If you want to learn how to create a bootable USB or bootable USB, then we will show you how to do it with Rufus, a free application to format USB keys and install ISO files of operating systems.
When we have to install an operating system on our computer, we need a USB configured to perform this operation. There are many programs to convert an ordinary USB into a bootable USB, but one of the most popular is Rufus . Below we will detail what Rufus is, how it works, and how to create bootable or bootable USB drives .
What is Rufus?
Rufus is a totally free application that allows you to create a bootable USB quickly and easily . Currently the software is in two versions, one is executable ( .exe ), so you can download and use it easily, and the other is portable, which means that you can take it from one place to another and make use of it in everything type of computers.
To download Rufus you just have to go to its official website and in the Downloads section choose the version that best suits your needs. Whichever version you choose, both will be roughly 1MB, which translates to just a few seconds of download time . Being a file from the Internet, it is recommended to have an antivirus installed due to the multiple benefits that these provide .
How to create a bootable USB with Rufus
The first thing we have to do to create our bootable USB is to have the ISO image of the operating system we want to install downloaded. There are several ways to get them, but in case you want to get a version of Windows , you can get them directly from the official Microsoft website through this link . On the other hand, if you want to use a Linux distribution , just search Google and they will quickly appear; Anyway, to make your work easier, you can download Ubuntu , one of the most used distros, by clicking here .
When we already have our ISO files on our computer and Rufus is ready to use, we must follow a series of simple steps:
Step 1. Choose the operating system
When opening Rufus, you will have to connect the USB you want to make bootable and configure a series of parameters . In Boot choice there will be three options: non-autorun image, install FreeDOS (a totally free operating system) and Disk or ISO image , the latter is the one that interests us. We will press Select and then we will locate the ISO file of the operating system that we have downloaded.
Step 2. Configure Rufus
If you are an advanced Windows user or have solid computer knowledge , you can configure more technical aspects such as compatibility with old BIOS versions or the type of partition that is required. In any case, we do not recommend inquiring into the advanced settings since in the vast majority of cases it is not necessary .
It is important to bear in mind that the USB drive that we are going to convert into a bootable USB will have to be formatted in its entirety , so it is recommended to previously make a backup copy of all the documents that we have there. When we have the key ready to be formatted, we will choose the file system, this can be FAT32 or NTFS .
Step 3. Create the bootable USB
The last step will be to execute the conversion by clicking on Start . The procedure may take several minutes, so be patient. When finished, Rufus will notify you with a small notification. When we have the boot drive ready, we will only have to remove it and connect it to the computer we want .
