Home Technical Issues How to Reinstall Windows from USB

How to Reinstall Windows from USB

Last updated on Sep 02, 2026

Note: Only reinstall Windows if it is really needed, for example after every step of the Ultimate Technical Troubleshooting Guide has been completed without success.

This guide walks you through the whole process: downloading the official Windows ISO, creating a bootable USB drive with Rufus, and installing the operating system.

Requirements

  • A computer with internet access to download the files.
  • A USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage.
  • The computer where Windows will be installed.

Part 1: Download the Windows ISO from os.click

os.click offers a simplified way to download operating system ISOs.

  1. Open the website

    Open your browser and go to https://os.click/en.

    os.click homepage

  2. Start the process

    Click GET MY ISO.

  3. Select the OS family

    Choose Windows as the operating system family.

    Operating system family selection on os.click

  4. Choose the Windows version

    Select the version you want to install, for example Windows 11.

    Windows version selection on os.click

  5. Complete the selection

    Choose the Version, Build, Edition and Language you need. The site guides you through each step.

  6. Download the ISO

    At the end of the process a download link is generated. Download the file and save it somewhere easy to find.

Part 2: Create the bootable USB drive with Rufus

Rufus is a popular and reliable tool for creating bootable USB drives.

Warning: Creating the bootable drive erases all data on the USB drive.

  1. Download Rufus

    Go to https://rufus.ie/en/ and download the latest version.

  2. Run Rufus

    Rufus is portable, so there is nothing to install. Run the downloaded file.

  3. Configure Rufus

    Set the options as follows:

    • Device: insert your USB drive and select it from the list.
    • Boot selection: click SELECT and choose the Windows ISO you downloaded.
    • Partition scheme: GPT for modern computers. MBR may be the correct option for older computers.
    • Target system: UEFI (non CSM) is generally the default for GPT.
    • File system: keep NTFS.
    • Cluster size: keep the default.

    Rufus with the Windows ISO selected, GPT partition scheme and NTFS file system

  4. Start the process

    Click START. Rufus warns that all data on the USB drive will be erased. Confirm to continue.

    Rufus boot selection drop-down and START button

  5. Wait for completion

    This can take a few minutes. Wait until the Rufus status bar is fully green and shows READY.

Part 3: Install Windows

  1. Connect the USB drive

    Plug the bootable USB drive into the computer where Windows will be installed.

  2. Enter the BIOS/UEFI

    Restart the computer and press the key that opens the BIOS/UEFI setup, usually Del, F2, F10 or Esc. Check your motherboard manual for the exact key.

  3. Change the boot order

    In the Boot section, move the USB drive to the first position.

    Boot order in the BIOS with Removable Devices first

  4. Save and exit

    Save the changes and exit. The computer restarts and boots from the USB drive.

  5. Start the Windows installation

    The Windows Setup screen appears. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose the language, the Windows edition and the installation location.

    Windows Setup language selection screen

  6. Complete the installation

    Setup copies the Windows files to your drive and restarts the computer several times. Follow the instructions to set up your user account and other preferences.

Success: Windows is now reinstalled from the bootable USB drive. A clean installation like this is useful for fixing problems or upgrading to a new version of Windows.