Do you need to reinstall the Windows 10 operating system on your Dell computer due to the hard drive or Solid State Drive replacement, startup issue or any other problems? Want to prepare the Dell USB recovery media for Windows 10? In this guide, we will tell you how to prepare the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media.
In the initial days of Windows 10, Dell offered a service to download Windows 10 recovery ISO for Dell computers. You just had to type the service tag of your computer to download the Windows 10 ISO. But the service is no longer available. The service has been replaced with an option to prepare the USB recovery media instead.
It’s worth noting that Windows 10 also offers a built-in utility to prepare the recovery media. Refer to our how to create Windows 10 USB recovery drive guide for directions.
NOTE 1: Use this guide only if your Dell computer came preinstalled with Windows 10.
NOTE 2: Note that you can also use the official Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft to download Windows 10 ISO and prepare the bootable USB. However, the ISO downloaded using the Media Creation Tool will not include all drivers and Dell software that you get when you reinstall Windows 10 using the Dell Windows 10 recovery media. So, if you want the Dell personalized copy of Windows 10, you better prepare the Dell Windows 10 recovery media and then reinstall Windows 10 using it.
Prepare Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media
So, here is how to prepare the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media.
Step 1: First of all, you need to download and install the Dell OS Recovery Tool. The OS Recovery Tool helps you to download and prepare the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media.
Note that the Dell OS Recovery Tool is compatible with PCs from all OEMs. That means you can install it on any PC.
Step 2: Connect a 16GB+ USB drive to your PC and back up data from the USB as the drive will be erased.
Step 3: Launch the OS Recovery Tool. Type the service tag of your Dell computer that needs its Windows 10 reinstalled. If you installed the OS Recovery Tool on the Dell PC where you need to reinstall Windows 10, the software will automatically delete your PC and the service tag.
Step 4: You will now see the Select operating system screen. Here, click on the Download link next to the Windows 10 entry to begin downloading the Windows 10 installation files.
Unless you have a fast internet connection, it might take hours to complete downloading the required files.
Step 5: Once the required installation files are downloaded, you will have to select your USB drive and then click the Burn OS button.
Step 6: Click the Yes button when you get a warning dialog to format the connected USB drive and prepare the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media.
You can now use the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media to reinstall Windows 10 on your Dell computer. Remember that the recovery media cannot be used on computers from other OEMs.
Our how to create Lenovo USB recovery media for Windows 10 guide might also interest you.
Matt says
@HOGCALLER
This is a common question that I hope I can explain. The tool you initially download to build the USB media can be used on any PC. However, the finished USB installer is designed only to be used on a Dell system.
admin says
Hi, maybe I should have used better words. What I meant is that the OS Recovery Tool can be installed on any PC. However, the recovery media created using the OS Recovery Tool can only be used on Dell. Hope this clarifies.
HOGCALLER says
Step 1: First of all, you need to download and install the Dell OS Recovery Tool. The OS Recovery Tool helps you to download and prepare the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media.
“””Note that the Dell OS Recovery Tool is compatible with PCs from all OEMs. That means you can install it on any PC.”””
Step 6: Click the Yes button when you get a warning dialog to format the connected USB drive and prepare the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media.
You can now use the Dell Windows 10 USB recovery media to reinstall Windows 10 on your Dell computer. “””Remember that the recovery media cannot be used on computers from other OEMs.”””
Which is it???