Creating a USB thumb drive loaded with Windows 10 installation media is very easy thanks to Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool. With a prepared USB drive you can install the latest version of Windows on a new PC or have an install drive at the ready should your current rig start to malfunction.
If you’ve never used the Media Creation Tool, however, even this simple process might be a little overwhelming. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a Windows 10 USB drive with the Media Creation Tool.
The first thing you need to do is go to Microsoft’s dedicated website for Windows 10 downloads, and click Download tool now to grab the Media Creation Tool. Now would also be a good time to insert the USB drive you want to use as your installation media. It needs to be at least 5GB in size (you'll see '4GB' in the tool, but Microsoft confirmed the larger number), and make sure you know which drive letter it’s been assigned (D, E, F, etc.) once you plug it in.
I decided to force upgrade my laptop to Windows 10 using the Command Prompt trick. And I have a download file size of about 8GB. Is this normal?
Once the tool is downloaded, double-click the MediaCreationTool.exe file to launch it. After clicking through the licensing agreement, you’ll have the option either to upgrade your current PC or create installation media. We want the latter, so select the radio button labeled Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click Next.
By default, the Media Creation Tool will download the same version of Windows that’s on the PC you’re currently using. If that’s fine, click Next.
If you need to change anything such as the default language, edition of Windows 10 (Home or Pro), or the architecture (32- or 64-bit), deselect the check box labeled Use the recommended options for this PC. The change most users will likely need to make is to the architecture. If you try to upgrade a 32-bit PC with a 64-bit version of Windows, for example, it won’t work. Once you’ve made the necessary changes, click Next.
Now you have to decide whether you want to create installation media or just download an ISO file. We want to create a USB flash drive, so select that radio button and click Next.
On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to choose the USB drive you want to use. Make sure you know the correct drive letter as mentioned earlier. Select it so it’s highlighted (the “D” drive is selected in the case pictured here), and click Next.
Now the Media Creation Tool will begin downloading Windows 10 to your PC. Once it’s downloaded the tool will then put Windows 10 on the USB drive. After that’s done, your drive will be ready. Next click Finish, let the tool clean up, and unplug your USB drive.
If you're a Windows 7 user, you're in limbo: while the last free major upgrade loophole to Windows 10 expired at the end of 2017, Microsoft will stop supporting the OS on Jan. 14, 2020. If you intend to upgrade to Windows 10 and the April 2018 Update but haven’t actually completed the process, we can help.
For consumers, the choice is a simple one. Unfortunately, the free upgrade has expired, and you now have to buy your own Windows 10 license: either Windows 10 Home, or Windows 10 Professional. (Why buy Windows 10 Pro? Our story explains why you should consider it.) We'll explain how much you'll have to invest in a bit.
During the update process, plan to invest some time in prep work and at least two hours in the upgrade process itself. And be careful—some of your applications may be left behind or simply turned off.
(Editor’s Note: We originally wrote this story in 2015, to explain the upgrade process to Windows 10. We’ve updated our story with more details of how the process has evolved, and explain how you can still upgrade to Windows 10 and the April 2018 Update, then revert back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.)
What to buy
Aside from one major component of some versions of Windows 7, the transition between the earlier versions of Microsoft’s operating system and the new Windows 10 should be relatively painless. Basically, if you own a “Pro” version of Windows, you’ll migrate to the Professional version of Windows 10. Otherwise, expect to receive a copy of Windows 10 Home. (We have more about the individual Windows 10 editions here.) Ignore the upgrade path for Windows phones for now; the platform is essentially defunct.
Besides this story, a good reference is Microsoft’s Windows 10 FAQ, which explains what happens to existing applications on your PC, including (expired) anti-malware subscriptions, as well as the system hardware requirements. A related document is the minimum requirements for a 'highly secure' Windows 10 device running the Windows April 2018 Update -- this generally applies only to enterprise users, but may also affect secure boot in capabilities within consumer editions. What the second document boils down to is relatively simple: make sure you have a seventh-generation Intel Core chip or above, or else a comparable AMD processor.
