How to Create a Bootable USB Drive

[Anthony10]

NOTE: seen many people asking this on the forums lately, thought I'd just make a guide, I also posted this on my website if you are interested

 

 

Ever needed to fresh install an OS? Want to switch your OS? This guide will show you how to create a bootable USB drive in 5 simple steps.

This tool will work with all Windows ISOs, Thank you to @Aniallation for recommending to use Rufus on ISOs that are not compatible with Microsoft's tool.

 

1.) Click here and download Microsoft's bootable USB tool.

 

2.) Open the bootable USB tool

 

3.) Select your ISO

 

4.) Restart your computer

 

5.) On startup, select your USB drive as the boot drive

 

Thanks for reading!

[Aniallation]

Sometimes Microsoft's tool gives errors on an invalid ISO, so I just use rufus. Some screenshots and showing how to access boot device menu would be helpful too

[Anthony10]

Sometimes Microsoft's tool gives errors on an invalid ISO, so I just use rufus. Some screenshots and showing how to access boot device menu would be helpful too

Ok, I will add MOAR PICTURES

This guide works with Windows and some other operating systems. Considering windows, mac, chrome os, and steam os are the only popular os's on desktop, I figured most people would be using this for windows, I have not tested it with other OSs though. I will have to add Rufus to the alternate programs. Thankyou!

 

OP  has been edited with your suggestions and my website article has been too thank you for the feedback I appreciate it and take it with great consideration

[thekillergazebo]

Sometimes Microsoft's tool gives errors on an invalid ISO, so I just use rufus. Some screenshots and showing how to access boot device menu would be helpful too

How did you like RUFUS? would you say its easier than reformatting a USB drive and using a iso mounter to copy files over?

[Aniallation]

How did you like RUFUS? would you say its easier than reformatting a USB drive and using a iso mounter to copy files over?

Definitely. It just allows you to select the ISO file and it will format and set up the USB drive for you, including making it bootable. When you just copy the files over, sometimes it doesn't work due to the drive not being set up to be bootable.

[Tsuki]

Definitely. It just allows you to select the ISO file and it will format and set up the USB drive for you, including making it bootable. When you just copy the files over, sometimes it doesn't work due to the drive not being set up to be bootable.

ive never gotten rufus to work for me on my of my flash drives. ive always just done it via command prompt

[thekillergazebo]

yeah so ive just tried to use rufus, ultraISO, and the microsoft method and i can get any of them to work. rufus and ultraISO give me some BS about needing to insert media disk and windows method just went to a black screen an stayed on that for a few mins and nothing happen. you guys know a solution for this?

[Anthony10]

yeah so ive just tried to use rufus, ultraISO, and the microsoft method and i can get any of them to work. rufus and ultraISO give me some BS about needing to insert media disk and windows method just went to a black screen an stayed on that for a few mins and nothing happen. you guys know a solution for this?

What ISO are you using? (e.g. Win7 ISO)

[Poohy14]

Been using Rufus for awhile now and really like it and easy too use.

[thekillergazebo]

What ISO are you using? (e.g. Win7 ISO)

windows 10

[Sousuke]

One Tip, You MUST be on a 64Bit OS to make a Bootable 64Bit installer otherwise the USB Pen will not be bootable, no idea why just one hurdle I hit into in the past.

[Anthony10]

windows 10

32 or 64 bit? VM ware or Default OS?

[thekillergazebo]

32 or 64 bit? VM ware or Default OS?

64 bit and for default os

[STRMfrmXMN]

This isn't universal for all .isos though.

Here's how to make ANY iso bootable.

 

Download the iso. 

Plug in flash drive.

Extract contents of iso (yes I know it isn't a .zip - just trust me) to the flash drive.

Wait however long it takes.

Remove flash drive, plug in whatever drive you want to install the OS on and put the flash drive into a USB 2.0 port and turn the computer on.

Done.

[harrynowl]

I prefer rufus

[legobrickter]

Hello, I am trying to make a bootable usb drive, but it seems like if I do not have the disk I can not make one. Is it possible to copy your iso files from the computer instead of having to copy them from the disk? If so where do I find the iso?