:

Device: select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
Boot selection: tap/click on the SELECT button, and navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 10 ISO file.
Partition scheme: select MBR.
Target system: select BIOS (or UEFI-CSM).
Volume label: you can enter any name for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.
File system: select NTFS.
Cluster size: select the one listed as the Default.

Rufus: Format options

How to Use “Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool” to Create Bootable Window 10 USB for only Legacy BIOS

1. Download the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s software download webpage.

2. Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool.

3. Navigate to your Downloads folder from File Explorer and run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool. Tap/click on the Browse button once you’ve finished settings it up.

Microsoft Store: Choose ISO file

4. Navigate to the location of your Windows 10 ISO file and then tap/click on the Open button.

Windows 10 ISO via File Explorer

5. Once you can see the ISO file’s path is loaded, tap/click on the Next button.

6. Tap/click on the USB device button.

7. Insert the USB stick into the computer and then select it from the drop-down menu and tap/click on the Begin copying button.

That’s all.

Related Tutorials