How to create Manjaro bootable usb on Windows OS?

Sideny_Strouth download the Manjaro ISO load it with rufus and create the bootable. Mind the Linux OS requires GPT / Secure Boot. 

Mind you require a free partition or at best a seperate physical drive. You can then select between booting Linux or Windows in Windows RE or BIOS (UEFI) boot menu. 

Win32 Disk Imager as a tool that's supposed to make create Manjaro bootable USB on Windows a breeze. But, as with any tech tool, there are some potential caveats to be aware of. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for using free and open-source tools, but with great power comes great responsibility... or, in this case, some potential headaches! So, I used Win32 Disk Imager a while back, and I had a bit of a problem. My USB drive wasn't being recognized by the tool. Like, it wouldn't show up in the list of available drives, no matter how many times I restarted the software or my computer. I felt like I was in some sort of tech limbo, stuck between trying to get my USB drive to work and getting my head around the cryptic error messages. I'm not saying it's a bad tool, just that compatibility can be a bit of a crapshoot!

Here's a weird one: Win32 Disk Imager doesn't actually check if the image file you're trying to write to the USB drive is even valid. Like, it just assumes you know what you're doing and won't give you a second thought. But what if you're trying to write a dodgy ISO file? Or, worse still, what if you've downloaded a malicious file thinking it's a valid image? That's like walking into a dark alley with no security and expecting to come out alive! It's a potential security risk that you should be aware of.

Sometimes using the classics to create Manjaro bootable USB can be awesome. But trying to use Diskpart and Bootsect to create a Manjaro bootable USB  is like trying to use a butter knife to perform surgery – sure, it could work, but it might end up being a disaster.

I don’t know if you’ve ever been knee-deep in trying to type out commands, only to realize that you misspelled “clean” as “clen.” Suddenly, instead of wiping the USB, you’ve just wiped your entire weekend plans off the calendar. You really need to be on your A-game. You skip a step or type something wrong, and boom! You’re staring at your USB drive, confused as to where your valuable data went. Classic tech fail!

I’ve gotta say, using tools like Rufus to create Manjaro bootable USB on Windows computer is way easier. It’s got a nice pictorial user interface. You can literally click on things, like a non-committal game of hopscotch. But using Diskpart? It’s like trying to do long division without a calculator. Seriously, if you can’t find the drive to select, you’re literally playing a game of “Where’s Waldo” with your own storage devices. Spoiler alert: Waldo won’t show up!

Creating a Manjaro bootable USB on Windows is easier than you might think, and you can do it for free using a tool called Rufus. First, make sure you have your Manjaro ISO file ready (sounds like you do!). Now, you'll want to download Rufus. Just hop over to the Rufus website and grab the latest version (it's a small file that doesn’t need installation—just run it).

Open Rufus (running it as an administrator is a good idea). You'll see a simple interface:

• Device: Choose your USB drive from the dropdown menu.
• Boot Selection: Click on SELECT and find your Manjaro ISO.
• Partition Scheme: If your computer is using UEFI, choose GPT. For older BIOS systems, go with MBR.
• File System: Set this to FAT32—it's the most compatible.

Final Touches
Once you have successfully created a Manjaro bootable USB on Windows PC, safely eject your USB. Now, you can reboot your computer, press the right key to access the BIOS (usually something like F2, Del, or ESC), and set the USB drive as the first boot device. If your laptop has Secure Boot enabled, you might need to turn that off in BIOS settings. Also, disabling Fast Boot can help make sure your USB is recognized.

My suggestion is using Windows'built-in tools, like Diskpart and Bootsect, to create a bootable Manjaro USB drive. 

Step 1: Insert your USB drive and note the drive letter (e.g., D:).
Step 2: Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
Step 3: Type diskpart and press Enter to launch Diskpart.
Step 4: Use the following commands:

list disk
select disk X   (replace X with the disk number of your USB drive)
clean
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
active
assign letter=Y (Choose a free drive letter)
exit

Step 5: Now, use the Bootsect command to make a bootable Manjaro Linux USB on Windows:

bootsect /nt60 Y: /force /mbr

Step 6: Mount your Manjaro ISO using a tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR, and copy all the files to your USB drive.
Step 7: Eject the USB drive and boot from it on your target machine.

When it comes to creating Manjaro bootable USB on Windows OS? I used the wrong software! I thought I'd be all fancy and downloaded a software that promised "fast and reliable" bootable USB creation. But it turned out to be about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. I mean, I had more luck trying to teach my cat to use a toilet! So, just a tip: if you’re using Windows, stick with the Rufus tool. It’s free and, unlike my old schoolmate Jeff, it actually works!

I totally disregarded the file system formatting! There’s something about “FAT32” and “NTFS” that sounded like the names of hipster bands. I picked NTFS because it sounded fancy, but guess what? Turns out Manjaro wasn’t having it! It was like inviting that drama-prone friend to a party and wondering why he’s fighting with the snacks! Always go for FAT32 unless you enjoy sitting in front of a black screen waiting for the universe to explain your poor life choices.

So, what’s the solution of creating Manjaro bootable USB on Windows PC? You ask? Make sure to use Rufus on your Windows machine, format your USB as FAT32, double-check it’s the right drive, and for heaven’s sake, read the instructions! You can also download the Manjaro ISO file from their official website

Step-by-step guide to create a Manjaro bootable USB on Windows computer:

1. Download the required files

• Manjaro ISO: Make sure you have downloaded the latest Manjaro ISO file from the website.
• Rufus: This is a popular utility for creating bootable USB drives. It does not need to be installed; you can just run it directly.

2. Prepare your USB drive

• Insert USB drive: Connect your USB flash drive to your Windows PC. Make sure it has enough space (at least 4 GB is recommended).
• Although Rufus will automatically format the USB during the bootable creation process, it is usually a good idea to format it yourself beforehand.

3. Create Manjaro bootable USB with Rufus

• Run Rufus: Launch the Rufus application. You may need administrative privileges.
• Select Device: In the "Device" dropdown, select your USB drive.
• Select the ISO File: Under "Boot selection," choose Disk or ISO image (Please select). Click the SELECT button next to it, and browse to the Manjaro ISO file you downloaded.

4. Partition Scheme and Target System:
For most users: Choose MBR for the partition scheme if you're using Legacy BIOS or GPT if you are using UEFI.
Target system: This should automatically adjust based on your choice above.

5. File System & Cluster Size: Use FAT32 as the file system (if not already selected).

6. Volume Label: You can enter a name for your USB drive, but this is optional.

7. Advanced Options (Optional): Click on Show advanced format options and ensure the "Create extended label and icon files" option is checked.

8. Start the Creation Process: Click the START button. You may receive a warning that all data will be destroyed. Ensure you've backed up anything important and confirm to proceed.

9. Wait for Completion: Rufus will now format the USB drive and copy the necessary files. This process typically takes a few minutes.

10 Completion: Once done, you will see a message indicating that the process is complete. Click CLOSE.

5. Booting from the USB Drive

• Restart Your Computer: With the USB drive plugged in, reboot your PC.
• Enter BIOS/UEFI Setup: As your computer starts, press the designated key to enter BIOS/UEFI setup (commonly F2, F10, DEL, ESC). You may need to refer to your motherboard’s manual for the correct key.
• Change Boot Order: In the BIOS/UEFI menu, navigate to the boot options, and set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
• Save and Exit: Save the changes and exit BIOS/UEFI settings. Your computer should boot from the USB drive.

6. Install Manjaro
Once you created a Manjaro bootable USB on Windows computer, you'll see the Manjaro welcome screen. From there, you can proceed with the installation process following the on-screen instructions.