View source for Create a UEFI boot compatible USB stick for Windows 10

{{Header
|Status=Resolved
|PubDate=2021-06-08
|Categories=Windows, UEFI
|The problem=I needed a Windows 10 start up disk, but I didn’t have a working Windows 10 machine.
}}
{{How to guide
|Device=Lenovo
|Operating system=Windows 10
|Software=Ventoy
|Guidance=Grab a copy of Windows 10 from the [https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO Microsoft website].<div>Once downloaded insert the USB stick into the machine and open disks:</div>
[[File:Ubuntu disk manager.png|alt=An image showing the Ubuntu disk manager showing two drives. The USB stick is selected.|none|thumb|800x800px|An image showing the Ubuntu disk manager showing two drives. The USB stick is selected.]]
In the top right hand corner you will see a vertical ellipses:
[[File:Vertical Elipses on Ubuntu Disk Manager.png|alt=Vertical Elipses on Ubuntu Disk Manager]]
It’s advised you format the disk first.

To make it compatible with UEFI, I am going to use some software called [https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html Ventoy], this is released as open source software and can be [https://www.ventoy.net/en/download.html downloaded from their website].

I am doing this on Ubuntu, once downloaded you will see a .tar.gz file in your download folder:
[[File:Ventoy in download directory.png|alt=Shows the Ventoy download in the download directory.|none|thumb|800x800px|Shows the Ventoy download in the download directory.]]
We need to extract this. Double click on the file, find Ventoy with the respective version number:
[[File:Ventoy in ArchiveManager.png|alt=The ArchiveManager with Ventoy directory.|none|thumb|600x600px|The ArchiveManager with Ventoy directory.]]
Click on extract. This will be extracted into the downloaded folder in this instance:
[[File:Extracted Ventoy directory in the downloads directory.png|alt=Extracted Ventoy directory in the downloads directory|none|thumb|800x800px|Extracted Ventoy directory in the downloads directory]]
OK, now we get onto the interesting bit.

Go into the folder, right click and open the directory in Terminal:
[[File:Ventoy directory with right click menu.png|alt=The Ventoy directory, right click to get the menu with the open in terminal selected.|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ventoy directory, right click to get the menu with the open in terminal selected.]]
OK, the terminal is now open:
[[File:Terminal in the Ventoy directory.png|alt=The Terminal window with the Ventoy directory open.|none|thumb|600x600px|The Terminal window with the Ventoy directory open.]]
We can now run Ventoy. Run the command:
 <code>sudo ./VentoyWeb.sh</code>
[[File:Ventoy server is running.png|alt=Displays the in the terminal that Ventoy is running|none|thumb|600x600px|Displays the in the terminal that Ventoy is running]]
In your browser, go to the IP address provided, in this instance 127.0.0.1:24680
[[File:Initial Ventoy server display.png|alt=The initial Ventoy server page in the web browser|none|thumb|800x800px|The initial Ventoy server page in the web browser]]
Click on options then partition type:
[[File:Ventoy partition type.png|alt=The Ventoy partition type with GPT selected.|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ventoy partition type with GPT selected.]]
As I am trying to create a UEFI boot disk, select GPT.

Hit the install button. You will have a couple of warning prompts, just agree to them, this will format the insetered USB stick:
[[File:Ventoy installation success.png|alt=The Ventory installation is complete, this brings a modal box advising of such.|none|thumb|800x800px|The Ventory installation is complete, this brings a modal box advising of such.]]
Click OK.

Check that the Ventoy disk is showing:
[[File:Ventoy USB stick.png|alt=The contents of the USB stick that Ventoy has been installed on.|none|thumb|800x800px|The contents of the USB stick that Ventoy has been installed on.]]
If you can’t see it, unplug the device and re-insert it.

When Ventoy is installed it will change the disk to two partitions, VTOYEFI and Ventoy.
[[File:Ventoy partitions.png|alt=The Ventoy partitions, VTOYEFI and Ventoy|none|thumb|283x283px|The Ventoy partitions, VTOYEFI and Ventoy]]
The VTOYEFI, this is a small partition with some EFI stuff in, the other partition is Ventoy.

Go into the Ventoy partition and simply drag the ISO from your downloads into this partitions:
[[File:Drag the Win 10 image into the Ventoy partition.png|alt=The Win 10 image is dragged into the Ventoy partition|none|thumb|800x800px|The Win 10 image is dragged into the Ventoy partition]]
Drag the Win 10 image into the Ventoy partition

It can take some time for it to copy over, with me it took 20 minutes:
[[File:Win 10 copying to USB Ventoy drive.png|alt=Win 10 copying to USB Ventoy drive|none|thumb|800x800px|Win 10 copying to USB Ventoy drive]]
Don’t just unplug the USB stick, go through the correct procedure and eject the disk partitions, it can now be used to boot the Windows 10 installer.

It’s as simple as that, job done.
}}