Also, and this is important: Make sure you’re running a genuine, licensed copy of Windows—sorry, Microsoft won’t be upgrading pirates for free.
Mentioned in this article
Microsoft has also released the official retail pricing for Windows 10, in case you’re building a PC. (If you're buying a laptop or desktop PC, Windows will almost certainly come installed, and any upgrades are unnecessary.) In general, you can pay $120 to download Windows 10 Home from Microsoft directly, $200 to download Windows 10 Pro from Microsoft directly, or pay a little less to buy it from an e-tailer. Amazon charges $109.99 for Windows 10 Home, and $189 for Windows 10 Pro. Double-check your microprocessor; you'll almost certainly want the 64-bit version of the OS, if it's offered. And make sure to buy from a reputable vendor.
There's another option: buying a 'system builder' license from an e-tailer. This is usually the choice of enthusiasts, but it offers no support or even instructions from Microsoft. It's cheaper: Windows 10 Home is $110 ($93) from Amazon; while Windows 10 Pro was $143 from Amazon.
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Windows 10 prep work
Preparing for Windows 10 was never that hard to begin with, but Microsoft’s made it even easier. Windows 7 users must be running Service Pack 1 to enable the update. At one point, Windows 8 users were required to upgrade to Windows 8.1 before they upgraded to Windows 10. Microsoft representatives confirmed that this is no longer the case, though—Windows 8 will do just fine.
How Big Is Windows 10 Pro
I’ve negotiated several upgrades without having any issue with losing files. Just to be safe, though, back up all critical documents, photos, videos, and whatever else you deem important onto an external storage device of some sort. “Applications, files and settings will migrate as part of the upgrade, however some applications or settings may not migrate,” Microsoft says, somewhat cryptically.
If you’ve done that, then you’re ready to begin. Look for the tiny Windows icon down in the lower-right corner of your taskbar, and click it to launch the Windows 10 reservation app, also referred to as “Get Windows 10” or “GWX”. You may be familiar with it anyway, as that’s the app that’s been continually reminding you to download Windows 10.
Here are the system requirements for Windows 10 (and what your options are if your PC doesn’t meet them):
- Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
- RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for a 32-bit version, or 2GB for 64-bit
- Hard disk space: 16GB for a 32-bit OS; 20GB for 64-bit OS
- Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
- Display: 1024x600
Microsoft also warns that even if your PC seemingly meets those specifications, it might not be upgraded. “Driver and firmware support, application compatibility, and feature support” could affect whether the Windows 10 upgrade takes place, not to mention missing or damaged files, or simply having insufficient drive space to complete the upgrade. Use the “check my PC” function within the reservation app to find out whether your computer has been qualified to run Windows 10.
Just to double-check, I completed the upgrade on my last home PC, and I captured it on video in two parts. Here’s the first:
Microsoft advises that the initial Windows 10 download will be about 3GB in size. I found that on a 75Mbps home broadband connection, that took a bit more than 20 minutes. Because the PC I was upgrading contained a regular old hard drive, however, it seemed like the installation took forever: about 35 minutes just for the “preparation for installation” alone. If you own a newer computer with an SSD, however, expect the installation to proceed much faster. (Be advised that Microsoft may then ask you to perform several additional updates to make Windows 10 current, so allow considerable time, on the order of possibly a few hours.)
Once the installation phase completes, your PC will reboot and the upgrade phase will begin. During this time, Windows will show an animation of a large circle slowly being drawn onscreen to indicate how the upgrade is proceeding, plus a more detailed view at the bottom of the screen.
Here’s the second video explaining the rest of the process:
At this stage, the process should be rather anticlimactic, though you’ll definitely want to take some time near the end to customize settings rather than accept Windows 10’s Express settings. After a reboot or two, you’ll be asked to log in using your password.
