Often the DVD drive is missing in new computers and laptops, and it’s not a very good thing to buy it if you only use it once. Running out of DVD-r discs are also very common and that’s why it’s better to download files directly than having physical media sent to you. To install Windows from a USB drive is really convenient and not difficult at all to do. If you buy your copy from the Microsoft store, you can download an ISO file directly to your hard drive, but if you have a Windows disc, you have to create an ISO file.

1. First you need to convert your Windows disc to an ISO file. Tools likeMagic ISO is great to use for this task. You also need a USB drive with at least 4GB of space available. When your ISO file is created, click here to download the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool and install it on your computer.

2. Open the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool and locate the Windows ISO file and click next. Click on the USB device button and choose the USB drive you want to use and then start copying. All data will be erased from your USB drive, so make sure you don’t have any important data left. The whole format and copying process will take 20 – 30 minutes. That’s it, just follow these steps and you will have a bootable Windows USB ready to use.

This method is more complicated but not very difficult. It’s better to use this method if you don’t want to download an ISO converter or use the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool.

1. Insert the USB drive in an empty slot and open the command prompt as an administrator. Type the command “DISKPART” and then “LIST DISK“. The USB Drive is the disk with less size. Type “SELECT DISK 1“, the number depends on which number your USB drive has, hit enter and your USB drive will be the selected disk.

2. Type in these commands one by one: “CLEAN“, “CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY“, “SELECT PARTITION 1“, “ACTIVE“, “FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK“, “ASSIGN” and type “EXIT” to end the process.

3. Insert the Windows disc and open the command prompt again. Type in which drive letter your DVD drive has where your Windows disc is located. My USB drive letter is E: and the DVD drive is D:. Type these commands one by one: “D:“, “CD BOOT“, “BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 E:” hit enter and your USB drive will become bootable.

4. Copy and paste all the content in your Windows disc to your USB drive and you can now install Windows from it. Use this method if you have a Windows disc but if you already have a Windows ISO file, the first method is better to use.

You need to change the boot sequence before you can boot from your USB drive. Insert the Windows USB drive and start your computer, Hit the “Delete” or “F2″ key or any other key that opens up the BIOS. There are many BIOS versions from different manufacturers but usually you can change the boot order under the Advanced BIOS Features page. Set your USB drive as the First Boot Device and save and exit the BIOS. That’s it and you can now install Windows from your USB. Comment below if you have any questions.