Can You Install Windows 10 by Putting an ISO File onto a Blank SSD?

[dekw04]

Hello.

I have a question about reinstalling Windows 10 with the .iso file of Windows 10.

My situation is that I have a solid state drive with a non-working copy of Windows 10 on it. I can still access these files by connecting the drive to my computer via a USB adapter.

I put this SSD back into my computer and ran a DVD with the .iso file of Windows 10 on it, but it didn't work for whatever reason and I got the same error message that I had been getting previously.

If I erased all of the files on the SSD (which contains the non-working copy of Windows 10), can I put a fresh .iso file of Windows 10 onto the SSD and then boot up the computer with the SSD in it and expect Windows 10 to start installing?

In other words, can you install Windows 10 by putting an .iso file onto a blank/empty SSD and then booting up the computer?

Thank you.

 

[jr9]

ISO files are designed make bootable media. This generally is a flash drive or a DVD. You can't drop an ISO file on to an SSD and install Windows onto that same SSD and if you can somehow I woudln't recommend doing it anyways. The general procedure for what you are trying to do is:

- Use rufus, a flash drive big enough for the Windows 10 ISO, and the Windows 10 ISO to create a bootable Windows 10 install USB. You then boot from this drive and use it to install Windows on to the SDD.

- Use a DVD burning software and a DVD to write the ISO file to a DVD disk (CD isn't big enough) and then boot to this disk at startup and use this to install Windows.

Note: Both of these options may require you to rearrange your BIOS boot order if the PC doesn't boot to your USB or DVD and just goes straight to the hard drive or SDD. All you'd need to do is move DVD ROM or USB to the top of the boot order.