Search the Community

To install an operating system from a USB thumb drive, follow these general steps. The process may vary slightly depending on the operating system you are installing (e.g., Windows, Linux). Here’s a general guide: Step 1: Prepare the USB Drive Backup Data: Ensure that any important data on the USB drive is backed up, as this process will erase all data on it. Download the OS ISO: For Windows, download the Media Creation Tool from the Microsoft website or the ISO directly. For Linux, download the ISO from the distribution's official website (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora). Create a Bootable USB Drive: Windows: Use tools like Rufus or Windows USB/DVD Download Tool. Open Rufus, select your USB drive, choose the ISO file, and click "Start." Linux: Use Startup Disk Creator (Ubuntu) or dd command in the terminal. For example, using dd: sudo dd if=/path/to/your.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M Replace /dev/sdX with your USB drive identifier. Step 2: Boot from the USB Drive Insert the USB Drive: Plug the USB drive into the computer where you want to install the OS. Access BIOS/UEFI: Restart the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup. This is usually done by pressing a key like F2, F10, DEL, or ESC right after powering on (the specific key depends on your computer's manufacturer). Change Boot Order: In the BIOS/UEFI settings, find the boot order settings. Set the USB drive as the first boot device. Save and Exit: Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI setup. Step 3: Install the Operating System Boot from USB: The computer should now boot from the USB drive. Follow Installation Instructions: For Windows, select your language, time, and keyboard preferences, then click "Next" and "Install now." For Linux, follow the prompts to install the OS, including partitioning the disk if necessary. Complete the Installation: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. This may include setting up user accounts, configuring settings, etc. Remove the USB Drive: Once the installation is complete and the system restarts, you can remove the USB drive. Step 4: Finalize Setup After the OS is installed, you may need to install drivers and perform updates. Following these steps should help you successfully install an operating system from a USB thumb drive. If you have a specific OS in mind, let me know, and I can provide more tailored instructions. View full article

I really need some help here, I can't find anything online that addresses this specific issue I have. I need to install Windows 8.1 onto my Windows 10 laptop, but all the help I'm finding is either for people who want to revert to 8.1 after an upgrade, or it's referring to an out of date method. Can someone please help me? My laptop is a Lenovo Y50-70

hi, I'm just trying to install windows XP on to run from my new portable HDD. I have a hewllett packard PC and i press F8 and go into the startup bios and there is no option to boot fromm portable HDD, only from CD or Floppy DD or inbuilt HDD or PCI. I select boot from my XP CD but when i try to install on my new portable HDD it says my computer cant see it to install. i can create a partition on it and format it but cant install XP onto it. Is this because the computer cant boot from portable HDD on startup that boot CD wont let me install onto it ? if so how can i get around this, i was thinking i either need to upgrade the startup bios or select boot from Floppy DD or CD with a program that allows startup access to Portable (USB) HDD. I have an old version of "Norton Ghost" on floppy and have tried to coppy HDD to HDD but it doesnt seem to see the portable HDD either only the inbuilt 1. I can install XP onto my USB HDD thru another computer I think but only options to boot from startup will still be CD, Floppy DD or inbuilt HDD. Thankyou for reading this and any efforts to help would be greatly appreciated. Merry christmas and HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!:)

just started gettin this error wuault.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close can anyone help cheers

Hi , I don't know if this is the right place I could of sworn there was a multimedia section but can't see one. Can any one suggest some good free TV viewing software, I have a cheap USB digital receiver, it came with blaze TV software which is rubbish and I've been using it happily with windows media centre on vista but looking for something for the XP computer, any suggestions? thanks

I very recently bought a new HP DX2400 MT with Windows XP Professional SP2 and an new HP Notebook with Windows Vista. I transferred my existing files from my old computer to the DX2400 using a memory stick. After setting up the Internet connection an automatic update loaded SP3 to this computer. Following this my memory stick would not be recognised. Only a Kingston Datatraveller stick works but Cruzers do not. HP were contacted who suggested downloading an updated chipset driver and removing SP3. This was done but still the Cruzer won't operate. Plug this Cruzer into the Notebook and it operates OK, this Notebook has not been connected to the Internet or updated. On the DX the Cruzer is there in the Device Manager but not under the USB area. It has a Yellow Question mark against it but no Driver can be located when Windows searches. I downloaded the Cruzer U3 Driver but this does not work as Windows says the stick is not a Cruzer device!! Any clues or suggestions?:confused:

I've just bought 2 new identical PC's with XP pro installed. Both Cre 2 Duo with 250GB HD and 2GB mem. Both are running ok but whilst one has accepted SP3 from a CD I burned from the .iso, the other will not install SP3 either from the CD or from windows update site. Neither will it install Update for Windows XP (KB898461) and Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1. I've also tried to install IE7 and again no joy with this one machine. The other is fine. Any ideas? Many thanks, Bob.