Questions on Installing Windows 10

[Avidius]

I'm building my first computer and I was wondering how I could install Windows 10 through a flash drive. I have a very tight budget currently, and as cheap as optical drives are, I cannot afford one. So any information on how to install Windows 10 through the flash drive would be great. Also, how large of a flash drive do I need. Thanks!

 

[Robert Cook]

from what I recall, 4GB USB stick is enough ( if you have a larger USB, it cannot hurt to try it), simply buy window 10, and then download the ISO (from their site) to the EMPTY USB and then boot from the USB into the installer, and use the product key that came with the windows purchase. I think windows also lets you just get a key, but it is always good to have an ISO disc, and those things ship fast anyway.

 

[smorizio]

you need an 8g usb stick as iso is 3.2 to 3.4g in size and with formatting of the usb stick a lot of 4g stick wont work.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10/?wa=wsignin1.0
use this tool to download and make the bootable usb tool.
you need windows 10 key or see if you can still get on the windows insider testers. (beta testing).
after the windows 10 iso stick is made from another pc download to the usb stick all the newest motherboard drivers.
you can copy the mb cd to the usb stick but sometime the drivers are old. make sure the ethernet and chipset drivers are on the usb stick. also put the video drivers on the usb stick.
when you boot into windows for the first time install the ethernet drivers so you can do windows updates.

 

[USAFRet]

A 4GB USB stick works no problem.

Direct from Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10/
Before you begin

"Make sure you have:
A blank USB or DVD (and DVD burner) with at least 4 GB of space if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB or blank DVD, because any content on it will be deleted."

Now...you also need to purchase a valid license key for this. This is around $100.
The install media is trivial and basically free. DVD, USB, Download from MS.

 

[Avidius]

Would there really be a difference if I got this or if I got this and an optical drive. The optical drive and the OEM would be cheaper, so is there any other downside to that?

 

[USAFRet]

Would there really be a difference if I got this or if I got this and an optical drive. The optical drive and the OEM would be cheaper, so is there any other downside to that?

That one from Microcenter is just fine.

 

[Avidius]

I wouldn't need to do it with a USB because it comes with an installation disc, right? What features in the optical drive would I need for installing it?

 

[USAFRet]

I wouldn't need to do it with a USB because it comes with an installation disc, right? What features in the optical drive would I need for installing it?

Nothing extra needed. Any DVD drive will work.