How to Install Windows 10 from Scratch Using a Bootable USB

Step 1: Download the Windows 10 ISO File

Before starting, download the official Windows 10 ISO file. You can get it from Microsoft’s website or use the link provided below.

👉 Download ISO: Click here to download Windows 10 ISO

Step 2: Prepare a USB Flash Drive

Insert a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage into your computer. Make sure it doesn’t contain important data, as it will be erased during the process.

Step 3: Create a Bootable USB using Rufus

Now we’ll use Rufus — a free tool that makes it easy to create bootable USB drives.

1. Download Rufus from its official website.
2. Open Rufus and select your USB device under Device.
3. Click SELECT and choose the downloaded Windows 10 ISO file.
4. Under Partition Scheme, select GPT (for UEFI) or MBR (for Legacy BIOS).
5. Keep all other settings as default and click Start.
6. Wait for Rufus to finish creating the bootable drive.

Step 4: Boot from USB Drive

Once the bootable USB is ready:

1. Restart your computer.
2. Press the boot menu key (usually F12, F9, or Esc depending on your PC).
3. Select your USB drive to boot from.

Step 5: Begin Windows 10 Installation

After booting from USB, you’ll see the Windows setup screen.

1. Choose your preferred language and keyboard layout.
2. Click Install Now.
3. Select the Windows 10 Education (64-bit) version or whichever version you prefer.
4. Accept the license terms and click Next.
5. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
6. Select your main drive (usually Drive 0) and click Next.

Step 6: Wait for Installation to Complete

Windows will now copy files and install. This process can take 15–30 minutes. Your PC will restart several times — don’t remove the USB until setup is complete.

Step 7: Complete Initial Setup

Once installation is finished:

• Remove the USB drive when prompted.
• Set your region and keyboard preferences.
• Connect to Wi-Fi if available.
• Sign in with a Microsoft account or create a local account.

Step 8: Finalize Setup and Update

After reaching the Windows desktop, open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and install all pending updates.

🎉 Congratulations! You have successfully installed Windows 10 from scratch.