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How to Create a Bootable USB Windows 10 Using Rufus

#microsoft

Creating a bootable USB drive is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to install or reinstall Windows 10. With the help of Rufus, a lightweight and free utility, you can prepare a USB stick to install Windows quickly.

✅ What You Need

Before starting, make sure you have the following:

  • A USB flash drive (at least 8 GB in size).
  • A Windows 10 ISO file (you can download it from the Microsoft website).
  • The latest version of Rufus (download here).

🔧 Steps to Create Bootable USB with Rufus

1. Download and Install Rufus

  • Visit the Rufus official website.
  • Download the latest version (portable, no installation required).
  • Open the program by double-clicking Rufus.exe.

2. Insert Your USB Drive

  • Plug your USB flash drive into your computer.
  • Rufus will automatically detect it under Device.

⚠️ Note: All data on the USB will be erased. Backup your important files first.

3. Select Windows 10 ISO File

  • Under Boot selection, click SELECT.
  • Browse and choose the Windows 10 ISO file you downloaded.

4. Configure Partition Scheme

  • Partition scheme:
    • Choose MBR if installing on BIOS/Legacy systems.
    • Choose GPT if installing on UEFI systems.
  • File system: Leave as NTFS (default).
  • Cluster size: Leave as default.

5. Start Creating Bootable USB

  • Once settings are ready, click START.
  • Rufus may prompt to download additional files—accept if needed.
  • A warning will appear that all data on the USB will be destroyed. Click OK to proceed.

6. Wait for Completion

  • Rufus will format the USB and copy all Windows installation files.
  • The process may take several minutes depending on USB speed.
  • When the status bar turns green and says READY, your bootable USB is done.

🚀 How to Use the Bootable USB

  1. Insert the USB drive into the target computer.
  2. Restart the computer and enter the boot menu (usually by pressing F2, F12, ESC, or DEL, depending on manufacturer).
  3. Select your USB drive as the boot device.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10.

🎯 Conclusion

Using Rufus makes creating a bootable USB for Windows 10 simple and fast. With just a few steps—selecting your USB, choosing the ISO, and starting the process—you’ll be ready to install or repair Windows 10 on any computer.

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