Creating a bootable USB (pen drive) is a crucial step for installing operating systems (OS)

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Creating a bootable USB (pen drive) is a crucial step for installing operating systems (OS) like Windows, Linux, or even running diagnostic tools. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make a bootable USB using different methods.

Requirements:

  • A USB drive (at least 8GB of storage recommended).
  • An ISO file of the operating system you want to install.
  • Software to create the bootable USB (like Rufus for Windows, or command-line tools for Linux/macOS).

Method 1: Using Rufus (for Windows)

Rufus is one of the most popular and reliable tools for creating a bootable USB on Windows.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Using Rufus:

  1. Download Rufus:
    • Go to the official Rufus website: https://rufus.ie/ and download the latest version.
  2. Download the OS ISO File:
    • You’ll need the ISO image of the operating system you want to boot (e.g., Windows 10, Ubuntu). This can be downloaded from the official site of the OS.
  3. Insert Your USB Drive:
    • Plug the USB drive into your PC. Ensure it has at least 8GB of free space and backup any data because it will be erased.
  4. Open Rufus:
    • No installation is required for Rufus. Just run the .exe file.
  5. Configure Rufus Settings:
    • Device: Select your USB drive from the “Device” dropdown.
    • Boot Selection: Click SELECT and browse for your ISO file.
    • Partition Scheme:
      • Choose MBR if your system uses BIOS/Legacy boot.
      • Choose GPT for UEFI systems (most modern systems use UEFI).
    • File System: Leave it as FAT32 (default).
  6. Start the Process:
    • Click START and Rufus will warn you that the USB drive will be formatted.
    • Confirm and wait for the process to finish. It may take a few minutes depending on the size of the ISO.
  7. Boot from USB:
    • Once completed, you can now boot from this USB. To do so, restart your PC and press the Boot Menu Key (usually F2, F10, F12, or ESC depending on the system), and select your USB drive.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt (Windows Built-in Tool)

If you don’t want to use third-party tools, you can also create a bootable USB using Windows Command Prompt.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Using Command Prompt:

  1. Insert the USB Drive.
    • Plug your USB drive into your PC.
  2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:
    • Press Windows + X, and select Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin).
  3. Open Diskpart:
    • Type diskpart and hit Enter. This will open the Disk Partitioning tool.
  4. List All Disks:
    • Type list disk and press Enter. This will show all available drives on your system.
    • Identify your USB drive by its size (usually shown as Disk 1 or Disk 2).
  5. Select the USB Drive:
    • Type select disk X (replace X with the number corresponding to your USB drive) and hit Enter.
  6. Clean the USB:
    • Type clean and press Enter. This will erase all data from the drive.
  7. Create a Partition:
    • Type create partition primary and hit Enter.
    • Then type select partition 1 and press Enter.
  8. Make the Partition Active:
    • Type active and press Enter.
  9. Format the USB Drive:
    • Type format fs=fat32 quick and press Enter.
  10. Assign a Drive Letter:
    • Type assign and hit Enter.
  11. Exit Diskpart:
    • Type exit and press Enter.
  12. Copy the ISO Files to the USB:
    • Mount the ISO file on your computer by right-clicking it and selecting Mount (or use an ISO mounting tool).
    • Copy all the files from the mounted ISO to your USB drive.
  13. Boot from the USB:
    • Your bootable USB is now ready. Restart your PC and use the Boot Menu Key to select the USB for booting.

Method 3: Using macOS Terminal (for macOS Users)

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Using Terminal:

  1. Download the macOS Installer:
    • Download the macOS installer from the App Store (e.g., macOS Monterey or Big Sur).
  2. Insert the USB Drive:
    • Plug in your USB drive (at least 16GB for macOS).
  3. Open Terminal:
    • Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
  4. Format the USB Drive:
    • Open Disk Utility, select your USB drive, and format it as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then close Disk Utility.
  5. Use the Createinstallmedia Command:
    • Use the following command in Terminal (replace Monterey with your version):
    bashCopy codesudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Monterey.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume
    • Replace MyVolume with the name of your USB drive.
    • Press Enter, provide your password, and wait for the process to complete.
  6. Boot from the USB:
    • Once done, you can reboot your Mac and hold Option (Alt) to select the bootable USB drive.

Method 4: Using Etcher (for Linux, macOS, or Windows)

Etcher is a cross-platform tool that works on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Using Etcher:

  1. Download Etcher:
  2. Insert the USB Drive:
    • Plug your USB drive into your PC.
  3. Open Etcher:
    • Launch the Etcher application.
  4. Select the ISO File:
    • Click Select Image and browse for the ISO file you want to use.
  5. Select the USB Drive:
    • Click Select Target and choose your USB drive.
  6. Start the Process:
    • Click Flash to start creating the bootable USB.
    • Wait for the process to complete, and the USB will be ready to boot.

Summary:

  • For Windows: Use Rufus or Command Prompt.
  • For macOS: Use Terminal or a tool like Etcher.
  • For Linux: Use Etcher or command-line tools.

These methods will help you create a bootable USB drive for installing operating systems or running system recovery tools. Make sure you back up your USB data before proceeding, as the process will erase everything on the drive.

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