Creating Bootable Flash Drives (USB) in Windows and MacOS

Creating bootable flash drives is a crucial skill for anyone who wants to install operating systems, run diagnostic tools, or troubleshoot computer issues. Whether you use Windows or Mac, knowing how to make a bootable USB drive can save you time and effort in critical situations. In this article, we will walk you through the simple steps to create bootable flash drives on both platforms, equipping you with the tools you need for a smooth installation experience. From selecting the right software to formatting your USB drive, we’ll cover everything you need to get started.

Case Uses

Creating bootable flash drives can be incredibly useful for a variety of tasks. Moreover, each of these use cases highlights the versatility of bootable flash drives in both personal and professional settings. As a result, they become a valuable tool for various computing tasks.

1. Operating System Installation: Install new operating systems like Windows, Linux, or macOS on a computer without a CD/DVD drive.

2. System Recovery: Boot from a flash drive to access recovery tools for troubleshooting or repairing a malfunctioning operating system.

3. Data Recovery: Use bootable drives with recovery software to retrieve lost or corrupted data from hard drives.

4. Testing New Operating Systems: Run live versions of operating systems (e.g., Linux distributions) from a USB drive to test functionality without installing it on your hard drive.

5. Creating System Backups: Boot from a USB drive to create system backups using backup software.

6. Malware Removal: Use bootable antivirus tools to scan and remove malware from an infected system.

7. Firmware Updates: Update BIOS or firmware on systems that do not support direct updates from within the operating system.

8. Network Booting: Boot a computer over a network using PXE (Preboot Execution Environment) configurations set up on a flash drive.

9. Portable Applications: Carry portable versions of applications that can run directly from the USB drive without installation on the host system.

10. Custom Recovery Solutions: Create tailored recovery environments with specific tools and applications for troubleshooting.

11. Secure Environments: Set up bootable drives for secure environments to ensure that sensitive tasks are performed without traces left on the local system.

12. System Performance Testing: Run diagnostic tools and benchmarking software from a USB drive to assess hardware performance without interference from the main operating system.

13. Multi-Boot Systems: Create a multi-boot USB drive to install or run multiple operating systems from a single flash drive.

14. Software Deployment: Deploy software packages or updates across multiple systems in an organization.

15. Virtual Machine Creation: Use bootable USB drives to install operating systems in virtual machines for development or testing purposes.

ISO Files

ISO files, short for International Organization for Standardization files, are disk image files that contain the complete contents and structure of a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disc. These files serve as a digital replica of the original disc, preserving not only the data but also the file system information.

Creating a Bootable Flash Drive in Windows

Popular Flashing Software

Here are some popular applications to flash ISO files onto USB drives in Windows.

• Rufus:
  A lightweight and user-friendly tool, Rufus allows you to create bootable USB drives from ISO files quickly. It supports various file systems and partition schemes.

• UNetbootin:
  This cross-platform tool enables you to create bootable USB drives for a variety of operating systems, including Linux distributions. It offers a straightforward interface and can also download some ISO files directly.

• Etcher (balenaEtcher):
  Known for its simple and intuitive interface, Etcher is a cross-platform tool that lets you flash images to USB drives and SD cards easily. It supports a wide range of image formats, including ISO.

ISO Flashing Procedure

For our example we will use Rufus. The software can be installed in Windows OS and downloaded from https://rufus.ie/downloads/.

1. Ensure to download the latest version that is not in beta. An example of the correct version to get is shown in the image below.

   

2. Select the USB Flash Drive within “Device” section. 
3. Select the type of boot requirement within “Boot Selection” section, for this we would be flashing an ISO file so we would need to select “Disk or ISO image”.
4. Press on the “SELECT” button to select the ISO file.

   

5. Once the ISO is selected the “Boot Selection” field will be populate with the ISO filename.
6. For “Partition Scheme” select the appropriate one for your system. Normally I go with “GPT”.
7. Proceed to press the “START” button, note that all data on the USB Flash drive will be removed.
8. If prompted with a window related to “ISOHybrid image detected” proceed with “Write in ISO Image mode (Recommended)”.

   

9. The next prompt will explain that all data will be destroyed on the Flash drive as part of the process. Confirm and proceed.

   

10. Once the process starts you will see the progress bar filling up until the Status shows a green “Ready” bar.

    

11. At this point, you could begin to use the drive for whichever purpose. In the example I’ve used systemrescue from https://www.system-rescue.org/ to enter a rescue environment.

Creating a Bootable Flash Drive in MacOS

Popular Flashing Software

Here are some popular applications to flash ISO files onto USB drives in MacOS.

1. Etcher (balenaEtcher):

   Etcher offers a user-friendly, cross-platform solution that lets you quickly create bootable USB drives and SD cards from ISO files. It features a clean interface and supports a wide range of image formats. Etcher actively verifies the flashing process, ensuring the integrity of the data written to the USB drive.

2. UNetbootin:
   UNetbootin is another cross-platform tool that enables users to create bootable USB drives for various operating systems, including many Linux distributions. It allows you to either select an ISO file from your computer or download one directly within the application. UNetbootin provides a straightforward interface and is suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

3. Terminal (using dd command):
   While not a standalone application, you can use the built-in Terminal on macOS to create bootable USB drives by using the dd command. This method is more technical but offers great flexibility for users who are comfortable with command-line interfaces. It allows you to specify the exact source and destination for the ISO image and the USB drive.

ISO Flashing Procedure

For our example we will use UNetbootin. The software can be installed in MacOS and downloaded from https://unetbootin.github.io/.

1. Download the required version of UNetbootin from the portal.

   

2. Install the downloaded application and proceed to open the “Disk Utility” application.
3. Initialize/erase your USB flash drive while selecting “ExFAT” for “Format” and “GUID Partition Map” for “Scheme”.

   

4. Proceed to open UNetbootin and select either the distribution you want the software to download or the ISO Diskimage. Select the USB drive and the the correct drive. Once ready, press on “OK”.

   

5. Once the process began you shall see the steps being taken as the USB flash drive is being flashed with the ISO of choice.

   

6. At this point, you could begin to use the drive for whichever purpose. In the example I’ve used systemrescue from https://www.system-rescue.org/ to enter a rescue environment.

Further Assistance

For any further assistance involving ISO flashing and mounting, do not hesitate to reach out to the Hivelocity Support team via a chat, support ticket, or phone at 888-869-4678.