How to Create Customizable USB Windows Install Drives Using Rufus

Rufus is a free, open-source tool designed for creating bootable USB drives for Windows installations, among other uses. Unlike Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, Rufus provides a wider array of configuration options, making it an excellent choice for users who want flexibility in their setups. If you’re curious about how to utilize Rufus, we’re here to guide you through the process.

Why Choose Rufus Over Other Tools?

Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool is their proprietary software for preparing USB drives to install Windows 10 or 11, but you might wonder why Rufus is a better alternative. The answer lies in its versatility.

Not only does Rufus support Windows installation media, but it also works seamlessly with Linux, live systems, emergency utilities, and various bootable ISO images. Beyond ISO formats, Rufus can also manage Virtual Hard Disks (VHD) and image files (IMG), making it suitable for tasks such as updating BIOS directly from a USB drive.

Many older systems require BIOS updates performed in this way. Furthermore, Rufus stands out for Windows installations by clearly differentiating between real UEFI and BIOS compatibility modes. Its flexibility enables users to bypass the stringent hardware requirements posed by Windows 11, allowing installation on older machines.

Additionally, Rufus can download the desired Windows version directly and instantly prepare it for installation, even allowing a complete Windows system to be set up on the USB drive, known as “Windows To Go.”

Normal vs. Portable Versions

On the Rufus website, you’ll find two 64-bit download options, one marked as “p” for portable. You may be wondering whether there’s a significant difference between these versions.

Essentially, both versions of Rufus can be run directly without installation, which can be confusing. However, the portable version disables the automatic update check, while the standard version performs daily checks for any new updates.

You can toggle the update check in the program settings, along with advanced drive properties and formatting options that are by default hidden in the portable version.

Note: The “x86” version is suitable for older 32-bit Windows systems, while the “arm64” version is for Windows on ARM computers.

Creating a USB Drive for Windows Installation

Given its extensive features compared to the Media Creation Tool, one might think that Rufus complicates the creation of a Windows installation USB. That’s not the case!

By keeping advanced features hidden, Rufus displays a simplified interface. You’ll need a USB stick with at least 8GB of space for the Windows installation. When you connect the drive, it will show up at the top of the interface under “Drive.”

Next, use the “Select” button to choose the Windows ISO file, which can be downloaded from Microsoft’s official site. Generally, you can keep the default settings, especially regarding the partition scheme, target system type, and file system.

Simply click “Start,” confirm any prompts, and wait as Rufus prepares the USB drive. Once done, you can close the program. The USB drive is now bootable and ready for Windows installation or upgrade.

Important: Note that using Rufus will erase all data on the USB stick, so make sure to back up anything important beforehand.

Selecting UEFI or CSM Compatibility Mode

Rufus allows you to designate whether the Windows installation should occur in modern UEFI or older BIOS compatibility mode.

When using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, you may not have a clear idea about the installation mode chosen, whether it’s the older CSM mode with MBR partitioning or the modern UEFI with GPT partitioning. While you can check the installed mode later in Windows settings, it may not always be adjustable based on hardware and BIOS/UEFI configurations.

In contrast, Rufus lets you specify the partitioning scheme from the outset. It’s strongly recommended to select “GPT” and “UEFI (without CSM)” if your motherboard supports it. Only revert to “MBR” and “BIOS (or UEFI-CSM)” if the initial setup fails and cannot be remedied through BIOS settings.

Tip: Rufus offers the option to create a dual-mode stick that supports both UEFI and legacy systems. Just press the Alt-E key combination, and Rufus will confirm that “Dual UEFI/BIOS mode enabled” at the bottom of the window.

Installing Windows 11 Despite System Requirements

Microsoft has raised the bar for Windows 11’s system requirements significantly. However, Rufus provides a workaround to install the operating system on PCs that don’t meet these criteria.

Windows 11 necessitates UEFI operation, Secure Boot enabled, a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0, and at least an 8th-generation Intel Core processor.

However, if your CPU is from the 7th generation, you can bypass these restrictions using Rufus during setup. After loading the Windows 11 ISO and inserting your USB drive, click “Start” within Rufus. Look for the option to “Remove requirement for 4GB RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” to skip those checks during installation.

Setup I: Fresh Windows Installation

Thanks to Rufus’s ability to create bootable USB drives, reinstalling Windows becomes a straightforward task. Simply insert the USB drive into the powered-off computer and switch it on, then press the relevant key to boot from USB.

Once you boot from the USB drive, Microsoft’s setup wizard will guide you through the installation process, allowing you to select the target partition. Be cautious to select the appropriate partition to avoid accidentally deleting data stored elsewhere. The latest release of Windows 11 (version 24H2) will require you to explicitly consent to “delete all files, apps, and settings” when installing.

This only pertains to the partition chosen for installation, leaving others untouched.

Setup II: Upgrading to Windows 11

While upgrading an existing Windows installation is typically easy, there are critical considerations on unsupported hardware. Typically, major feature updates for Windows 11 are executed through the standard update process. However, if the hardware doesn’t meet the new version’s requirements, the update will not succeed.

This is where the USB stick created with Rufus comes in handy. To upgrade your existing system, insert the drive and double-click the “Setup.exe” file. When prompted, select the “Change how updates are downloaded from Setup -> Not now” option.

Only after this should you click “Accept” to proceed with the upgrade. If you see a notice about necessary considerations, click “Accept” to continue, and the upgrade will commence, preserving all your programs, files, and settings.

Downloading Installation Files Directly

Rufus offers a convenient option to download Windows 10 and 11 ISO files directly for your installation USB. However, this feature might not be visible by default.

Instead of initially downloading ISO files from Microsoft and then importing them into Rufus, you can perform this task directly within the Rufus interface. Click the small black arrow next to the “Select” button, and choose “Download.”

If this option doesn’t appear, click the “Show application settings” button at the bottom and change the “Check for new version” setting to “Daily (default).” After closing and reopening Rufus, you can now select the “Download” option to obtain the latest version of Windows 10 or 11.

Creating a Windows To Go USB

Microsoft has phased out “Windows To Go,” but Rufus still allows you to create a portable version of Windows on a USB stick.

While it’s convenient to have your personalized Windows environment on the go, it’s important to note that performance won’t match that of a typical hard drive installation—it will be considerably slower.

If you want to experiment with this feature, ensure your USB stick has a minimum of 16GB (ideally 32GB). After connecting the stick, use the “Select” option in Rufus to integrate your pre-downloaded ISO file. In the “Image option” field, set it to “Windows To Go,” check your other options, and click “Start.”

Follow the prompts to select the Windows version (Home or Pro) along with other configurations, and finish by clicking “OK” to create your portable Windows installation.