How To Run Windows Repair From Usb

How to perform a clean install of Windows from USB without a disc, and how to repair a corrupted install of Windows.

For either of these tasks, nosotros need a re-create of the original media that was used to install Windows. This guide will testify you how to get this media, how to put it onto a USB stick, and how to run the USB stick to install or repair your re-create of Windows.

This method is also suitable for dualbooting Windows on a Mac via Bootcamp.

You will need the computer you wish to install Windows on, another calculator with an net connection and Windows already installed, and a spare 4GB USB stick. This guide will install a trial version of Windows – you will need a valid licence key from Microsoft in order to activate it.

Stride ane: Download ISO

An ISO file is bit-for-bit re-create of the contents of a disc. The method we are using involves copying an ISO to a USB disc so that your calculator runs it as if information technology were a DVD.

If you accept your own ISO (or your own Windows disc you can create an ISO from) then I would recommend you use this.

However, if yous have lost your installation media, don't worry! The website getintoPC appears to be make clean, and offers ISOs of pretty much any version of Windows you might need. Click this link to browse for your version of Windows, or utilize ane of the following:

Windows 7 (all editions) ISO
Windows eight (all editions) ISO
Windows viii.1 (all editions) ISO

Make certain you download the version of Windows according to your licence key, or activation may non piece of work!

Pace 2: Create bootable USB

To create the USB, we will apply a plan chosen Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool. (Despite the name, information technology is proficient for creating USB sticks of any version of Windows.) Download information technology from here and install information technology on a working Windows PC.

Then run it. On the first screen, find your ISO:

Screenshot of Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool - choose ISO file

On the next screen, select USB.

Screenshot of Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool - insert USB device

Insert your USB stick into the reckoner. Select your USB stick from the drop downwards listing. (You may need to press refresh before you lot see your USB stick.)

Screenshot of Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool - choose media type

Finally, begin copying. This will take a while.

Stride 3: Plug in the USB stick

Plug the USB stick into the computer you lot wish to install Windows on, and turn this calculator on. Your calculator may detect this USB stick automatically, and a Windows loading screen appears.

If not, you need to tell your computer to load from the USB stick. On the boot screen (the commencement screen that appears as before long as yous hit the power button) look for something called 'boot menu' or similar. Await for the central next to this give-and-take – likely one of F2, F8, F10, F12 or DEL. (You may miss information technology the commencement couple of times!) Once you've found it, mash this key when y'all plough your computer on. On the next screen, use your keyboard to select the USB stick.

Step four: Run the Windows recovery/installation tool

Wait a couple of minutes, and a menu should appear. Depending on which version of Windows you have selected, you may see something different to this below, but the method volition be like.

If you are running a fresh installation of Windows, it is now a matter of following the prompts on the screen. If you are trying to repair Windows, in that location are a number of features that can help you to repair or reinstall Windows while preserving as much of your information as possible.

In the first screen, click 'troubleshoot'.

Windows 8 recovery screen - continue, troubleshoot, turn off your PC

We then become the post-obit options:

Windows 8 recovery screen - troubleshoot menu - options for refresh, reset and advanced options

You can cull either of these, depending on what exactly y'all need to exercise.

Refresh is useful for repairing existing installations of Windows. Information technology reinstalls key parts of the operating system and removes programs whilst keeping personal files intact. The existing copy of Windows will be moved into a folder called 'Windows.One-time' then y'all may still be able to recover whatever program files in hither. 'Refresh' worked for me when Windows become corrupted and refused to kick. If you're having problems and are considering reinstalling Windows, then I recommend you give this a go commencement!

Reset is a more than drastic version and is substantially a full re-install of Windows.

Within 'advanced' at that place are further options:

Windows 8 recovery screen - troubleshoot menu - advanced options

Useful options hither are:

Automatic repair. If your reckoner is failing to boot, it's worth trying this first. It will effort to fix your computer with minimal fourth dimension and no loss of data. Tin can't guarantee it will work, but it'due south worth trying showtime before doing anything more drastic.

Organisation restore is another option for repairing your reckoner if 'automatic repair' did not work. This is dependent on there being a 'restore point' existence saved on your computer. Once more, it has minimal take a chance and is worth trying later 'automatic repair'.

If I am having bug booting Windows, which option should I option?

Go through the options in the following order:

	Quick win?	Needs restore bespeak?	Keeps programs?	Keeps personal data?
1) Automated repair	Aye	No	Yes	Yes
two) Organisation restore	Aye	Yes	Yes	Yes
3) Refresh	No	No	No	Yes
4) Reset	No	No	No	No

Call back that 'reset' will erase all of your existing files besides as the programs. Before you choose to practise this to repair your installation of Windows, y'all may desire to effort to connect your hard drive to another computer to effort and rescue whatsoever files that you lot tin.