How to install Windows 10/11 by using Rufus
How to upgrade Windows to Windows 10/11 by using Rufus and USB
If you're still running Windows Vista or 7, you can (and probably should) upgrade to Windows 10. Here's how to do it.
Before you begin, you'll need a USB flash drive with 8GB of storage to create bootable media.
How to upgrade Windows 7/Vista to Windows 10
Step-by step complete Video instruction on How to make bootable USB from XP or Vista (Click here to watch)
The best way to upgrade Windows Vista/7/8 to Windows 10 is to start fresh with a clean installation, which you can do with the following steps:
1. Download Windows 10 ISO File according to your current Windows architecture type or the one you want to install. Be sure to select the correct type of installation media for the copy of Windows 10/11 that’s licensed for your PC — Windows 10 Home or Professional. (If “Windows 10” is the only option, you can safely use that and it will detect what version you want.) You should also choose your language and select whether you want the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows here. Most people will want the 64-bit version, but you can create installation media that includes both, and the installer will automatically select the most appropriate one when you use it to install Windows on a computer.
Windows 11 Download Link : https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
(From the download page, select the third option to get the ISO file.)
2. In order to burn the ISO file to a USB flash drive, download and install Rufus, which is a free and easy-to-use utility to create bootable media.
3. Launch Rufus.
RUFUS Download link (For Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11): https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases/download/v3.22/rufus-3.22.exe
RUFUS Download link (For Windows XP/VISTA): https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases/download/v2.18/rufus-2.18.exe
4. Under "Devices," select the USB flash drive you want to use.
5. Under "Format Options," click the disk drive icon next to the "Create a bootable disk using an ISO image" option.
6. Select the Windows 10 ISO file you want to use, and click Open.
7. Click the Start button to continue.
8. Click the OK button to confirm that all the data on the flash drive will be erased and to start the process.
9. Once the process is complete, while the USB flash drive or DVD is connected to your PC where you want to install Windows 10, restart your PC and boot your PC from USB. If not, you need to press a key depending on which laptop you are using (a list based on device brands is mentioned below) immediately after you turn on your PC to open the boot menu and change the boot order. If your device uses Secure Boot / UEFI, you will have to change it to Legacy and disable Secure Boot. This is how the default setting looked on a test laptop.
Use the 4 arrow keys of your keyboard, navigate to the Boot tab, and change the settings. Disable Secure Boot, enable the Legacy option, and set the Boot List option to Legacy.
Note: If your device isn't booting from the USB flash drive, you'll need to change your system's BIOS settings to make sure it can boot from USB. Usually, you power up your computer and hit one of the functions or ESC keys to access the BIOS, but make sure to check your manufacturer's support website for more information.
10. Click Next on the first screen of the Windows Setup wizard.
11. Click “install now.”
12. Enter your purchased key here.
13. Click Next.
14. Accept the licensing agreement.
15. Click Next.
16. Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option to start a clean installation of Windows 10.
17. Select any partition on the hard drive (usually "Drive 0") and make sure to click the Delete button to remove the partitions.
18. Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).
19. Click Next to begin the installation process.
Once you complete these steps, the setup will take over and finish installing Windows 10 on your Windows Vista machine. After the installation, simply follow the on-screen directions to complete the out-of-box experience (OOBE) with the settings you want.
During the OOBE, you'll be asked to set up an account with a Microsoft account. As such, you should make sure to have this information handy. Alternatively, you could use a local account, but you'll miss out on many advanced features, including the ability to sync settings between devices.
After you finish configuring Windows 10, you'll be presented with the new experience, and the only thing left to do is restore your files from backup and reinstall any app you were using on Windows Vista. It's also recommended to go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the Check for Updates button to make sure your device has the latest security and performance updates.
If you're still running Windows Vista or 7, you can (and probably should) upgrade to Windows 10. Here's how to do it.
Before you begin, you'll need a USB flash drive with 8GB of storage to create bootable media.