After my upgrade was completed, I was rather unceremoniously dumped into Windows 10. In all it took me about two hours to upgrade an older Asus PC to Windows 10.
From there, though, the process may begin anew. It's possible that upgrading to Windows 10 won't take you directly to version 1803, AKA the April 2018 Update. From there, you'll may have to download and install additional updates.
What you’ll leave behind by migrating to Windows 10
The upgrade process will involve some sacrifices—but Microsoft is making an effort to make the transition as painless as possible.
For one thing, if you own the premium versions of Windows 7 — Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate—as well as Windows 8 Pro with Media Center or Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center... say goodbye to Media Center. Microsoft is going to install its own DVD-playing app into Windows 10 to replace it: the Windows DVD Player app, which (due to licensing fees) costs $14.99. (Just download the free VLC app instead.) Likewise, Windows 7 desktop gadgets will be uninstalled. And the Windows 7 versions of Solitaire, Minesweeper, and Hearts that came with Windows 7 will also vanish, to be replaced with new versions of those apps with Windows 10.
Microsoft also says that it may erase “some applications that came from your OEM.” Some of your PC’s bloatware—or prized utilities, depending on your view—could vanish.
Finally, Microsoft will uninstall, then reinstall, your antivirus application. If your subscription is out of date, however, only Microsoft’s own subpar antivirus app, Windows Defender, will be installed. Be sure and check this after upgrading, though Microsoft should also warn you if anything is amiss via its fly-in notifications. I found that my antimalware solution and firewall survived the upgrade process just fine, but the firewall was turned off. Windows Defender should enable both a firewall and antivirus solution if both are missing.
Some additional assembly required
Keep in mind that older hardware simply won’t include some of the hardware conveniences being included inside new Windows 10 machines. For example, Windows Hello, which logs you into your PC by recognizing your face or your fingerprint, won’t work with all webcams—chances are that you'll need to buy something like a Tobii Eye Tracker 4C. Speech recognition will work best with a high-fidelity microphone array; no surprise there. And there’s a whole host of nitty-gritty specifics that Microsoft has included for Windows 10 Professional, such as a requirements for BitLocker and Wi-Fi Direct Printing.
If Microsoft hasn't already updated you directly to the Fall Creators Update or above, be prepared to go through some additional downloads and updates, too. With Windows, updating typically takes a while. Your best bet is to kick off the process during the evening, do some laundry or watch some TV, and check back every so often.
How to “downgrade” from Windows 10 and go back to Windows 7 and 8.1
Congratulations, you’ve upgraded to Windows 10. But what if you want to go back?
If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10, then changed your mind, there should still be an escape hatch. (We can't guarantee this, especially as Microsoft marches through continual Windows 10 updates.) If you wish, you can revert back from Windows 10 to your older operating system within a 31-day window. (Once that 31 days expires, though, the upgrade is permanent!)
To downgrade to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, open the Settings menu, then Update & Security > Recovery. You’ll see a “Go back to...” option for your prior operating system. If those 31 days have expired, however, you’ll simply see options to “Reset this PC” or “Advanced Startup”—neither of which will revert the PC to the earlier operating system.
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It’s a pain, but many feel that even if you have no plans to upgrade to Windows 10, you may as well snag the free upgrade, then revert back. Before you revert, though, play it safe: Grab a copy of your Windows 10 product key. Windows 10 should automatically give you a “digital entitlement” to your license simply by upgrading; we’re just playing it safe in case Windows ever asks for it if you decide to upgrade again.
We’d recommend trying this Nirsoft utility should snag your Windows 10 product key. Copy it down and squirrel it away.
If you’re new to Windows 10, check out our guide for starting off right in your first 30 minutes, with a brief introduction of Windows 10 and its various features. Your final step: bookmark PCWorld.com’s Windows 10 page. Microsoft will keep updating Windows 10, and we’ll keep you up to date on what you need to know.
This tutorial was updated on April 27, 2018, with the latest information.