guide

Supporto Messoanuovo
12 Apr, 2022

Windows, features and how to install it from a USB stick

It is the most famous and well-known operating system in the world, Windows in its various versions has been installed in millions of licenses. Install Windows

If we consider for example an office or a school environment we will have no difficulty in noticing that Windows PCs will be the most widespread. This operating system has in fact been installed more or less everywhere, thanks to its ease of use and complete support of drivers and external peripherals.

The Windows laptop or Windows desktop has therefore become a symbol of the PC itself, for a machine that has entered all markets, offices and homes across the board.

But let's take a closer look at the features of Windows, starting from the basics.

Windows

Operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation (yes, that of Bill Gates), was born in 1985. The main feature of this operating system is its usability for the user who, through a graphical interface based on a desktop, can run applications in "windows" ( hence the name of this operating system).

“Son” of the success of MS-DOS, Windows was officially born in 1985, the year in which Windows 1.0, a 16-bit operating system, was presented.

16 bits will be just the beginning to then become 32-bit and finally 64-bit, in a continuous renewal that exploits and anticipates the evolution of hardware and external peripherals.

The versions of Windows followed one another with ever greater success until in 1995 the numerical sequence was lost and the name of the year was "taken" in the version. So Windows 95 first and then Windows 98 appear, two operating systems that will colonize the world of personal computers.

Starting from the 2000s, the operating system will evolve further, embracing the Internet and the power of the network, with one of the most successful versions, Windows XP (Experience). This operating system will gain a lot of acclaim, also thanks to the two Service Packs released over time. To date, this version is the longest-lasting of all.

The new Windows

After XP we return to the numbers for Windows, first with Windows 7, a highly appreciated and successful version, and then with Windows 8, a version that was not as popular. Windows 10 will then be released, the most installed version of all, even today that Windows 11 has already been released.

A new operating system, not yet fully digested and loved by the general public who still continues to love the success and stability of Windows 10.

How to install Windows?

In many cases we find the Windows operating system already pre-installed, especially when we buy a new or refurbished computer.

But if we prefer to do it ourselves or if we need to format the computer, we may need to install or reinstall Windows ourselves.

In this case we usually proceed through the installation from a CD/DVD, a network path or a more convenient and interesting alternative from a USB stick.

How to install Windows 10 from a flash drive?

Installing Windows 10 (but also Windows 7) from a USB stick is perhaps the simplest possible solution among the various possible installation systems. Installing Windows 10 from a USB stick is a simple, quick and clean operation that can be done in just a few minutes.

Why do you choose to install Windows 10 from a stick?

There are many cases, we could simply have a modern laptop, without a disk reader or we could prefer the idea of having one or more keys in our "toolbox" that allow us to keep all the programs we might need in phase of necessity.

Not just "convenience", but also speed. Installing Windows 10 from a USB stick is the fastest possible system available. Much faster than loading from CD, flash drive installation is preferred by basic and professional users.

What is needed?

First of all, a flash drive with at least 8 GB of free disk space. Before starting this procedure, you must format the flash drive.

The identified key must then support BOOT from UEFI. This might seem like a detail, but it is a fundamental step, as many flash drives are still made with the old standard called BIOS.

Supporting the UEFI system (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is a significant advantage, as this mode can support different versions of the operating system and allows greater flexibility in repairing PC software problems. However, it is useless to focus exclusively on this point, given that in many cases both formats are fine.

Prepare the USB stick for booting

The procedure for preparing the flash drive is very simple. Obviously we start from the formatted flash drive. it will be inserted into the computer and the process of creating this support will begin. The simplest way to do this is through the Windows 10 " Installation Media Creation Tool ", which can be downloaded from this address.

After downloading this lightweight software we will run it. After accepting the terms of use, a screen will appear where we can choose between two different options. The one we are interested in will obviously be: " Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD or ISO file) for another PC ", we will then click it and press Next.

During the installation process we will be able to define some parameters that will be used to precisely define our version. We will then choose:

The preferred language: in the vast majority it will obviously be Italian, but thanks to this menu you can also choose installations in a different language.

The Windows edition: among the various packages in which Windows 10 was presented we will choose the edition that is best for us.

System architecture: currently probably 64 bit, but for older computers, we may also need 32bit.

Select these options and click Next again.

At this point we will select the destination device (USB Flash Drive) and click Next to start downloading the installation files of the requested version.

This process may take some time, depending on your connection speed, and is not interruptible. Some GB of data will be downloaded there, which will be used to correctly configure the Windows 10 installer.

At the end of this copy process our disk will be ready, we can then eject it from the computer and start using it.

Install Windows 10 from a bootable USB stick

The USB stick created has now become bootable, we can then insert it into the computer on which we will have to install or reinstall Windows 10.

With the computer turned off, insert the USB key and then turn it on waiting for it to be detected. If the boot does not start automatically we will have to force the boot from USB by pressing the DEL or F1 keys during startup of the operating system.

Once detected, simply follow the procedure and the various steps to install a new version of Windows 10.

For those who prefer the previous version, Windows 7, the procedure is very similar, if not even simpler, given that there is no choice between UEFI and BIOS.