how to copy windows from one usb to another

[xdeathshot20]

so i have a copy of windows 10 on a flash drive.  i wana take that copy and make a duplicate of it on a second flash drive just incase i lose one i still have a backup.  my question is how do i do this?  can i just plug both flash drives into my computer and just copy all the files over or will that not work?

[_Dr_Eye_]

If they are formatted the same and if it is a windows install USB then yes that works.

 

[Himommies]

Download this

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

and create a bootable USB

You'll need another windows 10 key though

[PorkishPig]

6 minutes ago, xdeathshot20 said:

so i have a copy of windows 10 on a flash drive.  i wana take that copy and make a duplicate of it on a second flash drive just incase i lose one i still have a backup.  my question is how do i do this?  can i just plug both flash drives into my computer and just copy all the files over or will that not work?

Nope. Transferring the files from one installation drive to a fresh drive will not make it bootable.  You will need to use the Windows Media Creation tool from Microsoft's site to create a duplicate Windows installation drive.

[AshleyAshes]

2 minutes ago, _Dr_Eye_ said:

If they are formatted the same and if it is a windows install USB then yes that works.

 

Yeah, no.  It's a bootable USB key, one can not just CTRL+C and CTRL+V  that.  It'll only copy the files but not the boot sector of the drive.  You'd need to image the drive.

Though, while it'd involve more downloading, just baking up a fresh USB key with the media creation tool is the simplest solution for most.

[Gungpae]

You will first need to make the USB Bootable:

1. Insert a USB flash drive into a running computer.

2. Open a Command Prompt window as an administrator.

3. Type diskpart.

4. In the new command line window that opens, to determine the USB flash drive number or drive letter, at the command prompt, type list disk, and then click ENTER. The list disk command displays all the disks on the computer. Note the drive number or drive letter of the USB flash drive.

5. At the command prompt, type select disk <X>, where X is the drive number or drive letter of the USB flash drive, and then click ENTER.

6. Type clean, and the click ENTER. This command deletes all data from the USB flash drive.

7. To create a new primary partition on the USB flash drive, type create part pri, and then click ENTER.

8. To select the partition that you just created, type select part 1, and then click ENTER.

9. To format the partition, type format fs=fat32 quick, and then click ENTER.

    

10. Type active, and then click ENTER.

11. Type exit, and then click ENTER.

Now you can copy and pasta it :^)

[_Dr_Eye_]

1 minute ago, AshleyAshes said:

Yeah, no.  It's a bootable USB key, one can not just CTRL+C and CTRL+V  that.  It'll only copy the files but not the boot sector of the drive.  You'd need to image the drive.

Though, while it'd involve more downloading, just baking up a fresh USB key with the media creation tool is the simplest solution for most.

i have done that before many times if it is formatted as FAT32 and u copy the windows install files that works

[exercutor5]

So long it is FAT32 formatted, copying and pasting works, have used this method myself for ages and it works (I worked as a Helpdesk Engineer and using the media creation tool is kinda time consuming).

[LogicalDrm]

13 hours ago, Himommies said:

You'll need another windows 10 key though

For what? Installing and making another bootable installer are two different things. What if OP just wants another installer in case one breaks or gets lost? Plus, you can run un-activated Win10 and use full version for 30-90 days anyway. Or even roll into Insider for free version with MS bloat/spyware.