How to Make a Bootable USB drive to install Windows/OS

Creating a bootable USB drive using Rufus is a simple process.

Follow these steps:

Requirements

1. USB Drive: At least 4/8 GB in size (the actual size may vary depending on the OS image).
2. Rufus Software: Download the latest version from the official Rufus website.
3. ISO File: Obtain the ISO file of the operating system you want to install (e.g., Windows, Linux, etc.).

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Drive

1. Insert the USB Drive: Connect your USB flash drive to your computer. Make sure to back up any important data from the USB drive, as the process will erase all data on it.
2. Download and Run Rufus:

• Go to the Rufus website and download the latest version.
• Once downloaded, run the Rufus executable. There is no installation required as Rufus is a portable application.

1. Select the USB Drive:

• In Rufus, locate the Device drop-down menu at the top. Select your USB drive from the list. Be cautious to select the correct device!

1. Select the ISO File:

• Under the Boot selection section, click the SELECT button.
• Browse and select the ISO file of the operating system you wish to make bootable.

1. Configure Partition Scheme:

• For most users, the default settings should suffice:
  • Partition scheme: Choose MBR for legacy systems or GPT for UEFI systems. Most modern systems use UEFI.
  • File system: Generally, you can leave this as FAT32 for compatibility; this limits file size to 4 GB. If the ISO has files larger than this, you might need to use NTFS.

1. Volume Label and Other Settings:

• You can give the USB drive a volume label (name it as you wish).
• Keep other options at their default settings unless you have specific needs.

1. Start the Process:

• Click the START button.
• A warning will pop up informing you that all data on the USB drive will be destroyed. Confirm that you understand by clicking OK.

1. Wait for Completion:

• Rufus will now create the bootable USB drive. This process can take several minutes, depending on the size of the ISO and your USB drive speed.

1. Completion:

• Once completed, you’ll see a “READY” message. You can then close Rufus and safely eject your USB drive.

Boot from the USB Drive

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the target computer.
2. Restart the computer and access the boot menu (usually by pressing a specific key like F2, F12, ESC, or DEL during startup).
3. Select the USB drive from the boot options to start the installation process.

That’s it! You now have a bootable USB drive ready for installation or recovery purposes. If you encounter any issues, check the ISO image and ensure it’s compatible with the target system.