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Memphissin's avatar
Memphissin
Copper Contributor
Aug 16, 2024
Solved

Rufus Not Working on my Windows 11 PC

I was trying to upgrade my Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 but it tells me The PC must support TPM 2.0. I don’t know what TPM is and it is a quite old PC I bought five years ago.


After that, I did some searching and a lot of people recommend the Rufus app to install Windows 11 on unsupported PC that lacks TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. However, the USB created by Rufus is not seen as a bootable media. I did set the BIOS to boot from USB first.


I burned the Windows 11 ISO two more times with different booting scheme prorvided by Rufus. Unfortunately, it does not work either. How to fix this if Rufus is not working on Windows 11? Anyone know what is the problem in my case?

 

Thanks.

11 Replies

  • JamesGarrison's avatar
    JamesGarrison
    Copper Contributor

    Your PC needs TPM 2.0 for Windows 11, but Rufus can bypass it. If your USB isn't bootable, ensure you select "GPT" for UEFI or "MBR" for Legacy BIOS in Rufus. Check boot mode in BIOS matches USB type. and affordable Windows 11 Pro keys, check Hyp estKey, a trusted Microsoft partner.

  • Chasesy's avatar
    Chasesy
    Copper Contributor

    Memphissin Rufus has been a popular choice for installing Windows 11 on unsupported hardware. However, it does not work sometimes because of the wrong settings in Rufus. It does offer specific options to bypass Windows 11 system requirements, such as TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and RAM requirements. If these options are not selected, the created USB won't bypass the requirements.

     

    In addition, older versions of Rufus may not include the options needed to bypass the Windows 11 requirements. You'd better to upgrade the computer that meets all system requirements if Rufus does not work for installing Windows 11. You can also try the official Media Creation Tool for the same task!

    • thegreat's avatar
      thegreat
      Copper Contributor

      the media creation tool, despite being useful, will not work if your PC does not meet the software/hardware requirements for Windows 11. yet, Windows 11 media creation tool cannot be used to create installation media for Arm-based PCs; it can only create media for x64 processors.

  • Kingstons's avatar
    Kingstons
    Copper Contributor

    If Rufus is not working to create a bootable USB for installing Windows 11 on your older PC, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem and consider some alternative methods. Ensure that the USB drive you're using is properly formatted. Use FAT32 as the file system, as some BIOS setups prefer it. Check the USB drive for errors by running the built-in Windows utility (chkdsk).

    When using Rufus to create the bootable USB, make sure to follow these steps:

    1. Download the Latest Version of Rufus: Always use the most recent version of Rufus from the official website to ensure compatibility.
    2. Open Rufus: Select your USB drive from the 'Device' dropdown.
    3. Choose the Windows 11 ISO: Click on 'SELECT' to load the ISO file you downloaded.
    4. Partition Scheme:
      If your PC uses legacy BIOS, select MBR for 'Partition scheme'.
      If it has UEFI, select GPT.
    5. File System: Set it to FAT32.
    6. Create a Bootable Disk: Check 'Create a bootable disk using' and ensure it's set to the ISO Image option.
    7. Advanced Options: If your PC doesn't support TPM or Secure Boot, look for the checkbox that allows you to bypass TPM and Secure Boot checks (this may vary in different versions of Rufus).
      After setting this up, click Start to create the USB.

    And about BIOS Settings:

    • Boot Priority: Double-check that the USB is set as the first boot device.
      CSM/Legacy Support: If available, enable CSM (Compatibility Support Module) or Legacy
    • Boot mode to improve compatibility with older hardware.
      Secure Boot: Make sure Secure Boot is disabled if your BIOS has that option.

  • Jiuan's avatar
    Jiuan
    Copper Contributor

    "Error: Access to the device is denied" is a common error you might come across when using Rufus on Windows 11.  This error can occur if Rufus does not have the necessary permissions to access the USB drive or if the USB drive is being used by another process.

     

    To fix Rufus not working on Windows 11 for this specific error, please run Rufus as an administrator. Right-click the Rufus executable and select "Run as administrator." Close any programs that might be using the USB drive. And disable any antivirus software temporarily, as it might be blocking Rufus from accessing the USB drive.

  • Creediin's avatar
    Creediin
    Copper Contributor
    Why does Rufus not work on Windows 11 PC? Making sure you're using a version of Rufus that's compatible with your system. Sometimes, if you've got an older hardware setup, a newer version of Rufus might have features that don't mesh well with your PC. I once had a similar hiccup—downloaded the latest version without checking the system requirements, and it just wouldn't launch.

    Sometimes the USB drive itself can be the problem. A dodgy USB stick can cause Rufus to throw up its hands and give up. I had a USB that looked perfectly fine, but it just refused to work with Rufus, so I switched to another one, and voila! Problem solved. If the ISO file you're trying to work with is corrupt or incomplete, that can definitely trigger some issues. I learned this the hard way when I wasted a good hour trying to boot from an ISO that had bad data. Always verify your ISO file before you use it!
  • Rubenbm's avatar
    Rubenbm
    Copper Contributor

    Memphissin Rufus might not support certain file systems, such as FAT32. Try using a different file system like NTFS or exFAT. If Rufus still not working on your Windows computer. You can try Etciher. This is my go-to alternative to Rufus. As an open-source tool that's available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It's super easy to use and can create bootable USB drives from ISO files in no time.

  • Collingrio's avatar
    Collingrio
    Copper Contributor
    Incorrect settings in Rufus can cause the USB drive not to be bootable. Please double-check the selected options in Rufus, such as the correct partition scheme, file system, and target system type. Use the "Standard Windows installation" option rather than "Windows To Go" unless you specifically need Windows To Go.
  • Jeffrey148's avatar
    Jeffrey148
    Copper Contributor
    If a Rufus-created ISO image is not bootable, it can be due to several factors. The partition scheme (MBR or GPT) and the file system (FAT32 or NTFS) may not match your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings.

    If your system uses BIOS or Legacy mode, select MBR as the partition scheme and FAT32 or NTFS as the file system. If your system uses UEFI, select GPT as the partition scheme and FAT32 as the file system. This is a quick fix to solve Rufus not working issue.
  • Yusufop's avatar
    Yusufop
    Copper Contributor
    Why not using the official Media Creation Tool? It is an official utility provided by Microsoft that allows users to create a bootable USB drive or download an ISO file to install or upgrade to Windows 11. This tool is particularly useful for those who want to perform a clean installation, upgrade an existing Windows 10 system, or create a backup installation media.

    Please give a try on MCT if Rufus not working on Windows 11. However, you need to modify the registry during installation to install Windows 11 without TPM 2.0. Keep this in mind!

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