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Rufus: How To Make A Bootable USB Flash Drive

Herbert Huffner
Rufus

Creating a bootable USB flash drive using Rufus is straightforward. It allows you to install or run operating systems (e.g., Windows, Linux, or DOS) or perform system recovery tasks on a computer.
Rufus is a free, open-source, and portable utility for Windows that formats and creates bootable USB drives from ISO files.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know, including prerequisites, step-by-step instructions, best practices, troubleshooting, and additional considerations, with insights from recent sources.

Why Create a Bootable USB with Rufus?

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

  1. USB Flash Drive:
    • Minimum 8 GB capacity (16 GB or larger recommended for modern OSes like Windows 11).
    • Fast read/write speeds for better performance (avoid cheap, low-quality drives).
    • Back up any data, as the drive will be formatted, erasing all contents.
  2. ISO File:
    • Download the ISO image for the desired operating system (e.g., Windows 10/11 from Microsoft, Ubuntu from ubuntu.com, or other trusted sources).
    • Ensure the ISO matches your system’s architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
  3. Windows Computer:
    • Windows 8 or later (Rufus does not support macOS or Linux natively).
    • Administrative privileges are required to run Rufus and format the USB drive.
  4. Rufus Software:
    • Download the latest version from the official Rufus website or trusted sources like SourceForge.
    • Rufus is portable (no installation is required), but to avoid malware, ensure you download the executable from a reputable source.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Bootable USB with Rufus

Step 1: Download and Prepare Rufus

  1. Visit the Official Website:
    • Go to rufus.ie and download the latest version (e.g., Rufus 4.7 as of April 2025).
    • Alternatively, use SourceForge for verified downloads.
  2. Choose the Correct Version:
    • Select the standard or portable executable (.exe). The portable version runs without installation.
    • For older systems (e.g., Windows XP/Vista), use Rufus 2.18, as newer versions may not be compatible.
  3. Run Rufus:
    • Double-click the downloaded .exe file. No installation is needed.
    • Grant administrative permissions when prompted (Rufus requires admin access to modify hardware).
    • Optionally, allow Rufus to check for updates online by clicking “Yes” when prompted.

Step 2: Insert and Select the USB Drive

  1. Plug in the USB Drive:
    • Insert the USB flash drive into an available USB port.
    • Ensure no other USB drives are connected to avoid accidental formatting.
    • Back up any critical data, as the drive will be erased.
  2. Select the USB Drive in Rufus:
    • Open Rufus, and it will automatically detect the inserted USB drive.
    • In the “Device” dropdown, verify the correct drive is selected (e.g., “No_Label” or the drive’s name). If multiple drives are listed, double-check to avoid formatting the wrong one.

Step 3: Select the ISO File

  1. Choose Boot Selection:
    • In the “Boot selection” section, ensure “Disk or ISO image (Please select)” is chosen.
    • Click the “SELECT” button to browse for the ISO file.
  2. Locate the ISO:
    • Navigate to the folder where the ISO file is stored (e.g., the Downloads folder).
    • Select the ISO (e.g., ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso or Win11_24H2_English_x64.iso) and click “Open.”
  3. Optional: Download ISO via Rufus:
    • For Windows 8.1/10/11, click the dropdown arrow next to “SELECT” and choose “DOWNLOAD” (available in Rufus 3.5 and later).
    • Select the desired Windows version, follow the prompts to download the ISO, and proceed.

Step 4: Configure Rufus Settings

Rufus automatically detects optimal settings based on the ISO, but you can review or adjust them:

  1. Partition Scheme:
    • MBR (BIOS or UEFI): Suitable for older systems or broader compatibility.
    • GPT (UEFI only): Required for modern systems with UEFI firmware.
  2. Target System:
    • Select “BIOS or UEFI” for maximum compatibility or “UEFI” for newer systems.
  3. File System:
    • NTFS: Recommended for Windows installations.
    • FAT32: Used for Linux or smaller ISOs (limited to 4 GB file sizes).
  4. Volume Label:
    • Optionally, enter a name for the USB drive (e.g., “Win11_Installer”).
  5. Advanced Options:
    • Check “Quick Format” to speed up formatting (skips bad sector checks).
    • Enable “Add fixes for old BIOSes” for older systems under “Advanced Drive Properties.”
    • For Windows 11, Rufus may offer customization options (e.g., bypassing TPM, Secure Boot, or Microsoft account requirements). Select these if needed.
  6. Persistent Storage (Linux Only):
    • For some Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu), enable persistent storage to save files across sessions.

Step 5: Start the Creation Process

  1. Initiate Formatting:
    • Click the “START” button at the bottom of the Rufus interface.
  2. Acknowledge Warnings:
    • Rufus will display a warning that all data on the USB drive will be destroyed. Click “OK” to proceed.
    • If the ISO is an ISOHybrid image (e.g., Ubuntu), Rufus may prompt you to choose between “Write in ISO Image mode” or “DD Image mode.” Select the default (ISO Image mode) unless instructed otherwise.
  3. Download Additional Files (if prompted):
    • For some ISOs (e.g., Linux Mint), Rufus may require additional files (e.g., vesamenu.c32). Click “Yes” to download them automatically.
  4. Monitor Progress:
    • The process takes 5–10 minutes, depending on the ISO size and USB drive speed.
    • The status bar will turn green, and “READY” will appear when complete.

Step 6: Verify and Eject

  1. Check the USB Drive:
    • Open File Explorer and verify that the USB drive contains the OS files (e.g., setup.exe for Windows or boot files for Linux).
  2. Safely Eject:
    • Right-click the USB drive in File Explorer and select “Eject” to avoid data corruption.
  3. Close Rufus:
    • Click “CLOSE” in Rufus to exit the application.

Step 7: Use the Bootable USB

  1. Insert the USB.
    • Plug the bootable USB into the target computer.
  2. Access the Boot Menu:
    • Restart the computer and press the boot menu key (e.g., F12, F2, ESC, or DEL, depending on the manufacturer) to select the USB drive.
    • Alternatively, enter the BIOS/UEFI settings and set the USB as the first boot device.
  3. Boot from USB:
    • Select the USB drive from the boot menu. You may see the Windows logo or a “Press any key to boot” prompt for Windows. For Linux, a boot menu (e.g., GRUB) may appear.
  4. Install or Run the OS:
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to install the OS or run a live environment (for Linux). For detailed installation steps, refer to official guides (e.g., ubuntu.com for Ubuntu or Microsoft’s Windows installation guide).

Best Practices

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  1. USB Not Detected by Rufus:
    • Solution: Enable “List USB Hard Drives” under “Advanced Drive Properties” in Rufus. If the issue persists, try a different USB port or drive.
  2. USB Not Recognized as Bootable:
    • Solution:
      • Ensure your system matches the correct partition scheme (MBR for BIOS, GPT for UEFI).
      • Re-run Rufus with a different USB drive, as some drives may be incompatible.
      • Check BIOS/UEFI settings to confirm USB booting is enabled and the drive is prioritized.
      • For legacy systems, use an older Rufus version (e.g., 1.3.0), as newer versions may not work.
  3. Error: “The device is not ready”:
    • Solution: Re-enable automounting by running mountvol /e in an elevated Command Prompt, then retry.
  4. ISO Fails to Boot:
    • Solution:
      • Re-download the ISO, as it may be corrupted.
      • Switch between BIOS and UEFI boot modes in the target system’s firmware settings.
      • Ensure the ISO is compatible with Rufus (most ISOs are supported, but verify on Rufus, ie).
  5. Slow Performance or Errors:
    • Solution: Use a USB drive with faster read/write speeds. Cheap drives can cause delays or failures.
  6. Windows Media Creation Tool Fails:
    • Solution: If Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool fails to download or create a bootable USB, use Rufus to make the USB from a downloaded ISO.

Advanced Features and Considerations

Rufus Customization Options

Comparison with Alternatives

Tool Pros Cons
Rufus Fast, portable, supports many ISOs, Windows 11 tweaks, and persistent storage Windows-only, may not detect some USB drives without advanced settings
balenaEtcher Simple UI, cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) Fewer customization options, no Windows 11 bypass features
Media Creation Tool Official Microsoft tool for Windows ISOs, easy for beginners Limited to Windows, can be slow or fail during ISO download
UNetbootin Supports Linux distros, cross-platform Slower than Rufus, less reliable for Windows ISOs

Rufus is preferred for its speed, versatility, and advanced features, but balenaEtcher is simpler for cross-platform use.

Security and Privacy

System Compatibility

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB with Rufus is a reliable and efficient way to install or test operating systems. By following the steps above—downloading Rufus, selecting the USB and ISO, configuring settings, and verifying the output—you can create a bootable drive in 5–10 minutes.
Key considerations include using a high-quality USB, verifying ISO integrity, and leveraging Rufus’s advanced features for customization (e.g., Windows 11 tweaks or persistent Linux storage). If issues arise, troubleshoot by checking USB compatibility, BIOS/UEFI settings, or Rufus versions.

If you need further assistance with creating a specific OS bootable USB (e.g., Windows 11 with TPM bypass or a persistent NixOS drive), troubleshooting errors, or exploring alternatives like balenaEtcher, let me know, and I can provide tailored guidance!

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