How to Use Rufus to Create a Bootable USB for Windows 11/10/7

USB drives are widely favored as portable storage solutions. However, did you know they can also function as bootable devices? There may be instances where your computer fails to start up. It could get stuck on the BIOS screen or display a blue screen error. In such situations, a bootable USB can prove to be a genuine lifesaver. USBs are designed for more advanced usage beyond just storing movies, documents, or music files. In this article, we will delve into the often-unexplored feature of a USB drive, which is making it bootable.

What is a bootable USB drive?

Currently, a USB bootable disk serves as a rescue disc when the operating system fails to boot due to corruption or even hard drive failure. However, its utility extends beyond that; Windows USB bootable drives are also employed as a portable operating system. This allows users to carry their own Windows operating system on a USB drive, which can be inserted into any computer.

In this article, you'll learn both methods to create the desired type of bootable USB drive using the appropriate software.

1. 1. Rufus - Create a bootable USB drive from an ISO image file
2. 2. OS2Go Tools - Make a bootable USB drive without an ISO

Click here to download the OS2Go tool:

Rufus: A Reliable Bootable USB Creator

Rufus (主要是一个可靠的USB格式化工具)是一款免费的实用程序，用于使用ISO文件创建USB启动驱动器和Live USB。这是一款非常轻量级的软件，大小仅为5 MB。Rufus的一些主要功能包括：

Create a USB installation media from an ISO file. Install an operating system on a blank desktop computer. It is used to flash the BIOS. Run a low-level IOS.

Rufus is incredibly user-friendly with a straightforward interface, and it's renowned for its fast performance.

Rufus 的主要特点：

• It is entirely free and open-source.
• It is portable.
• Used for creating a bootable disk.
• Used for checking bad blocks on the USB drive.
• Used for generating checksums.

Guide: How to Use Rufus to Create a Bootable USB Drive

There are no specific system requirements for Rufus since it is a portable application. However, having Windows 7 or a later version is recommended. Now, let's proceed with the step-by-step guide for using Rufus.

Step 1. Download Rufus from the official website https://rufus.ie/. The current latest version is 3.12.

Upon clicking download, the download will commence.

Step 2. After downloading Rufus, you can launch it directly without installation since it's an application. When you run the app, the interface will appear as follows.

Step 3. In the image above, for option 1, choose the USB drive you want to make bootable. For option 2, select the source ISO file. For instance, we've downloaded the Ubuntu ISO from the official website and saved it in the "Downloads" folder, and we're using an 8GB drive. The interface should appear as displayed below.

These images show the steps for using Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.

Leave the other options as they are unless you need to change something specific.

Step 4. Click the "Start" button when the status is ready to begin creating a bootable disc.

After this step, your bootable disk should be ready and can be used to boot your computer.

OS2Go: One-click Portable Windows Creator

Rufus is one of the most excellent tools available for creating a bootable disk, facilitated by the ISO image present on the storage device. This enables us to boot a computer using this bootable drive. Additionally, it can serve as a rescue disk to repair the operating system in case it becomes corrupted. However, despite being a bootable drive, it is suitable only for a clean installation and not for a portable USB Windows setup. With portable Windows, you can carry your Windows desktop on a USB drive and use it wherever you go.

One of the top alternatives to Rufus is OS2Go tools, which also enables the creation of bootable Windows installations on portable USB drives. With a bootable USB drive made using OS2Go, your entire Windows desktop will be stored on the USB device. You can plug this USB drive into any computer and boot up your portable Windows, similar to accessing a regular desktop. Furthermore, you can utilize native Windows features alongside the underlying Windows system. This is an extremely useful feature, especially when you're unable to remotely access your computer due to restrictions; you can simply carry your portable USB Windows around with you.

