Many owners of brand laptops ASUS are faced with the need to completely reinstall the operating system. This may be due to critical failures, virus infection, or the desire to update the version Windows to more relevant. The process is not complicated if you act consistently and understand the logic of the work UEFI interface that is used in modern devices.
Proper preparation of bootable media is the foundation for a successful installation. Errors at this stage often lead to the fact that the laptop simply does not see the flash drive when booting. In this manual we will look at not only the installation process itself, but also the finer details of the setup. Boot Menu, disabling Secure Boot and working with disk partitions.
Preparing a bootable USB flash drive and necessary files
The first step is to create bootable media, which will become the source for installing the system. You will need a computer with Internet access and a flash drive of at least 8 GB. Please note that all data on this drive will be permanently deleted, so please copy important information to another drive in advance.
To create a bootable USB flash drive, it is best to use the official utility from Microsoft called Media Creation Tool. It will automatically download the latest version of the operating system and correctly prepare the boot media. An alternative could be the program Rufus, which gives more flexibility when working with partitions and file systems, but requires a little more manual settings.
The creation process is as follows:
- 🔹 Insert the flash drive into the USB port of your computer and wait for it to be detected by the system.
- 🔹 Download the utility Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.
- 🔹 Launch the program, accept the license agreement and select “Create installation media.”
- 🔹 Specify your language, edition, and system architecture, then select “USB Flash Memory Device.”
Wait for the process to complete. The progress bar may move unevenly, this is normal when downloading images.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using a laptop with a USB Type-C connector, make sure that the flash drive is connected directly or through a quality adapter. Some cheap hubs may not transmit the boot signal in UEFI mode.
Setting up BIOS and UEFI on ASUS laptops
After preparing the flash drive, you need to configure the laptop itself ASUS to boot from external media. Modern models are equipped with an interface BIOS new generation - UEFI, which has a graphical interface and supports mouse operation. Enter settings by pressing the key F2 or Del immediately after turning on the device.
It is important to disable the feature Secure Boot, if the installation is made from a custom image or if the system is not detected correctly. You may also need to change the boot mode from UEFI on Legacy (CSM), although this is usually not required for original Windows 10 and 11 images.
To quickly get to the boot device selection menu, use the key F8 when turning on the laptop. This will open Boot Menu, where you can select your flash drive without diving deep into the BIOS settings.
- 🔹 Click
F2at startup to enter BIOS Setup. - 🔹 Go to the section
BootorAdvanced. - 🔹 Find an item
Secure Boot Controland set the valueDisabled. - 🔹 Save changes by pressing
F10and confirm your choice.
- Via Boot Menu (F8)
- Through BIOS settings
- Through booting from disk
- I don't know how to configure
Operating system installation process
After rebooting from the flash drive, the Windows installation window will appear in front of you. It's important to carefully select your language, keyboard layout, and time format to avoid problems with localized apps in the future. Click the "Install" button in the center of the screen to begin the main process.
If the system asks for a product key, you can enter it now or select "I don't have a product key" to install in demo mode. Activation is possible later, when the system is fully configured. Select the version of Windows for which you have a license (for example, Home or Pro).
An important step is choosing the type of installation. For a complete reinstallation with or without keeping old files, select Custom: Windows installation only. This will allow you to completely wipe the disk or create new partitions.
⚠️ Attention: When choosing a partition to install, make sure that you do not delete the recovery partition if you need it, although most often it is deleted to obtain a single disk space.
Working with hard drive partitions
This is where inexperienced users often make mistakes. If you want to install the system completely, you must delete all existing partitions on the target disk. This will turn it into “Unallocated Disk Space”, from which the system will create the necessary partitions automatically.
Do not delete partitions labeled "System", "Primary" or "Recovery" if they are on a separate physical drive where your personal data is stored. Deleting partitions on drive C: is safe if the data is already saved on a flash drive or external storage device.
