What is a Bootable USB Drive? Everything You Need to Know About Bootable USB Drive

For many years, USB drives have been utilized for various purposes. However, their usage was primarily restricted to data storage and simple tasks. Yet, they possess the capability to run multiple operating systems and facilitate ultra-secure banking in addition to storing information. Achieving all these functionalities relies on a single feature: bootability. A bootable USB drive can be regarded as a contemporary alternative to the outdated CDs we once used to install different operating systems. They are more compact and user-friendly compared to CDs. This article will delve into everything you need to know about bootable USB drives and their various applications.

What is a Bootable USB Drive?

A bootable USB drive is a USB device that enables you to boot a computer using the file system stored on the flash drive, instead of relying on the hardware. It offers numerous advantages.

Install an Operating System

The most typical application is to install and run operating systems like Windows and macOS. This task was previously carried out by CDs and DVDs. However, nowadays, a bootable USB drive enables us to do so with minimal effort. You can utilize it to install an operating system on your computer, whether it's a new one or if the existing one has become corrupted.

Troubleshooting

When your computer encounters a severe issue, you might resort to re-installing the system to resolve it. With a bootable USB drive, you can conveniently re-install the system on your own.

Computer Deployment Translation: Computer Deployment

If you're in charge of your company's IT department, setting up new computers might be part of your job. Want to minimize the time and effort spent on deploying multiple devices? A bootable USB drive can be of great assistance. Just insert the bootable drive into your computer, and you can set up the new system without the need to repeatedly download ISO files.

How to Create a Bootable USB Drive for Windows 11?

On October 5th, Microsoft released the official version of Windows 11. In this section, we will detailedly guide you on how to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 11.

Step 1. Download the Windows 11 ISO Files

1. Download the Windows 11 ISO file from the link provided below. You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account.

The link provided leads to the Microsoft website where you can download Windows 11 in English.

2. Choose the edition you want from the drop-down menu.

3. Select your language and region, confirm, and then click the Download button.

Step 2. Create a Windows 11 Bootable USB Drive

There are various tools available for creating a bootable USB drive, such as Microsoft Media Creation Tool and Rufus. In this case, we'll be using Rufus to create a bootable USB drive for Windows 11. The detailed steps are as follows:

1. Download and run Rufus on your computer.

2. Click on the 'Select' button on the right side.

3. Choose the downloaded Windows 11 ISO file, and all the other options will be filled in by default.

4. Check the status at the bottom of the page to see if it's ready or not.

5. Tap on the 'Start' button located at the bottom of the page. Wait for a while as the process may take some time, depending on your USB drive and the connected port.

6. Then, the Windows 11 bootable USB drive will be created.

Create a bootable USB drive with Rufus

Once your Windows 11 Bootable USB drive is created, you can use it to install the operating system on any device of your choice.

Bonus Tip: How to Create a Portable USB Drive? Creating a portable USB drive involves formatting the drive and installing necessary software to make it usable on different computers without leaving any traces behind. Here's a simple guide: 1. **Backup Data**: First, ensure you have backed up all important data from the USB drive as formatting will erase everything. 2. **Format the USB Drive**: Connect your USB drive to your computer. In Windows, right-click on the USB drive in File Explorer, select "Format," choose "FAT32" or "NTFS" as the file system (depending on compatibility needs), and click "Start." For macOS, open Disk Utility, select your USB drive, and click "Erase" to format it. 3. **Portable Apps Installer**: Download a portable app installer like "PortableApps.com Platform" () or "WinUSB Maker" (). These tools allow you to install applications directly onto the USB drive. 4. **Install Portable Apps**: Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Choose the USB drive as the installation location. 5. **Add Applications**: Once the platform is installed, use it to download and add portable applications to your USB drive. These apps can be run on any computer without leaving any files behind. 6. **Use Your Portable USB Drive**: Now, you can plug your USB drive into any computer with a USB port, and the portable apps will work seamlessly, provided the system meets the minimum requirements. Remember, not all software has a portable version, so check if the programs you want to use support this feature.

A portable USB drive is distinct from a bootable USB drive. To create a bootable USB drive, you need to download a Windows ISO file, and the USB drive's size should be a minimum of 8GB. In contrast, for a portable USB drive, you need a properly configured Windows computer, and the size of the USB drive will depend on the used space of the 'source' computer's system drive.

With a portable USB drive, you can take your operating system and files with you wherever you go, unconstrained by the model or brand of the computer. You can utilize your portable Windows 11 USB drive on an unsupported PC or even on a Mac computer. Since it boots from two separate devices, there will be no data loss during the transition between the two systems.

One tool you can utilize is OS2Go, which is designed for beginners. With its user-friendly interface, you can manage everything on your own.

Step 1. Install OS2Go on your Windows computer, which will display the used space on your system drive. Insert a USB drive with a capacity larger than the used space on your 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 customize the layout to suit your needs. Check the option provided if you're using a Solid State Drive as the Windows boot drive. Then, click Proceed.

Step 4. OS2Go will then 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 will be bootable.

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

Note: Please ensure that the boot mode (either UEFI or Legacy) of the portable USB and your target computer are identical; otherwise, booting may not be possible.

Windows 11 To Go | How to Create a Windows 11 Portable USB Drive

OS2Go is a popular tool for creating Windows 11 To Go. It is fully compatible with the latest Windows 11, making it easy and quick to create a bootable USB drive.

Conclusion

This is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide you can refer to whenever you need to create a bootable USB drive. Come back to this page whenever you feel unsure about the process.