If you are an active PC user, it means that you know for sure that without an operating system, your computer will not be able to work and perform all the tasks you have installed.
Fortunately, in most cases, computer hardware is implemented with an installed operating system. For this reason, you can immediately start working on your PC after purchasing it.
However, not everyone is so lucky, sometimes computers can be implemented in the distribution network completely “empty”. Take care of installing Windows in such cases will have the acquirer.
Of course, you can use the help of friends who are knowledgeable and experienced in this matter, or you can install the operating system yourself.
If you decide on such a crucial step, we welcome your decision, but we are guided by the fact that you should first have a carrier on which the OS boot files will be written.
To solve such problems, a bootable USB flash drive via Rufus is ideal. If for the first time you will perform such manipulations, you need an instruction in which the entire process will be most scrupulously prescribed, how to create a bootable Windows 7 USB flash drive.
Rufus features
In the network you can find a lot of interesting offers, using which you can download software, with which you can create a bootable USB flash drive without any problems.
However, each program is accompanied by its own specific capabilities. Based on them, a certain circle of fans of such a program is being formed.
Currently, the Rufus program is widely popular, thanks to which it is possible to create fast bootable media. Those who have never heard of such a program may hesitate, not understanding whether it is worth spending time getting to know Rufus, studying the instructions for creating a bootable USB flash drive.
Manufacturers claim that Rufus, as a program for creating bootable media, is a promising application, because it allows you to create ISO images of any operating systems.
It even allows you to create a bootable USB flash drive, with which you can flash the BIOS.
So, if you also decided to take advantage of the unique features of the Rufus program, to figure out how to create a bootable Windows 7 flash drive, we recommend that you decide which version of the program you prefer.
The manufacturer offers stationary software and portable. The principle of their work is the same, they differ among themselves only in which folder the settings are written, which you will make after the program starts.
Program settings
After you launch the utility, a small window will appear on the screen, offering to perform some actions related to making changes to the program settings.
If the window will have a foreign text, do not rush to be disappointed that you will not understand anything, it will be difficult to understand Rufus how to create a bootable Windows 10 flash drive or another OS.
On the right side of the upper corner you will find an icon with a picture of the globe. Click on it, and you will have the opportunity to choose the desired interface language for you.
As long as you do not connect a USB flash drive to your PC, the first field with the name "Device" will remain empty.
Now it will be easier for you to work with the Russified utility.
Of course, once you have decided to create a bootable USB flash drive with Rufus, connect your USB flash drive to your PC. Of course, we strongly recommend that you give preference to the media that has sufficient volume.
After connecting a digital drive in the “Device” field, the name of your flash drive will appear, and its volume parameters will be indicated.
If suddenly you have connected not one medium, but several at once, then in this field you can open the list and select the medium on the basis of which you will create a bootable USB flash drive after some manipulations.
Your next steps should be to fill in all the fields below.
In particular, in the next line, specify the partition scheme and the type of system media.
If you have a BIOS installed on your PC, there will be only one partition layout option - MBR. If UEFI is installed on your PC, then you will have to choose between the MBR and GRT.
Practice shows that in most cases, users choose the MBR for both the BIOS and UEFI.
After that, the utility will prompt you to select the file system. Since operating systems currently occupy more than 4 GB of space, it is recommended that you choose the NTFS option.
By the way, even if you choose something else out of ignorance, do not worry, the smart utility will correct your mistake and after the launch itself will automatically change the file system to an acceptable option.
The “Cluster size” parameter is better not to touch it, let it remain the “Default” option. The field “New label of the volume” can also not be subjected to change, if you do not strive to be creative in everything.
In fact, this field is a new name for your digital media, so that you will not confuse it with any other.
Still remains in the lower part of the whole section "Formatting Parameters", and in it one subsection "Additional parameters". You'd better leave him alone too and go on to the next steps.
Writing to a Windows To Go USB Flash Drive
Please note that in the “Advanced Settings” subsection one line of “Windows To Go” may appear if Windows 8 is installed on your PC.
If you check the check box next to this item, you can write a special version of the OS to the USB flash drive via Rufus, in particular, Windows Enterprise - Windows To Go.
Here we will have, perhaps, to upset you a little, because to write such a unique OS you need a special flash drive, the size of which is at least 32 GB. Even if you have such a digital media with a large amount of memory, no one can guarantee that it is suitable for such purposes.
We invite you to visit the official Microsoft website, where you can read the full list of supported and recommended flash drives by developers to find out if your drive is suitable or not.
I also want to warn you of a rash step, a technical temptation. If you are using the Rufus utility, understanding how to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8.1 To Go, consider that in most cases the utility will fail.
To avoid such an error, you need to use the program on a computer on which the Windows 8.1 operating system is already installed.
And after you managed to create such a bootable USB flash drive, you can use it on other PCs to install a new operating system.
Recording a system image in Rufus
So, we continue to delve into the details of how to write Windows on a USB flash drive via Rufus.
Experienced users will confidently tell you that in most cases they use disk images to ensure maximum recording quality.
We will not make an exception, on the Internet or from friends, download the ISO image. Now, next to the option "Create bootable disk" select the option "ISO-image". Of course, the utility will need you to indicate to it the path where you saved the previously downloaded OS image.
Click on the icon with the drive, specify the path. Now you have completed all the preparatory work. Ahead is a responsible part, but practically does not require your participation.
The utility will warn you that it will have to format the media on which the recording will be carried out. Of course, she will ask for your confirmation in order to exclude any randomness, erroneous actions.
After your confirmation, the recording will be carried out automatically, at the bottom of the window there will be a countdown.
Upon completion, the word "Ready" will appear, you will only need to close the utility window.
If after this you open the “Computer”, there you will be able to visualize the successful execution of the tasks to create bootable media.
If you have been puzzled before this time, how to create a bootable Windows 10 USB flash drive, then, having read this manual, you will not only be able to figure out how to burn an ISO image, but you will also understand that the media you created will be easily downloaded to a PC, installing the version of the operating system that you have long dreamed of.
We believe that you will now be able to convince the rest of the fact that booting the OS is not such a troublesome task, if you are technically and informationally prepared for it.