Booting from a USB drive starts the operating system or recovery environment stored on it; it does not, by itself, install anything or erase your computer. What happens next depends on the screen and the option you choose: try a live system, start an installation, or open recovery tools for the operating system you need to fix.
First, identify what the USB has started
Read the screen before selecting an option. An Ubuntu Desktop USB, a Windows installation USB, and a recovery drive lead to different tools. If you see a choice such as Try Ubuntu or Install Ubuntu, you are at Ubuntu’s live-session or installer decision. If Windows Setup offers Repair my PC, that leads to Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE), not the Ubuntu live desktop.
If the computer simply starts its usual operating system, or the USB is not listed, restart and use the computer’s one-time boot menu to select the USB. The key varies by manufacturer and model: Ubuntu notes that F12 is common on PCs, while Escape, F2, and F10 are also used. Check your computer’s manual or manufacturer’s startup instructions if you cannot find the menu. Ubuntu’s Try Ubuntu instructions and Microsoft’s Windows RE instructions both describe device-dependent startup procedures.
Choose the outcome you actually want
| Choice | What it does | Appropriate when |
|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu live session | Runs Ubuntu from the USB so you can explore the desktop or access tools. Ubuntu describes trying it without changing the PC configuration; do not assume files saved during the session will persist after shutdown. | You want to inspect or temporarily use Ubuntu, not install it. Ubuntu |
| Windows RE repair | Opens Windows recovery tools. The effect on files and settings depends on the recovery action selected. | Windows will not start and you want to diagnose or repair it. Microsoft and Microsoft |
| Install or reinstall | Adds, replaces, or refreshes an operating system. A clean Windows installation removes personal files, apps, manufacturer customizations, and settings. | You intend to install or replace an OS, have backed up important files, and have verified the target disk and partition choices. Microsoft |
If you want to try Ubuntu without installing it
- Select “Try Ubuntu” when the Ubuntu startup screen offers it, then wait for the live desktop to load. Ubuntu documents this route as a way to test Ubuntu Desktop without touching the PC configuration. Ubuntu’s guide
- Use the live session for temporary access. You can explore the desktop and, with suitable tools and care, access some repair workflows. A live session is not a permanent installation, and the cited instructions do not promise that files saved to the session will be retained after shutdown.
- If you decide to install, start the installer from the live environment. Follow the installation guide and read the disk, partition, and erase choices before confirming. Ubuntu’s guide
If you want to install or reinstall an operating system
Installation is a separate action from booting the USB. Proceed only if adding, replacing, or refreshing the operating system is your goal. Back up important files first, then pay close attention to which disk is selected and whether the installer will keep or erase existing data.
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Ubuntu’s bootable media can be used to test the desktop or install or upgrade Ubuntu. Choosing the live-session path does not commit you to installation; you can launch the installer later from the live environment. Review the installation choices carefully before confirming any partitioning or erase operation. Ubuntu’s try guide and Ubuntu’s bootable USB instructions
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Windows Setup behaves differently depending on how you start it. Microsoft’s reinstall instructions describe running setup.exe from within an existing Windows installation and choosing what to keep. A clean installation started from installation media is more disruptive: Microsoft says it removes personal files, apps, manufacturer customizations, and settings. Check the instructions for your Windows version and the route you intend to use before proceeding. Microsoft’s Windows reinstall instructions
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If Windows will not start and you want repair tools
- Boot from the Windows installation USB. If prompted, choose your language and other preferences.
- Select “Repair my PC” to reach Windows RE; do not choose installation if your immediate goal is recovery. Microsoft’s Windows RE guide
- Choose the recovery tool that matches the problem, and begin with the least disruptive suitable option. The impact depends on the action: some recovery routes can remove files, apps, or settings. Review Microsoft’s descriptions before confirming. Microsoft’s recovery options
- If BitLocker is enabled, have the recovery key available; Microsoft says it is needed for most Windows RE recovery options. Microsoft’s Windows RE guide
A recovery drive does not contain your personal files, so it is not a substitute for a separate backup. Microsoft’s Recovery Drive guidance explains this distinction.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If Ubuntu will not start
If Ubuntu media offers a try environment, boot into that live session first. Ubuntu Community Help Wiki describes using a LiveUSB session and Boot-Repair for a particular GRUB boot-loader recovery case, including problems after installing Windows. That page contains legacy instructions: treat it as guidance for that specific boot-loader scenario, not a universal fix for every current Ubuntu startup failure. Choose a repair tool for the fault you have rather than running utilities blindly. Ubuntu Community Help Wiki: Recovering Ubuntu after installing Windows
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Before installing, resetting, or reinstalling
- Back up important files separately. Install, reset, reinstall, and recovery choices can have different effects on files, applications, and settings. Confirm the consequences of the selected route before proceeding. Microsoft’s recovery options
- Check the target disk and keep-or-erase choice. Do not confirm a partition or erase prompt until you understand which disk it affects.
- Protect anything on the USB before creating boot media. Ubuntu requires a USB stick of at least 8 GB for its documented media-creation workflow and warns that writing the image overwrites the stick. Microsoft also specifies a blank USB flash drive of at least 8 GB for its installation media and says its contents are deleted. Copy needed files elsewhere first. These are operational requirements on the cited support pages; neither page states a publication year for the requirement. Ubuntu; Microsoft
- Use version-specific Windows instructions. Microsoft states that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. If you are recovering or reinstalling Windows, verify the steps for your version. Microsoft’s Windows RE guide
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