Creating a Windows 10 USB installation media that can boot in both EFI and Legacy (BIOS) modes requires a few extra steps to ensure compatibility with various types of computers. You’ll need a USB flash drive with enough capacity (at least 8GB) and a Windows 10 ISO file. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Note: This guide assumes you have access to a Windows PC. If you’re using a different operating system, some steps may vary.
1. Prepare the USB Drive: a. Insert the USB flash drive into your computer. b. Backup any important data on the USB drive, as the following steps will erase it. c. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. To do this, right-click the Start button and select “Windows Terminal (Admin)” or “Command Prompt (Admin).”
2. Create a Windows 10 USB Installer: a. Run the following command to open the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool:Copy code
MediaCreationTool.exe
This tool allows you to create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive.
b. Accept the License Terms. c. Choose “Create installation media for another PC” and click “Next.” d. Select the language, architecture, and edition that matches your needs. For compatibility with both EFI and Legacy, choose “Both” for architecture if available, otherwise select “32-bit” and “64-bit” versions. Click “Next.”
Important: Make sure to select both 32-bit and 64-bit versions if “Both” is not available.
e. Select “USB flash drive” as the media type and click “Next.” f. Choose your USB drive from the list and click “Next.” The tool will download the necessary files and create the bootable USB drive.
3. Prepare the USB Drive for EFI and Legacy Boot: a. After the process is complete, open File Explorer and navigate to the USB drive. b. Create two folders on the USB drive: one named “EFI” and another named “Boot.” c. Copy the “bootmgfw.efi” file from the “efi\microsoft\boot” folder (on the USB drive created by the Media Creation Tool) to the “EFI” folder you just created on the USB drive. d. Rename the “bootmgfw.efi” file in the “EFI” folder to “bootx64.efi.” e. In the “Boot” folder you created, copy the “bootmgr” file from the root of the USB drive and rename it to “bootmgr.efi.”
Your USB drive is now configured to boot in both EFI and Legacy modes.
4. Boot from the USB Drive: a. Insert the USB drive into the computer where you want to install Windows 10. b. Restart the computer and access the BIOS or UEFI settings. c. Set the boot mode to “UEFI” for EFI booting or “Legacy” for Legacy booting, depending on your computer’s compatibility. d. Save the BIOS/UEFI settings and exit. e. During startup, press the appropriate key (usually F12, F2, Esc, or another key, depending on your computer) to bring up the boot menu. f. Select the USB drive from the boot menu and follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10.
By following these steps, you should have a Windows 10 USB installation media that can boot in both EFI and Legacy modes, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of computers.