Create a Windows 10/11 recovery USB with the Media Creation Tool
Windows & Ubuntu Guides · 2 views
You need: a working Windows PC, an 8 GB or larger USB stick (IT WILL BE ERASED), and ~30 minutes.
1. Download the tool. Go to microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 (or /windows10 for Windows 10) and under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" click Download Now. You get MediaCreationTool.exe — no install needed, just run it.
2. Accept the licence terms. Wait while it does "Getting a few things ready".
3. Choose language and edition. The tool pre-selects "Use the recommended options for this PC" — keep it ticked unless you are making the stick for a different machine (then untick and pick that machine's language/edition).
4. Choose media: select "USB flash drive" > Next. Pick your USB stick from the list (double-check the drive letter — everything on it is wiped) > Next.
5. Wait. The tool downloads Windows (~5–6 GB) and writes the stick. Progress shows "Creating Windows 11 installation media". When it says "Your USB flash drive is ready", click Finish.
USING IT
- Clean install / recovery: plug it into the target laptop, power on, tap the boot-menu key (F9 HP / F12 Dell-Lenovo / Esc-F2 ASUS), choose the "UEFI: <your USB>" entry.
- From the first setup screen you can also click "Repair your computer" (bottom-left) to reach Startup Repair / System Restore / Command Prompt without reinstalling.
- Company laptops: have your BitLocker recovery key ready before booting install media — raise a ticket and IT will fetch it for your asset tag.
Keep the stick — it works for any PC of the same architecture and is reusable until the next major Windows release, when it is worth recreating.
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag and what step failed.
1. Download the tool. Go to microsoft.com/software-download/windows11 (or /windows10 for Windows 10) and under "Create Windows 11 Installation Media" click Download Now. You get MediaCreationTool.exe — no install needed, just run it.
2. Accept the licence terms. Wait while it does "Getting a few things ready".
3. Choose language and edition. The tool pre-selects "Use the recommended options for this PC" — keep it ticked unless you are making the stick for a different machine (then untick and pick that machine's language/edition).
4. Choose media: select "USB flash drive" > Next. Pick your USB stick from the list (double-check the drive letter — everything on it is wiped) > Next.
5. Wait. The tool downloads Windows (~5–6 GB) and writes the stick. Progress shows "Creating Windows 11 installation media". When it says "Your USB flash drive is ready", click Finish.
USING IT
- Clean install / recovery: plug it into the target laptop, power on, tap the boot-menu key (F9 HP / F12 Dell-Lenovo / Esc-F2 ASUS), choose the "UEFI: <your USB>" entry.
- From the first setup screen you can also click "Repair your computer" (bottom-left) to reach Startup Repair / System Restore / Command Prompt without reinstalling.
- Company laptops: have your BitLocker recovery key ready before booting install media — raise a ticket and IT will fetch it for your asset tag.
Keep the stick — it works for any PC of the same architecture and is reusable until the next major Windows release, when it is worth recreating.
Still stuck? Email [email protected] or raise a ticket from the Help Center — include your asset tag and what step failed.
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