Rufus cannot make usb bootable, how to fix?

I got an old PC from a friend and tried using Rufus to create a bootable USB for Windows 11, but it wouldn’t work. Then I tried WinBotMate, and it made the whole process smooth and easy, letting me install Windows 11 without a hitch. 

I followed this tutorial and worked perfectly! 

https://www.egardget.com/create-windows-bootable-usb

If you encounter the problem of USB not being recognized as a bootable device and suspect that it is "Rufus cannot make USB bootable", here are a few fixes to help you solve the problem and successfully install Windows 10 on your old device.

Fix 1: Check USB formatting and partition type
Sometimes the USB partition format is incorrect, which will cause the boot failure instead of "Rufus cannot make USB bootable".

• Open the Disk Management tool that comes with Windows.
• Find your USB device, right-click it, and select "Format".
• Select FAT32 (better compatibility) or NTFS as the file system.
• If formatting does not work, right-click and select "Delete Volume", recreate a primary partition, and make sure the USB partition is Active.
• Use Rufus to create a bootable disk again.

Fix 2: Try a different boot mode
Old devices may only support Legacy Boot, while modern tools default to creating UEFI bootable disks.

• Open Rufus and set the partition type to "MBR (BIOS or UEFI)" instead of "GPT".
• If the device is very old, force the "Legacy Boot" mode.
• After the creation is complete, enable Legacy Support or turn off Secure Boot in the BIOS.
• This method often solves the problem that the device does not support the new format.

If you still feel that "Rufus cannot make USB bootable" after trying these fixes, the problem may be the hardware compatibility of the device itself. You may try to change the USB port or try another computer to make a boot disk, which will increase the success rate! I wish you a quick solution to the problem and a smooth installation of Windows 10

You use Rufus to create a USB installation disk, but find that the USB cannot be recognized as a bootable device. It is really frustrating. This situation is not necessarily a problem with Rufus, but many people may think that "Rufus cannot make USB bootable". Don't worry, I will list three ways to solve this problem and let you install Windows 10 smoothly!

Method 1: Check the BIOS settings

1. Many times, the USB cannot boot because the BIOS settings are incorrect, not "Rufus cannot make USB bootable". Try the following steps:
2. Press Del or F2 when booting to enter the BIOS setup interface.
3. Find "Boot Options" or "Boot Priority" and make sure USB Device is set as the first boot item.
4. If the device is older, make sure Legacy Boot mode is enabled, not UEFI mode.
5. Save and exit, and try to boot from USB again.

This problem is particularly common on older devices, and it can usually be solved by adjusting the boot mode.

Method 2: Use Rufus to create a bootable disk again
Although you think "Rufus cannot make USB bootable", it may be that there is a problem with the settings during the creation process. Here are the correct steps:

1. Open Rufus and insert your USB device.
2. Select your Windows 10 ISO file in "Boot Type".
3. Make sure "Partition Type" matches your hard drive:
4. If it is an MBR hard drive, select "BIOS or UEFI".
5. If it is a GPT hard drive, select "UEFI".
6. Click "Start" and try to boot again after the creation is completed.

Note: In some cases, incomplete ISO file downloads can also cause problems. You can try to download the ISO again in a different network environment.

Method 3: Try other tools instead of Rufus
If you still feel that "Rufus cannot make USB bootable", you may want to try other tools:

• Venoy can support multi-system installation. You can directly drag and drop the ISO without remaking it.
  Download and install Venoy to your USB, copy the Windows 10 ISO to the USB, and select ISO to boot after inserting it into the computer.
• Windows Media Creation Tool

If the network environment is stable, you can try this official tool again. Sometimes the problem with Rufus may be the ISO format, and the official tool will automatically adapt.

Finally, if you are still struggling with "Rufus cannot make USB bootable", don't worry, the problem is mostly related to the device or settings, not Rufus itself. Follow the above steps and I believe you will be able to solve the problem and install Windows 10 smoothly! Come on! 😊

As fas as I know, this is a common issue when using Rufus app. Rufus is a famous tool for making bootable USB drives. However, there are many alternatives to choose from if Rufus cannot make usb bootable from Windows 10/11 ISO.

Creating a Windows 10 bootable USB is a straightforward process that allows you to install or reinstall the operating system on your computer. To begin, you will need a USB flash drive with at least 8 GB of storage, a stable internet connection, and access to a Windows PC. Additionally, ensure that you have administrative privileges on the computer you’re using to create the bootable USB. The first step involves downloading the official Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website. This tool simplifies the process by handling the download of the necessary Windows 10 files and configuring the USB drive to be bootable.

