How to Create a Bootable USB Drive

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Creating a bootable USB drive can be very useful. You can use it to install an operating system (OS), run live versions of operating systems, repair a broken system, and much more. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process using simple language. We will explain different tools and methods for both Windows and Mac systems to create a bootable USB drive.

Requirements

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• A USB drive (at least 8GB is recommended)
• A computer (Windows or Mac)
• ISO file of the operating system you want to install (e.g., Windows, Linux)
• The software tools described in the steps below

Step-by-step guide to creating a bootable USB drive

For Windows users

There are several ways to create a bootable USB drive on Windows. We'll cover two common methods: using the built-in Command Prompt and using software like Rufus.

Method 1: Using Command Prompt

1. Insert the USB drive into your computer.
2. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
   Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin).
3. Run the Diskpart utility:
   diskpart
4. List available disks:
   list disk
   Identify your USB drive from the list. You can usually identify it by the size. It is important to be very careful when selecting the correct disk, as its contents will be erased in the next step.
5. Select the USB drive:
   select disk X
   Replace X with the correct disk number.
6. Clean the USB drive:
   clean
7. Create the new partition:
   create partition primary
8. Select the new partition:
   select partition 1
9. Make the partition active:
   active
10. Format the USB drive as NTFS:
    format fs=ntfs quick
    If you need to format the USB drive to FAT32, use format fs=fat32 quick instead.
11. Assign a drive letter to the USB drive:
    assign
12. Exit diskpart:
    exit
13. Mount the ISO file:
    Right-click on the ISO file and select Mount.
14. Copy files from ISO to USB drive:
    Open File Explorer and copy the entire contents of the mounted ISO to your USB drive.
15. Make the USB drive bootable (if necessary):
    Sometimes you may need to run bootsect command to make the USB drive bootable:

     
                cd \[path to your ISO files]
                bootsect /nt60 X:

    Replace X: with the drive letter of your USB.
16. Done.

Method 2: Using Rufus

1. Insert your USB drive into your computer.
2. Download and install Rufus:
   Go to the official Rufus website and download the latest version.
3. Run Rufus:
4. Configure Rufus:
   In the Device drop-down menu, select your USB drive.
   In the Boot Selection section, click SELECT and choose the ISO file you want to use.
5. Start the process:
   Click on Start.
6. Wait until completion:
   Rufus will format, copy, and make your USB drive bootable. Once this is complete, your USB drive is ready to use.

For Mac users

Creating a bootable USB drive on a Mac is a little different but just as simple. We will highlight ways to create a bootable drive for macOS and other operating systems like Linux or Windows.

Method 1: Using Terminal for macOS

1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac.
2. Open the terminal:
   Find the Terminal application in the Utilities folder or search for it using Spotlight.
3. List available disks:
   Run the command:

    diskutil list

   Identify your USB drive. It is usually identified by /dev/disk2 or a similar label. Be sure to identify it correctly.
4. Format the USB drive:

   diskutil eraseDisk HFS+ "MyVolume" GPT /dev/diskX

   Replace X with the appropriate disk number.
5. Mount the macOS installer:
   Make sure you have the macOS installer installed, which is usually located in the Applications folder.
6. Create a bootable USB drive:
   Run the appropriate command for your macOS version. For example, for macOS Big Sur:

    sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Big\ Sur.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

   Enter your admin password if prompted.
7. Wait for the process to complete:
   This will take some time. When complete, your USB drive will become bootable.

Method 2: Using Etcher for other OS

1. Insert the USB drive into your Mac.
2. Download and install Etcher:
   Go to the official Etcher website and download the macOS version of Etcher.
3. Run Etcher:
4. Select the ISO file:
   Open Etcher and click the Select Image button to choose the ISO file.
5. Select the USB drive:
   Click the Select Drive button and select your USB drive.
6. Flash the ISO to a USB drive:
   Click the Flash! button to start the process.
7. Wait until completion:
   Etcher will format the USB drive, transfer the files, and make it bootable. When it's done, your drive is ready to use.

Troubleshooting and Tips

General issues

• The file is too large: If you receive the error that the file is too large for the destination file system, make sure your USB drive is formatted correctly (NTFS for Windows installation, FAT32 for UEFI boot).
• Bootable drive not recognized: Make sure you have made the USB drive bootable correctly, as sometimes skipping the bootsect step or not copying all the files correctly can cause problems.
• Data Corruption: Always eject the USB drive safely after the process is complete to avoid data corruption.

Using a bootable USB drive

Once you've created your bootable USB drive, you'll need to set up your computer to boot from the USB drive. Here's a quick guide:

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the target computer.
2. Enter BIOS/UEFI: Restart your computer and enter BIOS/UEFI setup. The key to enter BIOS/UEFI varies from one computer to another (F2, F12, DEL, ESC, etc.).
3. Change boot order: Go to the boot menu and set USB as the primary boot device.
4. Save & Exit: Save your changes and exit BIOS/UEFI Setup.
5. Begin the installation: If everything goes well, your computer will begin booting from the USB drive, and you can proceed with the installation or task you want.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB drive is a valuable skill, whether you want to install a new OS, repair a computer, or just have a portable OS. There are several ways to accomplish this task, including using the built-in tools in Windows and macOS, or using third-party software like Rufus and Etcher. Whichever method you choose, the important thing is to follow the steps carefully and make sure each step is completed successfully.

We hope this guide has given you a comprehensive understanding of the process. Enjoy computing!

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