Title: Guide: How to Use OS2Go to Create a Portable Windows USB Drive Introduction: OS2Go is a useful tool that enables you to create a portable version of Windows on a USB drive. This allows you to carry your operating system, applications, and settings with you wherever you go. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of using OS2Go to make a portable Windows USB drive. Step 1: Download and Install OS2Go - Visit the official OS2Go website to download the latest version of the software. - Save the installer file to your computer and run it as an administrator. - Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process. Step 2: Prepare the USB Drive - Ensure that you have a USB drive with sufficient storage capacity for your desired Windows version. - Backup any important data on the USB drive, as the process will erase its contents. - Connect the USB drive to your computer and note its drive letter. Step 3: Bootable USB Preparation - Launch OS2Go after installation. - The main interface will display options; select "Create a new portable Windows installation." - Choose the Windows ISO file you want to install from your computer. Step 4: Configure Settings - In the next window, select the USB drive letter carefully, making sure not to choose the wrong disk. - Review and customize any additional settings, such as partition size and boot loader options, if needed. - Click "Next" to proceed. Step 5: Start the Creation Process - OS2Go will now begin creating the portable Windows installation on your USB drive. - This process may take some time, depending on your USB drive speed and the size of the Windows installation. - Do not interrupt the process or remove the USB drive during this time. Step 6: Test the Portable Windows USB Drive - Once the creation process is complete, safely eject the USB drive from your computer. - Insert the USB drive into a different computer that supports booting from USB. - Restart the computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings to change the boot order, prioritizing USB devices. - Save the changes and exit; the computer should now boot from the USB drive. Step 7: Install or Run Portable Windows - You'll be prompted to either try or install Windows on the target computer. - If you're running from the USB, Windows will load from the drive without affecting the host system. - Remember that performance may vary depending on the target computer's hardware. Conclusion: With OS2Go, creating a portable Windows USB drive is a straightforward process. Now, you can enjoy the flexibility of having your personalized Windows environment on any compatible computer, without the need for a permanent installation.

It's incredibly simple to follow the instructions for creating a bootable USB drive using the tools provided by OS2Go:

Step 1. Install OS2Go on your Windows computer, which will show the used space on your system drive. Insert a USB drive with a capacity larger than the used space on the system drive. Select the target USB drive and click Next to proceed.

Step 2. OS2Go will warn you that the following action will erase all data on your drive. Make sure you've backed up all important data. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 3. Adjust disk layout. The default disk layout on the target drive will be identical to the source drive. You can also edit the layout to suit your requirements. Check the option provided if you're using a Solid State Drive as the Windows boot drive. Then, click Proceed.

Step 4. Then, OS2Go will begin creating the portable USB drive. This process may take some time, depending on your operating system and network conditions. Once the progress reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable.

Step 5. Insert the portable Windows USB and restart your computer. Press the necessary key (F2, DEL, F10, etc.) to access the BIOS. Select the option to boot from the USB drive.

注意: 请确保便携式USB驱动器和目标计算机的启动模式（UEFI或Legacy）相同，否则可能无法启动。

Both Rufus and OS2Go are utilized for creating bootable USB drives, albeit with a distinction. The bootable USB crafted by Rufus is ISO-mounted, enabling its use for a clean OS installation or修复已损坏的操作系统. Consequently, it stands as one of the top choices for a rescue disk or recovery disk. In contrast, OS2Go creates a bootable disk intended to function as a portable USB Windows across various devices wherever you go.

Extensive reading - What constitutes a bootable USB drive

A PC's hard drive contains the boot drive, which holds essential boot-up data, including the Volume Boot Record. This record contains crucial instructions for starting the operating system or any other bootable program. For a USB drive to be bootable, it must have the Master Boot Record, the Volume Boot Record, and the operating system. However, you don't need to manually place these files on the USB drive to make it bootable. It's a straightforward process that can be accomplished with just a few clicks using the appropriate application.

You can use a bootable USB to boot all versions of Windows, OSX, and a few versions of Linux. This represents a significant improvement over bootable CDs and DVDs for bootable devices. However, the process of creating a bootable USB differs from one platform to another.

Various applications can create a bootable disk. Most of these applications are platform-specific, allowing you to create bootable disks only for the platforms they support. Many of them are free. Some commonly used tools include Rufus, Etcher, Universal USB Installer, and RMPrep USB, which are primarily employed for creating Windows bootable USB drives. Rufus and Universal USB Installer can be utilized for both Windows and Linux. On the other hand, the popular USB Startup Disk Creator is used for crafting Linux USB bootable disks. Similarly, OS2Go is a tool employed for creating any Windows bootable USB drive to boot Windows on any PC or Mac.