Learn how to make a USB stick bootable with Windows 10 using WinRar. Follow our step-by-step guide and get your computer ready for installation or upgrade.
How to make a USB stick bootable with Windows 10 using WinRar
To make a USB stick bootable with Windows 10 using WinRAR, you’ll follow these steps in a tabular format:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Download Windows 10 ISO | Visit the official Microsoft website and download the Windows 10 ISO file. |
| 2. Install WinRAR | If not already installed, download and install WinRAR from its official website. |
| 3. Extract Windows 10 ISO | Right-click on the downloaded ISO file and select “Extract files” using WinRAR. Choose a convenient location to extract the files. |
| 4. Format USB Stick | Insert your USB stick and format it to FAT32 or NTFS. Make sure to back up any existing data on the USB as this process will erase all data. |
| 5. Copy Extracted Files to USB | Open the folder where you extracted the Windows 10 files. Select all files and folders, then copy them to the formatted USB stick. |
| 6. Make USB Stick Bootable | Open the command prompt with administrative rights. Type diskpart and press Enter. Then, list disk, select your USB drive (be careful to choose the correct one), and use commands like active to mark the partition as active. |
| 7. Eject USB Stick Safely | After the files are copied, and the USB stick is made bootable, safely eject the USB stick from your computer. |
This method uses WinRAR to extract the Windows 10 ISO file and then copies the extracted files to a USB stick. However, it should be noted that making a USB bootable also involves using disk management tools like diskpart. Always be cautious when using diskpart, as selecting the wrong disk can lead to data loss.
How Does WinRAR Help in Making a USB Stick Bootable?
WinRAR is a popular archiving utility that not only compresses files but also allows you to create bootable USB drives. It can extract ISO files and write them to a USB stick, making it bootable and ready for installation. This feature comes in handy when you don’t have a DVD drive or want a faster installation process.
Step 1: Gather the Required Materials
Before we delve into the process, let’s make sure you have everything you need. Here’s a list of the materials required:
- A USB stick with a minimum capacity of 8GB (make sure it’s empty as all data will be erased)
- Windows 10 ISO file (download it from the official Microsoft website)
Step 2: Download and Install WinRAR
If you don’t already have WinRAR installed on your computer, visit the official website and download the latest version. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
Step 3: Extract the Windows 10 ISO File
Locate the downloaded Windows 10 ISO file on your computer. Right-click on the file and select “Extract Here” from the WinRAR menu. This will extract the contents of the ISO file to a new folder.
Step 4: Format the USB Stick
Insert the USB stick into a USB port on your computer. Open “This PC” or “My Computer” and right-click on the USB stick. Choose the “Format” option from the context menu. In the format dialog box, ensure the file system is set to “FAT32” and click on the “Start” button to begin the formatting process. Formatting the USB stick will erase all data on it, so make sure you have backed up any important files.
Step 5: Write the Windows 10 ISO to the USB Stick
Now, it’s time to use WinRAR to write the Windows 10 ISO file to the USB stick. Open the folder where you extracted the contents of the ISO file in Step 3. Select all the files and folders within the folder, right-click, and choose the “Add to Archive” option from the WinRAR menu.
In the “Archive name” field, give your new archive a name and make sure the archive format is set to “ZIP.” Click on the “OK” button to create the ZIP archive. Once the archive is created, rename the resulting ZIP file by changing its file extension from “.zip” to “.iso.” It should now be named something like “Windows10.iso.”
Right-click on the newly renamed ISO file and select “Extract Here” from the WinRAR menu. This will extract the contents of the ISO file to the same folder, this time in their original format.
Next, select all the extracted files and folders, right-click, and choose the “Send to” option from the context menu. In the sub-menu, select your USB stick. WinRAR will now start writing the Windows 10 files to the USB stick, making it bootable.
Step 6: Test the Bootable USB Stick
Once the writing process is complete, remove the USB stick from your computer. Insert it into the computer where you want to install or reinstall Windows 10. Restart the computer and access the boot menu by pressing the appropriate key during startup (varies depending on the manufacturer). Select the USB stick from the boot menu, and the Windows 10 installation process should begin.
Conclusion
Creating a bootable USB stick with Windows 10 using WinRAR is a straightforward process that can save you time and effort. By following these steps, you can have a bootable USB stick ready for installing or reinstalling Windows 10 on your computer. Just make sure to gather all the required materials, download and install WinRAR, extract the Windows 10 ISO file, format the USB stick, and write the ISO file to the USB stick. Enjoy a smooth installation process and get your Windows 10 up and running in no time.
