Question about using Rufus to create a Bootable USB flash drive

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

  1. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
       #1

    Question about using Rufus to create a Bootable USB flash drive


    Hi all,
    Having had a problem using the Media Creation Tool to create a bootable Windows 10 USB flash drive Ive decided to use the Media Creation Tool to download the Windows 10 ISO and then use Rufus to create the bootable USB flash drive.
    After downloading Rufus onto my laptop. Is it better to insert the USB flash drive first before running Rufus or should I run the Rufus utility first and only when Rufus is open, then insert the USB flash drive?
    Ive been to the Rufus homepage and there arent any tutorial instructions there at all.
    Ive seen it mentioned on a couple of sites that everything must be done in the correct order or there can be problems. The trouble is ive seen instructions to insert the usb flash drive before running Rufus and also insert the usb flash drive after opening Rufus!!
    Does it make any difference at what point the USB flash drive is inserted or is it irrelevant?
    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,735
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, you might find this helpful:
    Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

    There is a way to create a bootable drive without using Rufus:
    Creating a bootable USB drive.

    with thanks to @NavyLCDR
    To reliably make a bootable USB flash drive from an ISO file, do this:

    Plug the drive into a USB port of a functioning Windows PC.

    Open a command prompt.
    Run diskpart.

    Once diskpart is running, enter the following commands in sequence:

    list disk
    select disk #
    - replace # with the actual disk number of the USB flash drive
    clean
    - this will erase the selected drive, make sure it is the USB flash drive!
    create part pri
    format fs=fat32 quick
    active
    exit
    exit

    Then mount your ISO file.
    (By default you can simply right click the iso file, and click Mount. However, Mount will not be available if iso files have been associated with a different program).

    Copy all the files and folders from the mounted ISO file to the USB flash drive.

    (If stuck you can open the iso with 7-zip, a free program).

    Discussion here:
    Reinstall Windows 10 from DVD but no DVD drive[/U][/URL]
    - includes content of flash drive.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Yeah..thats the link Ive read on here..the tutorial you've highlighted at the top. That tells you to insert the USB flash drive and then run Rufus afterwards. Some other sites say run/open Rufus first and then insert the USB flash drive. That's why I asked if it matters which way around you do it?
    I'll stick to Rufus. I don't fancy the manual method using Diskpart
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #4

    sportsfan148 said:
    That's why I asked if it matters which way around you do it?
    It does not matter. If there is no USB, Rufus will not show any device, once you insert it, it will popup.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    So Am I correct in thinking that most people just use the Media Creation Tool to download the Windows 10 ISO only...select Finish. Then use Rufus to make the bootable Windows 10 USB flash drive media using the Windows 10 ISO downloaded with the Media Creation Tool?
    The Media Creation Tool has always worked for me in the past to do the whole job but a couple of days ago I tried it ...it failed after wasting a few hours of downloading time. That's why I'm going to start using Rufus instead
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #6

    MCT is stupid, besides, it downloads files, then creates a file from them and then creates ISO.
    It is way simpler and faster to just download ISO directly from MS and then create a bootable disk.

    TechBench by WZT (v4.1.1)

    Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #7

    I always download the ISO then use Rufus to create the install flash drive(s) I need. Yes, I could do it manually, but why bother?
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 430
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    Using the media tool, If you download the Win 10 ISO to a flash drive, it's bootable.
    How to Download Creators Update ISO via MS w/o Media Creation Tool - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 985
    Windows 10 Home 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Ztruker said:
    I always download the ISO then use Rufus to create the install flash drive(s) I need. Yes, I could do it manually, but why bother?
    Hi Ztruker. Do you use Microsofts Media Creation Tool to download the ISO selecting Create Installation Media for another PC and selecting the ISO image instead of the USB option? Then use Rufus to create the bootable USB flash drive. Thats the method I'm thinking of trying because I had a problem this week using the Media Creation Tool to do the whole process of creating Windows 10 USB flash drive installation media. Never had any problem with it before but this week the download went fine but then I got an error message while the Media Creation Tool was creating the media..it stopped at 50%
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #10

    TairikuOkami said:
    MCT is stupid, besides, it downloads files, then creates a file from them and then creates ISO.
    It is way simpler and faster to just download ISO directly from MS and then create a bootable disk.

    TechBench by WZT (v4.1.1)

    Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool
    No need to do it via 3rd party tools. See tutorial on this (Option 3) in tutorial section - link in post #8.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 18:34.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums