Do you need to install Windows on your system, and someone recommended Rufus? If you are wondering what is Rufus, it is a free tool to create bootable USB drives. Learn more about Rufus and its features in this article.
Using bootable USB drives to install Windows and other Linux systems have been the golden standard in the tech world for a long time. Users used HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool for long periods to create bootable drives, but its complex and outdated interface meant a replacement was needed. Introduced in 2011, Rufus quickly became the most used software for creating bootable USB drives.
If it is the first time you have heard about Rufus, this article will help you understand what Rufus is and its features. We will also provide a detailed walkthrough of using Rufus to create a bootable USB drive.
Rufus is a free and open-source program for Windows that is used to create bootable USB drives. "Rufus" is an acronym for "The Reliable USB Formatting Utility with Source." It was created by Pete Batard and was first released in late 2011.
Initially, it only offered support for MS-DOS, but it evolved with each new version. Over the years, it has started supporting FreeDOS, ISO, UEFI, Windows To GO, and many more features. Although primarily introduced for Windows installation, it is also used for Linux installation. Besides creating bootable USB drives, the tool can also format the USB drive.
It is a Windows application supported by all major versions of Windows. Below are the detailed system requirements you need to ensure before using Rufus:
The answer to the what is Rufus question is incomplete without highlighting its key feature. It is a complete package tool for creating a bootable USB drive or live USB. This tool has everything, from multiple booting options to support for many file systems. Given below are a few of the most common features of Rufus:
The process is easy to create a bootable USB using Rufus. It will take you a little time to do this with the help of Rufus. These are the steps that are needed to create a bootable USB flash drive with Rufus:
Step 1: Download Rufus from its official website and double-click the file to run it. Now attach your USB to the computer and let the program detect it. Choose the targeted USB drive if there is more than 1 USB attached.
Step 2: Select the ISO file of the operating system using the "Select" button. You can use "Download" to download the ISO file for Windows 8.1 and later if compatible. Once the file is selected, choose your desired partition scheme and target system.
Step 3: Before creating a bootable USB drive, it needs to format your USB. Define the appropriate parameters in the "Format Options."
When done, press "Start" to initiate the process. A progress bar at the bottom of the program window will let you know once the process is completed.
What to do if you don't trust Rufus or don't want to use it? In this scenario, your best bet is using EaseUS Partition Master Free. It is a fantastic tool that allows you to create a bootable USB drive without Rufus easily. This tool is a complete solution box when regarding hard disks. Through it, you can check disk health, repair file systems, change partition schemes, etc.
In conclusion, we can say that Rufus is undoubtedly a great tool that provides many utilities at no cost while answering the what is Rufus question. Since it is also open-source, you can modify the tool to suit your needs. This tool can create a bootable USB flash drive, live USB, format USB drive, and perform many other tasks. The no-installation requirement is great for users with limited storage space.
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