Helpdesk - 1.2 installation of Windows

In this lesson, Wissam Bennaceur walks through installing Windows from a bootable USB key, the most common method used in a helpdesk job. A bootable USB key is simply a flash drive that contains a Windows ISO image arranged in such a way that the computer can start (boot) from it and launch the Windows installer. You insert the key, change the boot order at startup, and the installer takes over instead of the existing operating system.

Preparing the USB key with Rufus

The tool used to write the ISO onto the key is Rufus, a small free utility that turns any USB stick into a bootable installer. You need a USB key of at least 5 GB (a 32 GB key is used in the demo), and you should know that the key will be reformatted, so move any important file off it first. The lesson opens a Google search, clicks the first result for the official Rufus website, downloads Rufus 3.10, and runs the installer.

Once Rufus is open, the key is plugged in, the device dropdown is set to the USB stick, and the source is set to Disk image (ISO) with the Windows ISO selected. The volume label is renamed (for example to boot), and clicking Start confirms the format warning and begins writing the image. When Rufus finishes, you close it, unplug and re-plug the key, then restart the computer.

At boot, you press the boot menu key (often F2, F12, Esc or Del depending on the manufacturer) and pick the entry labelled USB Hard Drive. The Windows installer launches: you click Install now, enter a product key (or click I don't have a product key), choose the edition such as Windows 10 Pro, accept the license, select Custom install, pick the target disk and continue. Windows then copies the files and reboots. The first-run setup follows: region (France in the demo), keyboard layout (AZERTY French), and the choice between personal or organization use; an organization account or local account is created, a password and a security question are set, and Cortana plus optional telemetry can be enabled. After a few more configuration screens, Windows finishes installing and the desktop appears, ready to use.