How to upgrade Windows 7/Vista to Windows 10
Step-by step complete Video instruction on How to make bootable USB from XP or Vista (Click here to watch)
The best way to upgrade Windows Vista/7/8 to Windows 10 is to start fresh with a clean installation, which you can do with the following steps:
1. Download Windows 10 ISO File according to your current Windows architecture type or the one you want to install. Be sure to select the correct type of installation media for the copy of Windows 10/11 that’s licensed for your PC — Windows 10 Home or Professional. (If “Windows 10” is the only option, you can safely use that and it will detect what version you want.) You should also choose your language and select whether you want the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows here. Most people will want the 64-bit version, but you can create installation media that includes both, and the installer will automatically select the most appropriate one when you use it to install Windows on a computer.
Windows 10 32bit: ( Click here to download 32bit ISO) OR ( Alternative download link for a 32-bit ISO)
Windows 10 64-bit: ( Click here to download the 64-bit ISO) OR ( Alternative download link for the 64-bit ISO)
Windows 11 Download Link : https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
(From the download page, select the third option to get the ISO file.)
2. In order to burn the ISO file to a USB flash drive, download and install Rufus, which is a free and easy-to-use utility to create bootable media.
3. Launch Rufus.
RUFUS Download link (For Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11): https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases/download/v3.22/rufus-3.22.exe
RUFUS Download link (For Windows XP/VISTA): https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases/download/v2.18/rufus-2.18.exe
4. Under "Devices," select the USB flash drive you want to use.
5. Under "Format Options," click the disk drive icon next to the "Create a bootable disk using an ISO image" option.
6. Select the Windows 10 ISO file you want to use, and click Open.
7. Click the Start button to continue.
8. Click the OK button to confirm that all the data on the flash drive will be erased and to start the process.
9. Once the process is complete, while the USB flash drive or DVD is connected to your PC where you want to install Windows 10, restart your PC and boot your PC from USB. If not, you need to press a key depending on which laptop you are using (a list based on device brands is mentioned below) immediately after you turn on your PC to open the boot menu and change the boot order. If your device uses Secure Boot / UEFI, you will have to change it to Legacy and disable Secure Boot. This is how the default setting looked on a test laptop.
| Samsung = F2 | Sony = F1 / F2 / F3 | Toshiba = F1 / Esc |
|---|---|---|
| Lenovo = F1 or F2 | Dell = Dell | Asus = Delete |
| Acer = F2 / Delete | Gigabyte = Delete | HP = F1/Esc / F2 / F10 / F12 |
Use the 4 arrow keys of your keyboard, navigate to the Boot tab, and change the settings. Disable Secure Boot, enable the Legacy option, and set the Boot List option to Legacy.
Note: If your device isn't booting from the USB flash drive, you'll need to change your system's BIOS settings to make sure it can boot from USB. Usually, you power up your computer and hit one of the functions or ESC keys to access the BIOS, but make sure to check your manufacturer's support website for more information.
10. Click Next on the first screen of the Windows Setup wizard.
11. Click “install now.”
12. Enter your purchased key here.
13. Click Next.
14. Accept the licensing agreement.
15. Click Next.
16. Click on the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option to start a clean installation of Windows 10.
17. Select any partition on the hard drive (usually "Drive 0") and make sure to click the Delete button to remove the partitions.
18. Select the hard drive (Drive 0 Unallocated Space).
19. Click Next to begin the installation process.
Once you complete these steps, the setup will take over and finish installing Windows 10 on your Windows Vista machine. After the installation, simply follow the on-screen directions to complete the out-of-box experience (OOBE) with the settings you want.
During the OOBE, you'll be asked to set up an account with a Microsoft account. As such, you should make sure to have this information handy. Alternatively, you could use a local account, but you'll miss out on many advanced features, including the ability to sync settings between devices.
After you finish configuring Windows 10, you'll be presented with the new experience, and the only thing left to do is restore your files from backup and reinstall any app you were using on Windows Vista. It's also recommended to go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the Check for Updates button to make sure your device has the latest security and performance updates.
Updated on: 21/11/2024
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