If you own a PC, you may have already received a prompt to download and install the latest Windows operating system, Windows 11. This version comes with loads of new features, including gaming perks, a simplified layout, and intuitive shortcuts. In short, it’s been a game-changer for many users.
What if you haven’t received the notification? It doesn’t necessarily mean your computer isn’t eligible for the update. Here’s How To Install Windows 11 By Using a USB Drive
Installing Windows 11 from a USB drive is a straightforward process. Here are the steps to follow:
- Download the Windows 11 ISO file from the Microsoft website.
- Insert a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage capacity into your computer.
- Open the Windows 11 ISO file using a software like WinRAR or 7-Zip.
- Copy all the files from the ISO file to the USB drive.
- Once the files have been copied, eject the USB drive from your computer.
- Restart your computer and enter the BIOS settings by pressing the appropriate key during startup (usually F2 or Delete).
- In the BIOS settings, change the boot order so that the USB drive is the first boot option.
- Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
- Reboot your computer and it should boot from the USB drive.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11. You may need to enter your product key during the installation process.
- Once the installation is complete, remove the USB drive and reboot your computer.
Congratulations, you have successfully installed Windows 11 from a USB drive!
Installing the Windows 11 OS from a thumb drive or USB device isn’t complicated, but you do need to follow all of the steps.
1. CHECK FOR COMPATIBILITY
Before installing Windows 11, it’s important to check whether your computer meets the system requirements. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the Microsoft website and download the PC Health Check app.
- Install and launch the app.
- Click on “Check now” to start the compatibility check.
- The app will analyze your computer and provide you with a report on whether your system is compatible with Windows 11.
- If your system is compatible, you can proceed with the installation. If not, you may need to upgrade your hardware or stick with your current version of Windows.
It’s important to note that the system requirements for Windows 11 are more stringent than previous versions of Windows. The minimum requirements include a 64-bit processor with at least 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card or integrated GPU, and a display with at least 720p resolution.
2. CHECK YOUR DEVICE FOR AVAILABLE MEMORY
To check the available memory on your device, follow these steps:
- Click on the Windows icon on your taskbar or press the Windows key on your keyboard.
- Type “Task Manager” and click on the Task Manager app from the search results.
- In the Task Manager window, click on the “Performance” tab.
- Under the “Memory” section, you will see the total amount of memory installed on your device and the amount of memory currently in use.
- The amount of available memory will be the difference between the total memory and the amount of memory in use.
Alternatively, you can also check the available memory by going to the “Settings” app and clicking on “System,” then “About.” Under the “Device specifications” section, you will see the total amount of memory installed on your device.
3. DOWNLOAD THE ISO FILE TO YOUR DEVICE (ANOTHER DEVICE)
To download the Windows 11 ISO file to another device, follow these steps:
- Go to the Microsoft website and click on “Download now” to download the Media Creation Tool.
- Open the Media Creation Tool and accept the license terms.
- Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC” and click “Next.”
- Choose the language, edition, and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) of Windows 11 that you want to download, and click “Next.”
- Select “ISO file” as the media type and click “Next.”
- Choose a location to save the ISO file and click “Save.”
- The Media Creation Tool will begin downloading the Windows 11 ISO file to the location you selected.
4. REMOVE THE USB
When you receive a notification that the file transfer is finished, use the “eject” function on your USB utility to prepare it for removal before you pull it out of the computer.
5. RUN WINDOWS 11 FROM A USB
You can run Windows 11 from a USB drive by creating a bootable USB drive. Here are the steps to follow:
- Insert a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage capacity into your computer.
- Download and install Rufus, a free and open-source tool for creating bootable USB drives.
- Launch Rufus and select the USB drive you want to use.
- Under “Boot selection,” click on the “Select” button and choose the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded.
- Under “Partition scheme,” select “GPT” if your computer uses UEFI firmware, or “MBR” if your computer uses BIOS firmware.
- Under “File system,” select “NTFS” if you plan to use the USB drive on a Windows computer, or “FAT32” if you plan to use the USB drive on a Mac or Linux computer.
- Click on the “Start” button to create the bootable USB drive. This process may take some time.
- Once the process is complete, eject the USB drive from your computer.
- Insert the USB drive into the computer you want to run Windows 11 on.
- Restart the computer and enter the BIOS settings by pressing the appropriate key during startup (usually F2 or Delete).
- In the BIOS settings, change the boot order so that the USB drive is the first boot option.
- Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
- Reboot your computer and it should boot from the USB drive.
6. SET UP WINDOWS 11
To set up Windows 11 after installation, follow these steps:
- After installing Windows 11, the computer will restart and you will be prompted to create a user account.
- Enter your name, password, and other required information to create your user account.
- Choose your privacy settings and click “Accept” to continue.
- Customize your desktop by selecting a background and setting up the taskbar and other settings.
- Install necessary drivers for your computer, such as graphics drivers and network drivers, to ensure proper functionality.
- Install necessary software and programs that you use on a daily basis.
- Set up your email and other accounts.
- Connect your devices and peripherals such as printers, scanners, and cameras.
- Ensure that your computer is protected with an antivirus software and a firewall.
- Backup your important data regularly to avoid data loss.
Once you have completed these steps, your computer should be ready to use with Windows 11.