Install Windows via USB Stick

It is quite easy to install one of the more modern Windows variants using a USB stick. You simply have to execute the following steps, using a USB stick of 4 GB or more.

1. Make the stick bootable

from a DOS prompt execute: diskpart
list disk
select disk 1 (assuming disk 1 was your thumb drive in the above list disk command)
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=fat32
assign
exit

Now the stick is bootable.

2. Windows files

Copy the contents of your Windows image or DVD to the base level of the stick.

3. BIOS

Make sure that in your BIOS boot options, you have selected USB as primary boot option.

4. Booting

You will notice a significant boost in installation speed!! 🙂