[SOLVED] Can you use an external HDD instead of a thumb drive to install Windows 10?

Grant Cole

Reputable
Apr 2, 2015
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4,680
Unfortunately I don't have a thumb drive large enough to install Windows 10 on my new PC, so Iv'e been wondering if you can use an external HDD instead? Would be much better than buying a new thumb drive.
 
Solution
Want to install today, so I plan to use something I have available today. Are there risks with using an external HDD?
First format the drive to fat32 and make sure the hdd has only one single partition; then use media creation tool to make it bootable...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10
no risks, just make sure that there are no essential files or documents in the hdd; but if the hdd is 1 TB or more; i guess it may not work...

Grant Cole

Reputable
Apr 2, 2015
109
0
4,680
Want to install today, so I plan to use something I have available today. Are there risks with using an external HDD?
First format the drive to fat32 and make sure the hdd has only one single partition; then use media creation tool to make it bootable...
https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10
no risks, just make sure that there are no essential files or documents in the hdd; but if the hdd is 1 TB or more; i guess it may not work...
 
Solution
Since using an external hard drive requires formatting and losing any data on it, it sure seems like it'd be worth a quick trip to get a USB flash drive. You can even buy them in drug stores nowadays - e.g. Walgreens has 16 GB ones for $8 (and Micro Center has them for $3).
 
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