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Free Image Format ConversionUsing bootable USB drives to install Windows and other Linux systems has long been the gold standard in tech circles. Users have long relied on HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool to create bootable drives, but its clunky and outdated interface called for an alternative. Rufus, introduced in 2011, quickly became the go-to software for creating bootable USB drives.
If you're hearing about Rufus for the first time, this article will help you understand what Rufus is and what it does. We'll also walk you through the detailed steps to create a bootable USB drive using Rufus.
What is Rufus
Rufus is a free and open-source Windows program used to create bootable USB drives. The name "Rufus" is an acronym for "Reliable USB Formatting Utility with Source." It was created by Pete Batard and first released toward the end of 2011.
Initially, it only supported MS-DOS, but it evolved with each new release. Over the years, it added support for FreeDOS, ISO, UEFI, Windows To Go, and many other features. While initially introduced mainly for installing Windows, it's also used for Linux installations. Apart from creating bootable USB drives, the tool can also format USB drives.
"System Requirements for Rufus"
It is a Windows application that supports all major versions of Windows. Before using Rufus, make sure your system meets the following detailed requirements:
- Operating System: Supports Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and 7. Compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
- USB Flash Drive: You will need a USB drive with at least 8GB of capacity to create a bootable drive using Rufus.
What are Rufus' features?
An answer to the question "What is Rufus?" would be incomplete without emphasizing its key features. Rufus is a comprehensive tool for creating bootable USB drives or Live USBs. It offers various boot options and supports multiple file systems. Here are some of Rufus's most common attributes: 1. **Multi-OS Support**: Rufus enables you to create bootable USBs for various operating systems like Windows, Linux, UEFI, and more from ISO images. 2. **Quick Formatting**: It employs a quick formatting option to swiftly prepare the USB drive for use. 3. **Support for Different File Systems**: Rufus supports several file systems, including FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT, catering to different requirements. 4. **UEFI Boot Compatibility**: Along with traditional BIOS mode, Rufus also supports modern UEFI booting, ensuring smooth startups on newer computers. 5. **Secure Erase**: You can safely erase all data on your USB drive using Rufus, ensuring privacy and data security. 6. **Automatic Detection**: Rufus automatically detects the optimal partition scheme and file system for your device, providing optimized settings. 7. **Portable Application**: Rufus is a portable application that doesn't require installation. You can save it on a USB drive and carry it around. 8. **Multilingual Support**: It supports multiple languages, making it accessible for users from different countries and regions. These features make Rufus a powerful and user-friendly tool ideal for creating bootable USBs in various scenarios.
- No installation required: The tool is compact and doesn't need any installation. You can download it on your computer and directly use it to create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file.
- Download Windows ISO: If you don't have a Windows ISO file, Rufus can help you download one. It allows you to download ISO files for Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. This feature requires PowerShell 3.0.
- Multiple file systems: Rufus supports various file systems to ensure a smooth process when creating a bootable USB flash drive. It supports FAT, FAT32, UDF, exFAT, ReFS, and NTFS file systems. As for partition schemes, it supports both GPT and MBR.
- Advanced boot options: The tool offers advanced boot options that allow you to create a bootable drive tailored to your needs. Within Rufus, you can choose from ReactOS, Syslinux 4.07, Syslinux 6.04, Grub 2.04, UEFI: NTFS, and Grub4DOS 0.4.6a.
- File integrity: To ensure a secure Windows boot, Rufus runs MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 checksums. These checksums verify the integrity of the files, preventing errors during the operating system installation process.
How to Use Rufus
The process of creating a bootable USB with Rufus is straightforward and shouldn't take much of your time. Here are the steps to create a bootable USB flash drive using Rufus:
Step 1: Download Rufus from its official website and double-click the file to run it. Plug in the USB to your computer so the program can detect it. If you have multiple USB devices connected, select the target USB drive.
Select your USB drive
Step 2: Use the "Select" button to choose the ISO file for your operating system. If supported, you can use "Download" to download an ISO for Windows 8.1 or later. After selecting the file, choose your partition scheme and target system.
Step 3: Before creating the bootable USB, you need to format the USB. Set the appropriate parameters in the "Format options."
Click the "Start" button.
When it's done, click “Start” to begin the process. A progress bar at the bottom of the program window will tell you when it's finished.
If you don't trust Rufus or don't want to use it, what should you do? In this case, your best choice is to use tools Partition Master Free. This is an excellent tool that allows you to create a bootable USB without Rufus easily. For hard drives, this tool is a complete solution. With it, you can check disk health, fix file systems, change partition styles, and more.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can safely say that Rufus is a great tool that answers the “What is Rufus” question with a lot of free features. Since it's open source, you're free to modify the tool as you see fit. It can create bootable USB flash drives, Live USBs, format USB drives, and perform many other tasks. The fact that it doesn't require installation is great for users with limited storage space.