How often do your parents and colleagues complain about their sluggish computers ? “ Reinstall Windows ! ” is usually the answer , but the lack of CD / videodisk drives in desktops and laptops often throws everyone off . Hence , for the past few long time , I have always carry a bootable USB driving force with Windows and Linux operating systems to aid those in fearful need . It ’s high-pitched sentence every microcomputer owner call for to have a bootable USB to rescue their machine and data . But the barrage of costless and pay software to create bootable USB drives can be confusing . Hence , I ’m lay down the best free tools that I ’ve used in the preceding decade and more .
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Why Should You Create a Bootable USB From an ISO Image?
Typically , you ’d call for a CD or DVD to install , reinstall , or repair an operating system on a computer . Now that CD / DVD thrust are rare , those sometime CDs / videodisk with Windows , Linux or other OSs barely form when needed . But or else of creating ( or burn ) another CD / DVD after download an ISO file of an operating system , a bootable USB feels like a blessing . Mainly for these cause :
Besides losing a bootable USB , one of the toughest challenge of using one is tinkering around with a computer ’s BIOS to adjust the boot order . That means , you ’ll call for to instruct the computer to use the bootable USB with an operating system before load the oculus sinister from your computer . That can give up off the recovery and delivery appendage speedily . download type O files while set up or reinstalling it can be boldness - wracking since a temporary connection can make reversal in the cognitive process . That s why a bootable USB with offline OS installment files is more reliable than old , scratched CD / videodisk .
Also Read : How to Backup Windows 11 to Cloud Before You Reinstall It
To successfully create a bootable USB on Windows or Linux , I generally take after these three rules :
Over the years , I found that these are the best software system for create bootable USB from an ISO double on Windows 11 . In the square bracket are the operationg scheme on which you may start the particular softare .
1. Rufus (Windows)
mould only on Windows , Rufus has always been my go - to tool to create bootable USBs of Windows and Linux operating system . Though it has a complicate - looking interface , I care the Format Options section dedicated to format a USB drive . Advanced initialise options also help observe high-risk blocks on a USB driving force , which is helpful if you ’re using a real one . It also allows take anMBR ( for older Windows PCs ) or GPT ( for Modern Windows PCs)partition scheme for the appropriate target reckoner . you could also use it to flash BIOS , DOS - free-base microcode , or other organization - degree utility on a USB thrust .
Download Rufus
2. Balena Etcher (Windows, Linux, macOS)
When I just want to create a bootable USB promptly , Etcher is my go - to option . Mostly , since it works on macOS too . Its elegant user interface is gentle to understand and use . All it takes is a few click to cursorily flash an ISO Indian file on a USB drive . you could also add together a URL to download the ISO or clone an existing drive . However , it wo n’t discourage or incite you if the USB campaign is not in FAT32 data formatting . Also , there ’s no option to format or change partition on USB storage . Still , the best thing about Etcher is that it has a 32 - bit installer for sometime Windows and portable versions . But I do n’t wish the fact that I involve to install it to utilize it .
Download Balena Etcher
3. UNetbootin (Windows, Linux, macOS)
UNetbootin is design to make bootable Live Linux USBs , but it play terrifically with Windows ISOs . What stayed with me is the same interface that has been unvarying over the years . Like Etcher , it does n’t prompt if your USB cause is not in FAT32 format . I ’ve spent hours flashing ISOs on USB drives with NTFS or AFPS data format . While the reenforcement to flash ISO on a hard drive is cool , I believe it ’s tedious to format an intact drive into a FAT32 . The good thing is that UNetbootin also allow me scoot specific system utilities on a USB crusade , like Partition Magic , SystemRescueCD , Ophcrack , etc . on a USB drive .
Download UNetbootin
4. Windows Media Creation Tool (Windows)
As the name propose , the Media Creation Tool stomach only Windows operating systems . By default , it need an internet connection to download the Windows OS file cabinet to create a bootable USB or an ISO file . Of of course , I ’ll need to flash it on a compatible USB to make it bootable . lamentably , even this puppet wo n’t permit me initialise or deepen the file partition of a USB drive . A word of advice – when make a Windows 11 bootable USB , apply a drive with at least 8 GB of storage distance to install it on a calculator with a 64 - minute processor .
Download Windows Media Creation Tool
Also Read:4 Ways to Create Bootable Windows 11 USB
5. YUMI (Windows)
After Rufus , YUMI is my favorite putz , and I employ it occasionally . YUMI lets me make multiboot USB drives to pack more than one operating organisation and other tools . Using YUMI with a 128 GB portable SSD , I use it like a Swiss Army knife to troubleshoot friends ’ estimator and hard ride . So , you may produce a muscular bootable USB driving force with multiple operating systems , antivirus tools , system of rules tools , and anonymous browsers , too . Only quirk is that YUMI ’s interface is dated and feels every fourth dimension feels like you ’re installing a software package .
Download YUMI
6. Ventoy (Windows, Linux)
Besides these five , Ventoyis quite popular since it ferment with a variety of image files ( ISO / WIM / IMG / VHD(x)/EFI ) of operating system . It is by far the most mentioned and in advance tool when it comes to creating bootable alive Linux USBs . The practiced part is that you could expend this software system to install a bootable OS directly on your hard ride or SSD ( even NVMe ) . Also , you get a fancy boot menu to choose dissimilar options from and it also back complete installing process through its interface . The one part I really love about it is the financial support for a variety of file system format – FAT32 , exFAT , NTFS , UDF , XFS , EXT2 , EXT3 , and EXT4 .
Download Ventoy
A Bootable USB Saves the Day
I no longer dread reinstall Windows 11 or Linux on my PC since I have a bootable USB handy . And , it saves a lot of time when I take to reinstall or doctor Windows 11 on the calculator of my relatives , family , or friends . Of course , I have to make over a new one after ever major Windows update – last one was23H2 . With a bootable USB with Windows or Linux handy , you’re able to pelt along up the repair or reinstall process to bring through your or someone else ’s electronic computer .
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