Rufus is an extremely crucial software when it comes to creating bootable operating system files. For computer technicians and those involved in computer-related tasks, this is an indispensable tool. It’s simple, useful, and extremely lightweight. More importantly, it operates reliably, delivering exactly what users need. In this article, let’s dive deep into this software with Windows Tiny!
Create bootable USB drives the easy way
Rufus: What is it and what can it do?
Rufus is a computer software that runs on Windows. It’s a compact utility that helps format and create bootable USB drives. This program “burns” applications, software, and operating systems onto USBs, such as creating USBs for Windows, computer rescue kits, and more.
Introduction:
In the past, computer technicians often burned ISO files onto CDs or DVDs. Nowadays, CD drives in laptops have become obsolete.
What can Rufus do for you?
First and foremost, the most popular use of Rufus is to create bootable USB drives. Users can burn computer operating systems like Windows Tiny, Windows, Linux – Ubuntu, and many others onto a USB drive to make it bootable. Once done, all that remains is to plug the USB into a computer, and you can instantly install the desired operating system.
It’s also useful for:
- Working on systems without an installed operating system,
- Flashing a BIOS or other firmware from DOS.
How to Installing
- Download
- Visit the official website at https://rufus.ie/.
- Navigate to the “Download” section and select the latest version of Rufus.
- Open the Downloaded File
- Once downloaded, open the .exe file. As a portable application, you don’t need to go through the typical installation process.
- Accept the Terms of Use
- Upon opening for the first time, a dialogue box might appear asking you to accept the terms of use. Read and click on “Agree” if you consent.
- Rufus Interface
- Upon launching, you’ll be presented with a straightforward interface with options like “Device,” “File system format,” “File system,” and several other options.
- Prepare the USB
- Before using, ensure your USB is plugged into the computer and recognized by the system.
- Select the ISO File (if needed)
- If you’re using Rufus to create a bootable USB from an ISO file, click on the disk icon and choose the ISO file you wish to use.
- Set up any other desired options and click “Start”
- Monitor the process and wait until notifies you of completion.
Note: This process will erase all data on your USB, so be sure to back up any essential data before proceeding.
Comprehensive Instructions.
Part 1: Download and Install
Rufus is a computer utility (software) that operates on Windows. Therefore, at this step, we need a computer running a normally functioning Windows operating system.
Step 1: Turn on your computer, open a web browser and navigate to Rufus.ie (this is the official address of this software).
On this website interface, you will select the version based on the operating system you are using. For instance, the current version is Rufus- 4.1.exe.”
Note: If your computer is running a 64-bit Windows operating system, download the x64 version. If you are using a 32-bit Windows version, then download the corresponding x86 version.
Step 2: Click on the version that matches your computer’s operating system. For example, in my case, I will download Rufus-4.1.exe (Standard) for the Windows X64 platform, with a size of 1.3MB, last updated on May 31, 2023.
Save it
Step 3: After the download is complete, open the file you just downloaded. Right-click and choose “Run As Administrator.
Step 4: Finish
As soon as you see this interface, it means you have successfully installed the Rufus utility on your computer.
Part 2: How to Install Windows Operating System via USB Boot
Once you have successfully installed the Rufus software, you can proceed to install the Windows operating system onto a USB using Rufus. The detailed steps are outlined below.
Preparation:
- A Windows computer with the Rufus-software already installed.
- A USB drive with a minimum capacity of 16GB.
- The operating system you wish to install. If you don’t have it, you can download Windows Tiny.
Steps:
Step 1: Insert the USB Drive into the Computer
At this point, a new drive named after your USB will appear in My Computer (This PC).
Step 2: Open the Rufus Software and Follow the Following Instructions
(1) Select the USB Drive for Boot Setup (the USB you just plugged in).
(2) Choose the Operating System File (in ISO format) – Prepared as specified in Step 3 of the Preparation Section.
(3) Select MBR (Master Boot Record).
(4) Leave it as Default or change the name as desired.
(5) Click on Start to initiate the process.
Additionally, there is a small warning that this process will erase all existing data on your USB drive. Select OK to proceed.
The USB Boot creation process will take anywhere from 10 minutes to 50 minutes, depending on the USB drive and the size of the Windows installation you’ve chosen. Please be patient and wait for a while.
Finally, when you see “Ready,” your Windows USB is ready to go. It’s incredibly fast and convenient, isn’t it?