how do i install Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 on usb?!??!?!?!?!?

Mohammed Albadr 0 Reputation points
2026-10-17T13:41:17.9033333+00:00

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Windows for business | Windows for IoT

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  1. Daphne Huynh (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 2,540 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-19T06:45:38.3133333+00:00

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

    Thank you for sharing the details.

    Yes, you can install Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 using bootable USB installation media, but there are two separate points to consider.

    • For the USB installation:

    Microsoft documents using a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows IoT Enterprise on a physical device.

    If you’re using Volume Licensing, please don’t be concerned if you cannot find a separate Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 ISO.

    Microsoft’s deployment guidance explains that you first install Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 (x64) using the appropriate installation media and then transform it to Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 using the applicable volume activation key.

    The installation media should be obtained through your organization’s legitimate Volume Licensing source or Visual Studio Subscription.

    • For BITS and Windows Update:

    Regarding your comment that BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service) and Windows Update are missing, I recommend addressing this separately rather than assuming it is expected behavior with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC.

    Microsoft’s troubleshooting guidance expects BITS to be available and recommends checking whether the service is enabled and can be started.

    If Windows Update components are damaged or missing, repairing the Windows image with DISM is one documented troubleshooting approach. If the components cannot be repaired successfully, reinstalling Windows may ultimately be necessary.

    Please also note that Microsoft’s deployment guidance requires Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 build 10.0.19044.2905 (May 2023 cumulative update) or later before transforming it to Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021.

    If Windows Update is unavailable, the required cumulative update and its prerequisites can also be installed manually.

    If BITS and Windows Update are genuinely missing and the current Windows installation cannot be repaired, performing a clean installation using legitimate Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021 installation media may be the most straightforward approach.

    Before proceeding, I strongly recommend backing up all important files and data and confirming that you have the appropriate Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC license and activation information.

    References:

    Create a basic Iot Enterprise image | Microsoft Learn

    Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC in Volume License | Microsoft Learn

    Troubleshoot problems updating Windows | Microsoft Support

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-17T13:42:33.1933333+00:00

    Create a bootable USB installer for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021; running that edition as a portable Windows installation directly from USB is not a currently supported option because Windows To Go was removed starting with Windows 10 version 2004.^1^

    1. Obtain the correct ISO and licence

    The normal Windows 10 Media Creation Tool does not provide Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021. Obtain the ISO through the channel associated with your entitlement:

    • For an OEM/device-maker licence, request it from your authorized Windows IoT distributor.
    • For an eligible enterprise agreement, obtain the installation media from your Volume License Administrator.
    • Previous Windows IoT Enterprise versions may also be available if your Visual Studio subscription includes them.

    Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 is intended for fixed-function specialized devices, not as a general-purpose desktop replacement.^2^ Its release requires an appropriate licence.^3^

    Do not substitute a normal Windows 10 Home/Pro ISO—it does not contain the requested IoT LTSC edition.

    2. Create the bootable installer

    Use an empty USB drive of at least 8 GB. These commands completely erase the selected drive, so verify its disk number by capacity before running clean.

    1. Connect the USB drive to a working Windows PC.
    2. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
    3. Run diskpart, then list disk.
    4. Identify the USB by its capacity and replace X below with its disk number:
    diskpart
list disk
select disk X
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
exit
    1. In File Explorer, double-click the LTSC 2021 ISO to mount it.
    2. Copy all files and folders from the mounted ISO to the root of the USB drive.

    This is Microsoft’s documented preparation method for Windows IoT Enterprise installation media.^4^

    If copying fails because install.wim is too large

    FAT32 cannot hold an individual file larger than 4 GB. If sources\install.wim exceeds that size, do not simply omit it or reformat the entire installer as NTFS. Copy the remaining files and use DISM to split install.wim into .swm files, following the “If your Windows image is larger than 4 GB” procedure linked from Microsoft’s IoT preparation guide.^4^

    3. Install Windows onto the IoT device

    1. Shut down the destination device.
    2. Insert the installer USB.
    3. Power it on and open its firmware boot menu. The key varies by manufacturer; consult the device documentation.
    4. Select the USB drive, preferably its UEFI entry if shown.
    5. In Windows Setup, choose the language and keyboard settings, then select Install now.
    6. Enter the valid product key supplied with your licence. If Setup offers I don’t have a product key, installation can continue, but the installed edition still requires valid activation entitlement.
    7. Choose Custom installation and select the internal drive on which Windows will be installed.
    8. After Setup copies the files and restarts, remove the USB when the system begins booting from the internal drive.

    Deleting partitions during Setup destroys all data on the selected internal disk. Back up anything required before doing so.

    The target should meet the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise requirements, including at least a 1 GHz processor and 20 GB storage for the documented x64 configuration.^5^

    About booting and using Windows directly from USB

    A USB that starts Windows Setup is supported installation media; it does not run the installed operating system from that USB. The old portable-workspace feature was Windows To Go, and Microsoft removed it beginning with Windows 10 version 2004.^1^

    For a portable maintenance environment, use WinPE instead. WinPE is intended for installation, deployment, and repair—not as a full everyday Windows desktop. Microsoft documents creating it through the Windows ADK and WinPE add-on.^6^

    References

    1. Features and functionality removed in Windows client
    2. Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC in Volume License (windows10)
    3. What's new in Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021
    4. Quickstart: Prepare your lab environment
    5. Minimum System Requirements for Windows IoT Enterprise
    6. Quickstart: Sysprep and capture the reference device image, and deploy to a new device
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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