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installation media with external hard drive windows 10

Anonymous
2023-07-01T04:22:58+00:00

Hi can anyone give me instructions on how to create installation media with an external hard drive for windows 10? i broke my laptop and now im trying to fix it, i have usb flash drives but they all dont have enough storage for the installation so im hoping anyone can help me. Thx in advance.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-07-01T05:03:39+00:00

    Hi sanMiguel100_3, I'm Erfan and I'll be happy to help!

    Before taking the steps below, please make sure you have an external hard drive with sufficient storage space (at least 8GB).

    Connect your external hard drive to a working computer.

    Kindly go to the official Microsoft website and download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. You can find it at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

    Run the Media Creation Tool and accept the license terms.

    On the "What do you want to do?" page, select the "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC" option and click "Next."

    On the "Select language, architecture, and edition" page, leave the default settings as they are unless you have specific requirements. Click "Next."

    On the "Choose which media to use" page, select the "USB flash drive" option and click "Next."

    On the "Select a USB flash drive" page, you should see a list of available removable drives. Select your external hard drive from the list and click "Next."

    The Media Creation Tool will now download the necessary Windows 10 files and copy them to your external hard drive. This process may take some time, depending on your internet connection speed.

    Once the process is complete, you'll see a message stating that the USB flash drive is ready. Click "Finish" to close the Media Creation Tool.

    Please remember to boot your broken laptop from the external hard drive to start the Windows 10 installation process. You may need to change the boot order in your laptop's BIOS settings to prioritize the external hard drive.

    Please note that creating a Windows 10 installation media will erase any existing data on the external hard drive, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.

    Thanks!

    I hope this helps :)

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-07-01T05:33:23+00:00

    Kindly take the steps below to change the boot order:

    Turn on or restart your computer and press the key (usually f2 or f6) to enter the BIOS setup utility.

    Go to the tab or section that displays the list of boot devices or your computer’s boot order.

    Highlight each device and arrange them in the order you want.

    Save your changes and exit the BIOS.

    Confirm your changes and start the computer.

    The exact steps may vary depending on your laptop’s manufacturer and model.

    Here is a video that might be helpful for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GblKZO-smU

    Standard disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need any further assistance.

    Kind regards :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-07-01T05:25:49+00:00

    Thanks for your reply!

    No, it does not render the drive unusable for future use. The process simply copies the necessary Windows 10 installation files onto the external hard drive.

    Once you have finished creating the installation media, you can safely remove the external hard drive from your computer. Afterward, you can still use the external hard drive for other purposes, such as storing files or backing up data. The Windows 10 installation files occupy only a portion of the drive's storage, leaving the remaining space available for your use.

    Just keep in mind that if you want to use the external hard drive for storing additional files, make sure to create a separate partition or folder to avoid any accidental deletion or overwriting of the Windows 10 installation files.

    Thanks :)

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-01T05:22:36+00:00

    How can i change the boot order on my laptop's BIOS settings?

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-07-01T05:21:07+00:00

    Hi erfan

    may i know if this process makes the external hard drive unusable? i still want to use it for future use

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