Once you have downloaded the Media Creation Tool, insert your USB flash drive into the computer and run the tool. After accepting the license terms, you will be prompted to choose between upgrading the current PC or creating installation media for another PC. Select the latter option, which allows you to create a bootable USB drive. The tool will then ask you to choose the language, edition, and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) for Windows 10. It’s generally recommended to use the recommended options based on your current system unless you have specific requirements.

After configuring the settings, select "USB flash drive" as the media to use and ensure that the correct USB drive is chosen from the list of available devices. The Media Creation Tool will proceed to download the necessary Windows 10 files and automatically format the USB drive to make it bootable. This process may take some time, depending on your internet speed and the performance of your USB drive. It’s important not to interrupt the process to avoid corrupting the USB drive.

Once the tool completes the creation of the bootable USB, you can use it to install or reinstall Windows 10 on any compatible PC. To do this, insert the USB drive into the target computer and restart it. Access the BIOS or UEFI settings (usually by pressing keys like F2, F12, Delete, or Esc during startup) and set the USB drive as the primary boot device. Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings, allowing the computer to boot from the USB drive. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the Windows 10 installation. By following these steps, you can efficiently create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10, ensuring a smooth installation process.

Possible Reasons and Solutions for Rufus cannot make USB Bootable:

1.Check USB Drive Compatibility

• Make sure the USB drive is properly formatted and not corrupted. Sometimes old USB sticks can be a bit temperamental.
• Try reformatting the USB drive before using Rufus. You can do this via File Explorer:
• Right-click on the USB drive, select Format, choose FAT32 or NTFS, and then click Start.
  Once reformatted, try using Rufus again.

2. Rufus Settings

When setting up Rufus if Rufus cannot make USB bootable, ensure you have the correct settings:

• Device: Select the correct USB drive.
• Boot Selection: Select Disk or ISO image (Please select) and then choose your Windows 10 ISO file.
• Partition Scheme: If your BIOS is set to Legacy, choose MBR. If it's set to UEFI, go with GPT.
• File System: If you're using UEFI, FAT32 usually works better.

3. Run Rufus as Administrator

• Right-click the Rufus executable and select Run as administrator. This can help it have the permissions needed to create a bootable drive.

4. Switch USB Ports

• If you're using a USB 3.0 port, try switching to a USB 2.0 port, especially on older PCs. Sometimes, booting issues can stem from using the wrong type of USB port.

5. Download a Fresh Windows 10 ISO

• If Rufus is still giving you grief, it might be worth downloading a fresh copy of the Windows 10 ISO directly from Microsoft. Sometimes the file you’re using can get corrupted. Visit the Windows 10 Downl0ad page and grab the ISO again.

If Rufus is unable to create a bootable USB drive, it can be frustrating, especially when you need it for installing an operating system or running diagnostic tools. Below are several troubleshooting steps and solutions you can try to resolve the issue:

Check the ISO File: Test the Windows 10/11 ISO file you're using is not corrupted. You can verify its integrity by comparing its checksum (MD5, SHA1, SHA256) with the official checksum provided by the source. If the checksum doesn't match, redownload the ISO from the official website to ensure it's intact.

Use the Latest Version of Rufus: Make sure you're using the latest version of Rufus. Older versions might have bugs or lack support for newer ISO formats.

Run as Administrator: Right-click on the Rufus executable and select "Run as administrator." This ensures Rufus has the necessary permissions to modify the USB drive.

Check the USB Drive: Sometimes, the USB drive itself might be faulty. Try using another USB stick to see if the problem persists. Before using Rufus, format the USB drive to ensure it's clean. You can do this via Windows Explorer or using Rufus’s built-in formatting option.

Adjust Rufus Settings Appropriately: Depending on your target system (BIOS or UEFI), choose the appropriate partition scheme. For modern UEFI systems, GPT is typically preferred, while MBR is suitable for older BIOS systems. For most cases, FAT32 is recommended, but some ISOs might require NTFS or exFAT.

By systematically going through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue preventing Rufus from creating a bootable USB drive. Start with the simplest solutions, such as verifying the ISO file and updating Rufus, before moving on to more involved steps like adjusting settings or trying alternative software. If Rufus still cannot make usb bootable after trying all the above steps, please provide specific error messages or behaviors you're encountering can help in diagnosing the issue further.