Follow this checklist for safe markup:
☑️ Preparing the disk for installation
| Partition type | Purpose | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| System | Storing boot files | Do not delete if it is on a separate disk |
| Main | Windows installation | Select for installation |
| Recovery | Reset settings | Can be removed to save space |
| Reserved | EFI/BCD data | Automatically created by the system |
First launch and driver setup
Once the files are copied and rebooted, the laptop will boot into the new Windows interface. You will be asked to create an account, select a region, and connect to a network. If you don't have Wi-Fi drivers, use a cable connection or a USB flash drive with drivers.
A critical step is installing drivers. Laptops ASUS often require specific drivers to control power, keyboard and touchpad. Download the utility MyASUS from the Microsoft Store or visit the official support site.
- 🔹 Install chipset drivers first.
- 🔹 Update your video card drivers (NVIDIA or AMD) from the manufacturer's website.
- 🔹 Check for Windows updates through Update Center.
What to do if the touchpad does not work?
Often the problem is resolved by installing the Precision Touchpad driver or updating the BIOS. Also check if the Fn+F9 combination is pressed, which disables the touchpad.
Before installing drivers, turn off the Internet so that Windows does not automatically install its own outdated versions of drivers that may conflict with the official ones.
Solving common installation problems
Sometimes the installation process may be interrupted or give an error. The most common problem on laptops ASUS - lack of a storage controller driver (VMD). In this case, the system does not see the hard drive. The solution is to go into the BIOS and disable the mode VMD Controller in section Advancedby switching SATA mode to AHCI.
Another problem could be the "Windows cannot be installed on this drive" error. This often happens due to mixing UEFI and Legacy modes. Check that the BIOS mode is enabled UEFI, and the flash drive was written in GPT format.
Disabling VMD in the BIOS is the most common solution to the problem when an ASUS laptop does not see the hard drive when installing Windows 11.
How to check the boot mode of a flash drive?
Insert the USB flash drive, go to the Boot Menu. If the name of the flash drive starts with “UEFI:”, then it will boot in UEFI mode. If it’s just “USB”, then in Legacy mode.
⚠️ Attention: If during installation you see a blue screen with an error code, write down this code. It often indicates a problem with RAM or incompatible hardware.
Final system optimization
After the system is installed and the drivers are updated, it is worth carrying out basic optimization. Disable unnecessary startup services that may slow down your laptop. In the power settings, select Balanced mode or “High performance” if speed is important to you.
Check your settings Fast Startup (Quick Start). Sometimes this feature causes problems with shutting down or loading drivers. You can disable it through “Power Options” -> “Actions of Power Buttons”. It is also recommended to configure your antivirus and firewall before connecting to the Internet.
- 🔹 Remove pre-installed junk and trial versions of antiviruses.
- 🔹 Customize sleep and hibernation settings to suit your needs.
- 🔹 Create a system restore point before starting active work.
Questions and answers
Is it possible to install Windows on an ASUS laptop without a flash drive?
Yes, you can use the built-in "Reset your PC" feature in Windows 10/11, or create a bootable ISO image and mount it if the system is still running.
Why doesn't my laptop see the flash drive in the Boot Menu?
Most likely, Secure Boot mode is enabled or the flash drive is written in an inappropriate format (MBR instead of GPT). Try switching the settings in the BIOS or re-creating the flash drive via Rufus.
Is a product key required when installing Windows 11 on ASUS?
No, you can enter the key later. Windows will run in unactivated mode with limited personalization functionality until you enter a license.
How do I know which version of Windows is best for my laptop?
For older models (released before 2015), Windows 10 is better suited. For new models with 11th generation Intel processors and higher, Windows 11 is recommended for correct operation of all functions.
What should I do if the installation is stuck at 0% or 100%?
Wait at least 30-40 minutes. If nothing changes, you will have to force restart the laptop, remove the flash drive and try to start over, possibly deleting all partitions before installing.