The following guide demonstrates how to efficiently create a bootable USB drive using Rufus on a Windows system. Among the various tools available, Rufus stands out as a top choice due to its free and open-source nature. In fact, it's an essential tool that every Windows user should consider adding to their software collection.

Tip: Rufus can also be used to format a USB drive to FAT32, a feature not available in the standard formatting tools of Windows 10 and 11.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Bootable USB Drives
• Creating a Bootable USB Drive with Rufus
• Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding Bootable USB Drives

A bootable USB drive, often referred to as a "Live USB," is a USB device that has been reformatted to host an entire operating system for installation. Such a drive contains setup files and preloaded commands, visible in File Explorer. It cannot store regular files like text, images, music, or videos unless reformatted.

Given the rarity of CD/DVD ROMs today, bootable USB drives have become the preferred method for installing operating systems or software. They are portable and allow for the creation of clone images, ensuring data durability.

Creating a Bootable USB Drive with Rufus

1. If you haven't already, download Rufus. Navigate to the download section to choose the latest version or an older one. Rufus offers both a regular installer and a portable version. Opt for the portable version if you prefer not to install it on your system. In this guide, we'll use the portable version. After downloading the .EXE file, launch Rufus.

2. You'll be prompted to allow Rufus to check for updates online. Click "Yes" to continue.

3. Insert your USB drive, and it should appear in Rufus's top drop-down menu. Once visible, click the "Select" button.

4. Navigate to the folder containing your ISO file in the Browse window, select it, and click "Open." For this example, we're creating a Linux Mint bootable USB, so we'll select the corresponding ISO.

Note: This guide assumes you already have the ISO file. If not, download it from the developer's website. Ensure your USB drive is at least 8GB and free of important data.

5. Optionally, click the "Check" icon next to the "Boot Selection" drop-down to calculate the MD5, SHA1, and SHA256 checksums of the ISO file, verifying its integrity.

6. Wait a few moments for the checksum calculation to complete.

Good to know: If you're encountering an endless reboot loop in Windows, here's how to resolve it.

7. If no issues are detected, the operating system or software is safe for use on your PC.

8. Return to the main interface, choose "MBR" from the "Partition scheme" menu and "BIOS or UEFI" from the "Target system" menu. For older systems, check "Add fixes for old BIOSes" under "Advanced Drive Properties."

9. Optionally, rename the USB drive using the "Volume Label" field. Ensure "Quick Format" is selected under "Advanced Format Options" for a faster format that skips bad sector checks.
10. Click the "Start" button to begin.

11. Depending on the ISO, Rufus might request additional files. For instance, creating a Linux Mint bootable drive may require replacing "vesamenu.c32." Click "Yes" to let Rufus handle it.

12. Choose the recommended "Write in ISO image mode" option and click "OK" if prompted.
13. A warning will appear about data loss on the device. Click "OK" as data can be recovered later. For reusing the USB for data storage, follow the steps in this guide.

14. Rufus will then start creating the bootable USB drive. The process duration varies based on the USB drive's speed.

15. Upon completion, you'll hear a sound and see the progress bar turn fully green, indicating success.

16. Verify the new bootable drive in Windows 11 or Windows 10 File Explorer.

As demonstrated, creating a bootable USB drive with Rufus is straightforward. Regardless of the complexity of the operating system or software, Rufus can transform it into a functional drive, provided there's sufficient space.

Tip: If you encounter a "Windows detected a hard disk problem" message on your PC, here's how to address it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rufus safe to use?

Rufus is highly secure, free from malware, ads, or unwanted software, making it a top choice for creating bootable USB drives. Its portable version requires no installation.

Is Rufus available for Linux or Mac?

Unfortunately, Rufus is exclusive to Windows and does not support Linux or Mac. However, alternatives like BalenaEtcher, PowerISO, and Ventoy are available for these platforms.

Windows offers numerous other tools for creating bootable USB drives, including Microsoft's own utilities for creating Windows installation media.

Why isn't my Rufus-created bootable USB working?

If your Rufus-made bootable USB fails to boot, it might be due to a mismatch in boot modes (UEFI or legacy BIOS) between the USB and the installation computer. Converting from legacy BIOS to UEFI can resolve this issue.

Image Credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Sayak Boral.

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