Being able to install Windows from USB has a number of uses. For instance you may be trying to install a server which quite regularly come without DVD drives. I have also found it a lot quicker to install from USB so it is now my preferred method for performing new installs. To be able to install Windows from USB you first need to format the USB disk and then copy the Windows installation files to it which can be done with the following steps.
- Go to Start>Run type in ‘diskpart’ and press enter.
- In the new window type in ‘list disk’ and press enter. This will display all of the disks currently attached to your computer. Look for the number next to your USB drive and make note of it.
- Type ‘select disk #’ and press enter replacing the # with the number from the step before.
- Type ‘clean’ and press enter.
- Type ‘create partition primary’ and press enter.
- Type ‘select partition 1’ and press enter.
- Type ‘active’ and press enter.
- Type ‘format fs=fat32’ and press enter.
- Type ‘assign’ and press enter.
- Type ‘exit’ and press enter which should close the disk part window.
- Go to start>run and type in ‘xcopy d:\*.* /s/e/f e:\’ replacing D:\ with your DVD driver and E:\ with the driver letter of the USB disk. Both of these can be found by looking in my computer.
- Once the files have finished copying plug the USB drive into the computer you wish to install and when you start the computer look for the option for ‘boot menu’ and press the key it shows.
- In the boot menu find your USB drive and press enter which should start to load the Windows installation.
