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Windows 10 tip: Use an ISO file to create a bootable USB flash drive

Your emergency repair kit should include a recovery drive that contains the installation files for the latest Windows 10 version. Here's how to create this indispensable tool quickly and easily.
Written by Ed Bott, Senior Contributing Editor

Windows 10 April 2018 Update: Here's what you can expect

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Double-click to open the ISO file as a virtual drive in File Explorer, then drag its contents to your recovery drive.

Click to enlarge

Every time Microsoft releases a new feature update for Windows 10, you should build a new recovery drive containing the setup files for that update. You can use that drive to repair a damaged installation or to reinstall Windows on a new PC.

You can use the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB flash drive, as I describe in my installation FAQ. But I recommend a slightly different approach: Use the option to download the Windows 10 installer as an ISO file, and then use that file to make bootable installation media.

After the download is complete, you can double-click the ISO file to mount it as a virtual DVD drive and run Setup directly from the mounted drive. From that same File Explorer window, you can also create bootable Windows 10 installation media on a USB flash drive.

In addition to the ISO file, you also need a USB flash drive at least 8 GB in size. This process will delete all data on the USB drive, so back up any important files before proceeding. Then follow these steps:

  1. Plug the USB flash drive into your PC and use the Recovery Media Creator tool create Windows 10 recovery drive. (The easiest way to find this tool is to type Create a recovery drive in the search box on the taskbar, then click the shortcut from the search results. For full details, see "Windows 10 tip: Create a recovery drive.")
  2. Open File Explorer and double-click the recovery drive you just created to open its contents in a window.
  3. Open a second File Explorer window, locate the Windows 10 ISO file you downloaded, and double-click to mount it as a virtual drive.
  4. Position the two File Explorer windows side by side and drag the full contents of the mounted drive to your USB flash drive. Choose the option to overwrite all existing files.

Label the drive (including the version number) and keep it in a safe place.

PREVIOUS AND RELATED CONTENT

Need more details about the right way to do a clean Windows 10 install? See these previous articles:

Windows 10 tip: Create a recovery drive

If your Windows 10 PC is operating perfectly right now, great. Take advantage of the opportunity to create a recovery drive so you have a way to perform repairs if something ever goes wrong.

After Windows 10 upgrade, do these seven things immediately

You've just upgraded to the most recent version of Windows 10. Before you get back to work, use this checklist to ensure that your privacy and security settings are correct and that you've cut annoyances to a bare minimum.

How to install, reinstall, upgrade and activate Windows 10

Here's everything you need to know before you repair, reinstall, or upgrade Windows 10, including details about activation and product keys.

Windows 10 tip: Repair your Windows 10 installation

Performing a clean install or a reset means you have to reinstall apps and desktop programs and start over with settings and preferences. If you suspect Windows has become damaged, there's a less drastic solution: Run Setup to repair Windows. Here's how.

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