Installing or upgrading an operating system is no longer the tedious process it used to be. Today, with the advent of bootable USB drives and ISO files, it has become significantly easier and faster. But first, let’s understand what an ISO file is.
An ISO file, often referred to as an ISO image, is a single file representation of an entire program, capturing all the data of the original files, including the filesystem. Think of it as a digital clone of a physical CD or DVD. When you possess a Windows 10 ISO, it essentially means you have the entire Windows 10 installation package in a compressed format. However, merely having the ISO file isn’t sufficient for installation or upgrading purposes. To use this ISO to either upgrade from a previous version of Windows or to perform a clean install, it needs to be written or ‘burned’ onto a tangible medium like a CD, DVD, or a USB flash drive.
USB flash drives, due to their portability and sizable storage capacity, have become the go-to medium for such tasks. Beyond OS installations, they’re incredibly versatile, allowing for data storage, backup, and transfer.
Nevertheless, one crucial aspect to be mindful of is the firmware type of your computer’s motherboard when selecting the right media. The older BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) has now largely been replaced by UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) in modern computers. UEFI offers better security features and faster boot times compared to its predecessor.
For those aiming to create a bootable Windows 10 USB for a UEFI-based computer, two prominent methods exist. The first involves utilizing the official Microsoft Media Creation Tool, designed to directly download the required files to a USB drive. This approach ensures compatibility with both UEFI and the older BIOS systems. Alternatively, the second method leverages a popular third-party application named Rufus, which provides more granular control over the bootable drive creation process.
In conclusion, understanding the nature and utility of ISO files and the significance of UEFI in modern computing is paramount for a seamless OS installation experience. Armed with this knowledge and the right tools, one can effortlessly transition to Windows 10 using a bootable USB flash drive tailored for UEFI support.
How to download and create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool?
Follow the below-given steps to download and create a Windows 10 UEFI boot media using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool:-
Step 1. Go to the Windows 10 Download page.
Step 2. Click on the “Download tool now” button under the “Create Windows 10 Installation Media” section to save the file on your computer.
Step 3. When downloading is completed, double-click on the “Media Creation Tool file” to run it.
Step 4. It may take some time to get ready. When ready, click the “Accept” button to agree to the Microsoft terms and conditions.
Step 5. After that, select the option “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC.”
Step 6. Now click on the “Next” button to proceed.
Step 7. Then uncheck Use the recommended options for this PC option.
Step 8. Now select the language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10 for which you want to create a bootable USB drive.
Note: Select the Architecture if you wish to install 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 10 on different computers.
Step 9. After that, click on the Next button to select the correct option.
Step 10. Now select the USB flash drive option (It depends upon the selection, which may require up to 16GB of free space on the USB drive).
Step 11. Click on the Next button.
Step 12. After that, select your Flash drive.
Step 13. Again, click on the Next button.
Step 14. Now, click on the Finish button.
When this process completes, the tool will start downloading the required files from the Microsoft servers, and it will create your bootable USB flash drive with support for UEFI and BIOS.
Also Read: How to Mount an ISO File on Windows 11?
Conclusion
In conclusion, an ISO file is a copy of a single program that contains all installation files, and it is useful for installing or upgrading an operating system. If you want to install Windows 10 on a UEFI-based computer, you can create a bootable USB flash drive using Microsoft Media Creation Tool or a third-party tool like Rufus. Creating a bootable USB flash drive is essential if you want to install a fresh copy of the OS or upgrade your existing OS. It is crucial to select the appropriate media for your motherboard firmware type, whether it is UEFI or Legacy BIOS. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 10 on a UEFI-based computer.
