Note
FAT32 has a file size limit of 4GB If your WIM image is larger than 4 GB, see If
your Windows image is larger than 4GB below.
Set the partition as active: Right-click the USB drive partition and click Mark
Partition as Active.
Note
If Mark Partition as Active isn't available, you can instead use diskpart to select
the partition and mark it active.
Step 2 - Copy Windows Setup to the USB flash drive
Use File Explorer to copy and paste the entire contents of the Windows product
DVD or ISO to the USB flash drive.
Optional: add an unattend file to automate the installation process. For more
information, see Automate Windows Setup.
Step 3 - Install Windows to the new PC
Connect the USB flash drive to a new PC.
Turn on the PC and press the key that opens the boot-device selection menu for
the computer, such as the Esc/F10/F12 keys. Select the option that boots the PC
from the USB flash drive.
Windows Setup starts. Follow the instructions to install Windows.
Remove the USB flash drive.
If your Windows image is larger than 4GB
Windows USB install drives are formatted as FAT32, which has a 4GB filesize
limit. If your image is larger than the filesize limit:
Copy everything except the Windows image file (sources\install.wim) to the USB
drive (either drag and drop, or use this command, where D: is the mounted ISO
and E: is the USB flash drive.)
command
Copy
robocopy D: E: /s /max:3800000000
Split the Windows image file into smaller files, and put the smaller files onto the
USB drive:
command
Copy
Dism /Split-Image /ImageFile:D:\sources\install.wim /SWMFile:E:\sources
\install.swm /FileSize:3800
Note
Windows Setup automatically installs from this file, so long as you name it
install.swm.