In today’s fast-paced tech world, tools that offer speed and efficiency are invaluable. Enter Rufus – universally hailed as one of the fastest tools to create bootable USB flash drives and Windows-to-go USB drives. Despite its powerful capabilities, Rufus is a free software and astoundingly light, taking up less than 1 MB of your HDD or SSD. This minimalistic design, however, packs a punch. Rufus doesn’t just assist in creating bootable USB drives, it does so at a speed unrivaled by other tools on the internet.
But the software’s prowess doesn’t end there. Rufus boasts compatibility with a plethora of operating systems, from the vintage Windows XP(SP2) and Server 2003 R2 to the modern Windows 10. It also supports a myriad of Linux distributions, including the likes of Knoppix, Kubuntu, OpenSUSE, Arch Linux, and many more.
While there are alternative methods to create a bootable USB drive, such as using the Command prompt, they often prove cumbersome for beginners. Not to mention, they tend to be more time-consuming. Rufus, with its user-friendly interface and unmatched speed, emerges as the optimal solution for both newbies and experts alike, simplifying the process and saving precious time.
How to Create a Bootable USB Drive using Rufus?
Follow these steps to make a Bootable USB Drive using Rufus:-
Step 1. Connect a USB flash drive (at least 8GB space) to create a bootable USB Flash Drive.
Step 2. Download the latest version of Rufus software from its official website.
Step 3. After that, run the setup file from any version of Windows.
Step 4. Then, click the Yes button to launch it when UAC (User Account Control) appears.
Step 5. Rufus will automatically detect the USB flash drive connected to that system.
Step 6. Select the “Disk or ISO image (Please Select)” under the Boot selection drop-down.
Step 7. Now click on the SELECT button next to “Disk or ISO image” (Must select).
Step 8. After that, select the bootable ISO file. This application will automatically detect the Windows version from the ISO file.
Step 9. Select Standard Windows installation under the Image option because we will create a bootable USB flash drive of the Windows 10 operating system.
Step 10. The Rufus will automatically detect BIOS’s partition scheme (MBR or GPT). If it cannot read the partition on your PC, manually select the MBR partition scheme, which is helpful for BIOS and UEFI computers, or select the GPT partition scheme supported for UEFI computers.
Step 11. The next option is the Volume label. Leave it as it is, or change it to something memorable.
Step 12. The file system is the next option. Now, you need to select NTFS or FAT32 file systems. For faster installation, choose NTFS, as it takes less time than the FAT32 file system.
Step 13. Then click on the Start button with the above steps when ready.
Step 14. When the Start button is pressed, it will confirm that “it will destroy all data on the device.” So check if there is any critical data on the USB, then save it somewhere else because it will erase all data on the USB for a fresh installation; if there is no data stored on that drive, press OK to continue.
Step 15. Finally, Rufus will erase all the USB flash drive data and install new data.
How to Create a “Windows To Go” USB drive using Rufus?
To create a Windows To Go USB drive, in Step 9, under the Image option, select Windows To Go in place of Windows Standard installation because you will create a Windows To Go USB flash drive for Windows PC. After that, the process is the same as mentioned in this post.
Once you’re ready with a bootable USB flash drive, you can test it without installing it on your computer or laptop.
Download Rufus
Download Rufus’ application from here.
Conclusion
Rufus stands out as an invaluable tool in the tech ecosystem, simplifying the otherwise complex task of creating bootable USB drives. Its compact design, efficiency, and comprehensive compatibility make it the go-to choice for users across the board. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned tech enthusiast, Rufus streamlines the process, ensuring a hassle-free experience and a quick turnaround. Furthermore, the provision to create a “Windows To Go” USB drive provides an added layer of flexibility, meeting the diverse needs of users. The next time you consider creating a bootable USB drive, Rufus is worth the consideration.
