How to create a bootable usb using rufus

Rufus is still the best tool for creating a bootable USB. If it does not work, then you can try some alternative apps instead.

How to Create a Bootable USB Using Rufus for Windows PC? Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide.

1. Run Rufus: Plug in your USB drive. Run the Rufus executable file you downloaded. It doesn't require installation.
2. Device Selection: Under "Device," Rufus should automatically detect your SanDisk USB drive. If you have multiple USB devices plugged in, double-check that the correct one is selected.
3. Boot Selection: Click the SELECT button to the right of "Boot selection" and choose the Windows 11 ISO file you downloaded.
4. Partition Scheme & Target System: This is a critical step for modern computers.
     - Partition scheme: GPT
     - Target system: UEFI (non-CSM)
     - This is the correct setting for virtually all computers made in the last decade and is essential for Windows 11.
5. Volume Label: This will auto-populate, but you can name it something like "Win11_Install".
6. Format Options: The file system should be NTFS. Leave "Cluster size" at Default.
7. Start the Process: Click the START button for creating a bootable USB using Rufus.
8. Windows User Experience Dialog: Rufus is clever. It will detect that you're using a Windows 11 ISO and present you with a window of options.
   - "Use the recommended options for this image": This is also fine to leave as is.
    -  Click OK to continue.
9. Final Warning: Rufus will warn you that all data on the device will be destroyed. This is normal. Ensure you have no important files on the USB drive and click OK.

Rufus will now format the drive and copy all the files. A green bar will show the progress. When it says READY at the bottom, the process is complete. Safely eject the USB drive.

 It is absolutely safe to create a bootable USB using Rufus, provided you download it from the official source. It is widely regarded as one of the most reliable and safe tools for this purpose. Rufus is an open-source application, and its official website is rufus,ie. Because it is open-source, its code can be reviewed by anyone, which makes the presence of malicious code like viruses or spyware highly unlikely. It has been used for years by millions of users, including IT professionals and tech enthusiasts, without any major security issues.

Unlike many free software download portals that often bundle unwanted programs or ads, the official Rufus download is clean and contains only the application itself. You will not encounter any "offers" for toolbars or other software during the download or installation process if you get it from the official site.

The official website provides SHA-256 checksums for every release when you creating a bootable USB using Rudus. This allows you to verify that the file you downloaded is authentic and has not been tampered with or corrupted during the download process.

Yes, Rufus is an excellent and safe alternative to the Windows Media Creation Tool. It is a highly trusted, free, and open-source application used by millions, including IT professionals, for creating a bootable USB using Rufus. It often works in situations where the official tool fails, thanks to its flexibility and control over the creation process.

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To create a bootable USB using Rufus. "Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0": This box will be checked by default. This is a key feature of Rufus that bypasses Microsoft's strict hardware checks, which is often the reason a USB won't boot. Keep this checked if you are installing on a PC that is not officially supported for Windows 11.

Rufus will now format the drive and copy all the necessary files. Once the status bar is full and says "READY," you can close Rufus. Your bootable USB is now ready. To use it, restart your computer and enter the boot menu (usually by pressing a key like F12, F10, Esc, or Del during startup). You should now see your USB drive listed—select it to begin the Windows 11 installation.

Rufus is a very popular tool for creating bootable USB. If the USB made by Rufus is not working as a bootable device, here are a few troubleshoot tips.

Partition Scheme and Target System Mismatch

This is the most critical setting. If your computer uses Legacy BIOS, you should generally select the MBR partition scheme and BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) as the target system in Rufus.

If your computer uses UEFI firmware (common in newer PCs), you should generally select the GPT partition scheme and UEFI as the target system.

Incorrect File System

For UEFI systems, the bootable partition usually needs to be formatted as FAT32. If the source ISO file contains a file larger than 4GB, Rufus may default to NTFS, which can prevent booting on some UEFI systems.

Solution: Try forcing the File System to FAT32 in Rufus, or ensure your target system setting is correct, as Rufus has a feature (UEFI:NTFS) to boot NTFS drives on UEFI systems when configured correctly.

Corrupted ISO File or Older Rufus Version

If the original ISO image file you downloaded is corrupted, the resulting USB will not boot. An older version of Rufus might have bugs or lack support for newer operating system images or hardware.

Please download a fresh copy of the ISO and use the latest version of Rufus.

These are very effective tricks and you are safe now to create a bootable usb using rufus.

Rufus is the fastest and easiest way to create a bootable USB and install an operating system like Windows or Linux, or to run a low-level utility. The process involves downloading the Rufus tool and the operating system's ISO file, then configuring a few settings.

1. Go to the official Rufus website and download the latest executable file. Rufus is portable, so no installation is required.
2. Download the ISO image file for the operating system you want to install (e.g., Windows 10/11, Ubuntu Linux).
3. Plug in a USB flash drive. It must be large enough to hold the ISO file (usually 8 GB or more is recommended) and must be empty, as all data on the drive will be erased during the process.
4. Click the START button at the bottom.

As far as I know, creating bootable USB using Rufus is the best way available when you need to install Windows or Linux OS on a computer.