looking to dl the tool heard it wipes the USB so i have to remove my docs for now off it; sadly idk where the hell all our USB’s are so i only got the 1 to work with. dl windows on it upload it on new pc but after that i want to wipe it and just install the docs back on ( it’s all business files ).
was just wondering nobody seems to talk about this but i assume you should be able to. otherwise i can just buy a new USB figure i save the time and money. i dont really use USB flash drives either
If you just need to wipe it for the tool just re-format it after you move all the stuff you want off it.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
If you are talking about the Windows USB tool (so you can bypass your regular Windows drive), then yes, it has to be the ONLY thing on the drive.
Adding that tool turns it into a BOOT drive, which you can then select in your BIOS before Windows loads.
This is generally a recovery tool if your HD fails or Windows has a huge error.
If you have a USB stick and can’t use it because you can’t format it or access anything on it, you can probably open up the dos prompt and use the diskpart tool. This will effective wipe it and then you can reformat it and use it however you like.
There are a lot of guides out there that will explain how to use it better than I can but I think this will work for you.
After the image is created on the usb then you can add your own files to it, I put my webroot installer and license on it so I dont have to look it up each time I have to reinstall windows which thankfully isn’t that often. Usually plan on it at the end of each year.
I should have clarified: yes, it’s going to wipe the drive and format it, so if you have anything on the drive BEFORE you do this, it will be gone.
Thanks for all the help. Gonna say screw it and wait a few days and just buy a key I mean I’d only kill like 2 days by doing so. Not worth the hassle imo
You’re still going to need to make install media on a USB once you buy a key
i just ended up buying the key from the store. figured aint worth the wait of 2 days and knowing my luck i’d screw up the files somehow. can’t risk that especially since it aint mine. i know we got a bunch of USB’s somewhere though not sure where my dad put um though.
think i bought the retail version so at least this time i can swap it out the other one i had but threw away was OEM.
I think some of them are sold as usb drives
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075RM5BHV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_NCSJJJ517V36C0YEPD24
yea that is the one i got. i had to double check cause i don’t have a cd drive. bought one for my old comp tried to install it and for some reason it wouldn’t register on my computer it did a few times but after that nothing.
had to double check in the specs too. i think they did away with the cd’s now it’s just USB and a small card that contains the key. unless buying online then yea. not sure how that works i watched a video on it last i guess some businesses are pirating it when they shouldn’t and selling the same code to others to use and others are selling legit codes but some how it’s super cheap im guessing again business purposes for mass usage idk.
You can download the media creation tool from Microsoft and it works on and 8gb stick.
Regarding the keys, they tend to be grey market as the keys are not locked to a region, and they are sold much cheaper internationally vs domestically, and then they sell the keys for a small markup but it’s still cheaper than domestic.
I upgraded my windows 7 years ago and have it tied to my Microsoft account so I can reinstall as many times as I want and it will activate based on that.
how much they usually go for? the ones i was looking at are SUPER cheap like $10 which sounds insanely cheap. i might have to try it out for my next build
Yeah, they do sell USB installs. They’re like $25 more on Amazon and aren’t referred to as keys 
. Major ripoff, imo
I personally wouldn’t buy one, but I understand why someone might want one. Won’t really hate on anyone who does get them.
I am still using an upgraded Windows 7 key for my account, but my wife didn’t want to get a kinguin type key for hers, so she paid for a digital key off Amazon for $100 
The rest of our systems are watermark city
I did the kinguin thing about a year ago. No issues whatsoever.