Installing an operating system like Windows 10 is a hectic task, especially when you don’t have enough storage on your computer’s internal hard drive. Fortunately, you can install Windows 10 using an external hard drive, which is a great solution for those who don’t have enough space on their computer. In this guide, we will show you how to use an external hard drive to install Windows 10.
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The Challenge of using External Hard Drive to Install Windows 10
The biggest challenge that people face when trying to install Windows 10 using an external hard drive is that they don’t know how to do it. They either think it’s impossible or believe that they have to be a computer expert to do it. This guide will prove that neither of these beliefs is true. We will break down the process into simple steps that anyone can follow.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before we start, there are a few things that you will need to get started:
– An external hard drive with at least 8GB of storage capacity.
– A Windows 10 ISO file that you can download from the official Microsoft website.
– Rufus software that can create a bootable USB drive.
These are the basic things that you will need to get started. Once you have them, you can follow the methods we are going to show you to install Windows 10 using an external hard drive.
Method 1: Create a Bootable USB Drive using Rufus
The first method we are going to show you is how to create a bootable USB drive using Rufus. Follow these steps:
1. Download and install Rufus on your computer.
2. Insert your external hard drive into your computer’s USB port.
3. Open Rufus and select your external hard drive from the dropdown menu.
4. Click on the ‘SELECT’ button and choose the Windows 10 ISO file that you downloaded earlier.
5. Select the ‘MBR’ partition scheme and the ‘BIOS or UEFI’ target system.
6. Click on the ‘START’ button to start the process.
7. Once the process is complete, restart your computer and boot from the external hard drive.
Pros:
– Rufus is a reliable software that can create a bootable USB drive with ease.
– This method is straightforward and easy to follow.
Cons:
– This method requires a third-party software to create a bootable USB drive.
Method 2: Use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool
The second method we are going to share with you is using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive. Follow these steps:
1. Download and install the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.
2. Insert your external hard drive into your computer’s USB port.
3. Open the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and select the ‘Create Installation Media for Another PC’ option.
4. Choose the language, edition, and architecture that you want to install.
5. Select the ‘USB flash drive’ option and click on the ‘NEXT’ button.
6. Select the external hard drive that you want to use and click on the ‘NEXT’ button.
7. Wait for Windows to copy the files to your external hard drive.
Pros:
– This method doesn’t require any third-party software.
– The Windows 10 Media Creation Tool is an official software that is easy to use.
Cons:
– This method takes longer than using Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.
Method 3: Use Command Prompt to Create a Bootable Drive
The final method we are going to share with you is using Command Prompt to create a bootable drive. Follow these steps:
1. Connect your external hard drive to your computer.
2. Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
3. Type the command ‘diskpart’ and press Enter.
4. Type the command ‘list disk’ and press Enter.
5. Locate your external hard drive from the list of disks and type the command ‘select disk X’ (replace ‘X’ with the disk number of your external hard drive).
6. Type the following commands in sequence:
– clean
– create partition primary
– select partition 1
– active
– format fs=ntfs quick
– assign
7. Once the process is complete, mount the Windows 10 ISO file to the external hard drive using a software like WinRAR or 7-Zip.
Pros:
– This method doesn’t require any third-party software.
– It’s a great option for those who prefer using command prompt.
Cons:
– This method is more complicated than the other two methods.
– The risk of typing commands incorrectly can lead to data loss.
Why Can’t I Install Windows 10 using my External Hard Drive?
Although using an external hard drive to install Windows 10 is a great solution, there are a few reasons why you might not be able to do it. Here are the most common reasons and fixes:
1. Your external hard drive doesn’t have enough storage space. Solution: Make sure that your external hard drive has at least 8GB of storage space.
2. Your computer’s BIOS doesn’t allow booting from an external hard drive. Solution: Check your computer’s BIOS settings and enable booting from USB devices.
3. Your Windows 10 ISO file is corrupted. Solution: Download a new copy of the Windows 10 ISO file from the official Microsoft website.
Additional Tips
– Make sure that your external hard drive is formatted to NTFS before creating a bootable drive.
– Back up all the data on your external hard drive before creating a bootable drive.
– It’s recommended to use a USB 3.0 flash drive or solid-state drive to create a bootable drive for faster performance.
5 FAQs about Using External Hard Drive to Install Windows 10
Q1: Can I use an external hard drive to install Windows on a Mac computer?
A: Yes, you can use an external hard drive to install Windows on a Mac computer using the Boot Camp Assistant software.
Q2: Can I use an external hard drive to install Windows on multiple computers?
A: Yes, you can use an external hard drive to install Windows on multiple computers as long as you have a valid Windows license for each computer.
Q3: Can I use an SD card instead of an external hard drive?
A: Yes, you can use an SD card instead of an external hard drive to install Windows. However, an SD card might not have enough storage capacity to hold a Windows 10 ISO file.
Q4: Can I use a Wi-Fi connection to install Windows 10?
A: No, you cannot use a Wi-Fi connection to install Windows 10. You must use a wired network connection or a bootable USB drive or DVD.
Q5: Can I use a virtual machine to install Windows 10 on an external hard drive?
A: Yes, you can use a virtual machine to install Windows 10 on an external hard drive. However, it’s recommended to install Windows 10 directly on your computer’s internal hard drive for better performance.
In Conclusion
Using an external hard drive to install Windows 10 can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you don’t have enough storage space on your computer’s internal hard drive. Follow the three methods we have shared in this guide to create a bootable drive for installing Windows 10. Remember to back up your data before creating a bootable drive, and make sure that your computer’s BIOS settings allow booting from USB devices.
