Installing Windows 10 from an external hard drive (HDD/SSD) is essentially the same as using a standard USB flash drive, but it offers significantly faster speeds—especially if using an external SSD . This method is ideal for users without a 16GB+ thumb drive or those who want a more reliable installation medium. Reddit +2 The Verdict: Is It Worth It? Pros: Much faster installation times compared to standard flash drives; useful for "Windows To Go" (running a portable OS directly from the drive). Cons: The setup process
Installing Windows 10 from an External Hard Drive: A Step-by-Step Guide Are you looking to install Windows 10 on your computer without using a USB drive or CD/DVD? Perhaps you have a large external hard drive lying around and want to utilize it for this purpose. Look no further! In this review, we'll walk you through the process of installing Windows 10 from an external hard drive. Requirements:
An external hard drive with at least 20 GB of free space A Windows 10 ISO file (you can download it from Microsoft's official website) A computer with a working internet connection A computer that needs Windows 10 installed
Preparation:
Download the Windows 10 ISO file : Go to Microsoft's official website and download the Windows 10 ISO file. Choose the edition and language you want to install. Format your external hard drive : Connect your external hard drive to your computer and format it to NTFS. Make sure to backup any important data on the drive, as formatting will erase all data. Create a bootable external hard drive : Download and install a tool like Rufus (free) or UNetbootin (free) on your computer. These tools will help you create a bootable external hard drive.
Using Rufus:
Launch Rufus and select your external hard drive from the device dropdown menu. Choose the Windows 10 ISO file you downloaded earlier. Select the partition scheme (GPT or MBR) and target system type (UEFI or Legacy). Click "Start" to begin the process. install windows 10 from external hard drive
Using UNetbootin:
Launch UNetbootin and select your external hard drive from the device dropdown menu. Choose the Windows 10 ISO file you downloaded earlier. Select the "Hard Drive" option and choose your external hard drive. Click "OK" to begin the process.
Installing Windows 10:
Connect the external hard drive : Connect the external hard drive to the computer where you want to install Windows 10. Restart the computer : Restart the computer and enter the BIOS settings (usually by pressing F2, F12, or Del). Set the external hard drive as the first boot device : In the BIOS settings, set the external hard drive as the first boot device. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings. Windows 10 installation : The computer will now boot from the external hard drive, and the Windows 10 installation process will begin. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Pros and Cons: Pros: