Step-by-Step Guide- How to Install Windows 10 on an External Hard Drive for Portable Use

How to Install Windows 10 on an External Hard Drive

Installing Windows 10 on an external hard drive can be a convenient solution for those who need to run the operating system on multiple devices or want to have a portable version of Windows. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Windows 10 on an external hard drive step by step.

Step 1: Gather the Required Materials

Before you begin, make sure you have the following items ready:

1. An external hard drive with at least 20GB of free space (preferably more).
2. A Windows 10 installation ISO file.
3. A USB flash drive or a CD/DVD for creating the installation media.
4. A computer with an available USB port or CD/DVD drive.

Step 2: Create the Installation Media

1. Download the Windows 10 installation ISO file from the Microsoft website.
2. Insert a USB flash drive or a CD/DVD into your computer.
3. Use a third-party tool like Rufus or Windows Media Creation Tool to create the installation media. Choose the Windows 10 ISO file and select the USB flash drive or CD/DVD as the target device.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Step 3: Format the External Hard Drive

1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer.
2. Open Disk Management by pressing Windows Key + X and selecting “Disk Management” from the list.
3. Right-click on the external hard drive and select “Format.”
4. Choose the file system (NTFS is recommended) and allocate unit size. Click “OK” to format the drive.

Step 4: Install Windows 10 on the External Hard Drive

1. Insert the installation media into your computer.
2. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing the designated key (e.g., F2, F10, or DEL) during the boot process.
3. Change the boot order so that the computer boots from the installation media. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.
4. Once the installation media boots, follow the on-screen instructions to start the installation process.
5. When prompted, select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” to perform a clean installation.
6. Select the formatted external hard drive as the installation location and click “Next.”
7. The installation process will begin. It may take some time to complete, so be patient.

Step 5: Complete the Installation

1. Once the installation is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to set up Windows 10.
2. Choose your region, language, and keyboard settings.
3. Create a user account and password.
4. Customize your privacy settings as desired.
5. Once the setup is complete, you can now use Windows 10 on your external hard drive.

By following these steps, you should be able to install Windows 10 on an external hard drive successfully. This can be a great way to have a portable version of Windows or run the operating system on multiple devices.