[Windows 11/10] How to Create and Use a USB Flash Drive Installation Media to Reinstall Windows

Applicable Products: Notebook, Desktop, All-in-One PC, Gaming Handheld, MiniPC

 

If your device encounters serious issues (such as being unable to enter the operating system) and you have not previously created a recovery drive (learn more about How to create and use Windows recovery drive), you can try using installation media to reinstall the Windows operating system. To use installation media for reinstalling Windows, you will need another device that can connect to the internet (if your device is unable to enter the operating system) and an empty USB flash drive (at least 8GB of space) to create the installation media for Windows.

Note: Reinstalling Windows using Microsoft's installation media will not retain personal files or ASUS bundled applications. Some programs may not be available for download from the ASUS website. If needed, please contact the ASUS service center for assistance. Learn more about How to search for and download utilities.

 

To provide you more detailed instruction, you can also click ASUS Youtube video link below to know more about How to create and use installation media to reinstall Windows 11/10 via USB drive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMW_WHqQBf8

 

Please go to the corresponding instruction based on the Windows operating system you want to install:

 

Windows 11 operating system

Table of Contents:

Create a Windows 11 installation media
  1. Go to Microsoft website, click [Download now]in the Create Windows 11 Installation Media field.     
  2. Go to the downloaded folder of the tool, then double-click [MediaCreationTool]file to start the installation.     
  3. If the User Account Control window displayed, please select [Yes].     
  4. Please read the Microsoft software license terms and applicable notices, then select [Accept].         
  5. Select language and edition which you want to create for the Windows installation media, then select [Next].         
    Note: Please select the correct language and edition for your target unit to prevent any errors happened on the Windows activation afterward (if your device is with digital license, Windows OS will be automatically activated when it’s online after the installation is completed).         
  6. Connect the USB flash drive that you want to create as a Windows installation media to your device, select [USB flash drive]and then select [Next].         
    Note: All files on the USB flash drive will be deleted during the process, so please back up your files first if you have data inside originally.         
  7. In removable drives, confirm and select the USB flash drive that you want to use, then select [Next], and the system will start to download as well as create Windows installation media. The creation will take a while, which depends on your device and the internet connection.         
    Note: Please make sure the AC adapter is connected as well as there is a stable internet connection during the process, and do not force to shut down to prevent the creation is incomplete.         
  8. The installation media has been created, please click [Finish].         

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Use the installation media to reinstall Windows 11
  1. Connect the installation media (USB flash drive) to your device.
  2. Power on the device and select the boot option as the USB flash drive, here you can learn more about How to boot the system from USB drive.
  3. The device will enter Windows Setup. Please choose the language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method, then click [Next].         
  4. Click [Install now].         
  5. If your device was built-in Windows Operating System (which is a digital license), please select [I don’t have a product key]. Windows OS will automatically be activated online after the installation is completed.         
  6. Please select the Operating System version which you want to install, then click [Next].         
    Note: Please select the version which your device originally had, otherwise, Windows activation will error if the version is not the same.         
  7. Please read the Microsoft software license terms and applicable notices. Check the box to [I accept the license terms], then click [Next].         
  8. Select [Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) ].         
  9. You will see the list of all drives and partitions on your device. If multiple disks are displayed, you will only need to delete all partitions from the disk where you want to install Windows. (Most Disk C locates as Drive 0, so let’s take Drive 0 as an example.)         
    Select each partition of Drive 0 in the list, then select [Delete]. If the Windows Setup notification appears, please select [OK].         
    Note: If you select Delete on other disks/drives, it will remove ones all data inside.         
            
  10. After reproducing step 9 to delete all partitions of Drive 0, only Drive 0 Unallocated Space should remain. Select [Drive 0 Unallocated Space], then click [Next]⑭ to reinstall Windows OS.         
    Note: Please make sure the AC adapter is connected during the process, and do not force to shut down to prevent any issues.         
  11. The device will restart and enter the basic setting page of Windows OS after the reinstallation is complete, here you can learn more about Windows - Start for the first time.         
  12. After completing the basic settings of Windows OS and enter desktop, you should go to ASUS support site to download drivers, here you can learn more about How to search for and download drivers.

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Windows 10 operating system

Table of Contents:

Create a Windows 10 installation media
  1. Go to Microsoft website, click [Download tool now]to download Windows 10 installation media tool.         
  2. Go to the downloaded folder of the tool, then double-click [MediaCreationTool]file to start the installation.         
  3. If the User Account Control window displayed, please select [Yes].         
  4. Microsoft software license terms and applicable notices, please select [Accept].         
  5. Select [Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC], then select [Next].         
  6. Select language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) which you want to create for the Windows installation media, then select [Next].         
    Note: Please select the correct language, edition, and architecture for your target unit to prevent any errors happened on the Windows activation afterward (if your device is with digital license, Windows OS will be automatically activated when it’s online after the installation is completed).         
  7. Connect the USB flash drive that you want to create as a Windows installation media to your device, select [USB flash drive]and then select [Next].         
    Note: All files on the USB flash drive will be deleted during the process, so please back up your files first if you have data inside originally.         
  8. In removable drives, confirm and select the USB flash drive that you want to use, then select [Next], and the system will start to download as well as create Windows installation media. The creation will take a while, which depends on your device and the internet connection.         
    Note: Please make sure the AC adapter is connected as well as there is a stable internet connection during the process, and do not force to shut down to prevent the creation is incomplete.         
  9. The installation media has been created, please click [Finish].         

Back to Table of Contents

 

Use the installation media to reinstall Windows 10
  1. Connect the installation media (USB flash drive) to your device.
  2. Power on the device and select the boot option as the USB flash drive, here you can learn more about How to boot the system from USB drive.
  3. The device will enter Windows Setup. Please choose the language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method, then click [Next].         
  4. Click [Install now].         
  5. If your device was built-in Windows Operating System (which is a digital license), please select [I don’t have a product key]. Windows OS will automatically be activated online after the installation is completed.         
  6. Please select the Operating System version which you want to install, then click [Next].         
    Note: Please select the version which your device originally had, otherwise, Windows activation will error if the version is not the same.         
  7. Microsoft software license terms and applicable notices, please check the box to [I accept the license terms], then click [Next].         
  8. Select [Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) ].         
  9. You will see the list of all drives and partitions on your device. If multiple disks are displayed, you will only need to delete all partitions from the disk where you want to install Windows. (Most Disk C locates as Drive 0, so let’s take Drive 0 as an example.)         
    Select each partition of Drive 0 in the list, then select [Delete]. If the Windows Setup notification appears, please select [OK].         
    Note: If you select Delete on other disks/drives, it will remove ones all data inside.         
            
  10. After reproducing step 9 to delete all partitions of Drive 0, only Drive 0 Unallocated Space should remain. Select [Drive 0 Unallocated Space], then click [Next]to reinstall Windows OS.         
    Note: Please make sure the AC adapter is connected during the process, and do not force to shut down to prevent any issues.         
  11. The device will restart and enter the basic setting page of Windows OS after the reinstallation is complete, here you can learn more about Windows - Start for the first time.         
  12. After completing the basic settings of Windows OS and enter desktop, you should go to ASUS support site to download drivers, here you can learn more about How to search for and download drivers.

Back to Table of Contents