Create An Ubuntu Bootable USB Stick In Windows
With a bootable Ubuntu USB stick, you can: --
  • Install or upgrade Ubuntu
  • Test out the Ubuntu desktop experience without touching your PC configuration
  • Boot into Ubuntu on a borrowed machine or from an internet cafe
  • Use tools installed by default on the USB stick to repair or fix a broken configuration
Creating a bootable Ubuntu USB stick from Microsoft Windows is very simple and the process will be covered in the next few steps.


USB Requirements
The following are requirements needed to create a USB bootable drive:
  • a 2GB or larger USB stick / flash drive
  • Microsoft Windows XP or later
  • Rufus, a free and open source USB stick writing tool
    (on links page under "Other Required Software")
  • An Ubuntu ISO file
Click image to see larger version


Step One -- USB Selection

Perform the following to configure your USB device in Rufus:
  1. Launch Rufus
  2. Insert your USB stick
  3. Rufus will update to set the device within the Device field
  4. If the Device is incorrect, select the correct one from the device field's drop-down menu
You can avoid the hassle of selecting from a list of USB devices by ensuring no other devices are connected.


Step Two -- Partition Scheme and ISO Selection

For best compatibility with newer hardware, keep the Partition scheme and targer system type set as MBR partition scheme for UEFI. However, if you need to use the USB stick with older hardware, change this to MBR Partition Scheme for BIOS or UEFI

To select the Ubuntu ISO file, click the optical drive icon alongside the enabled "Create a bootable disk using" field. This will open a file requester from which you can navigate to, and select, the ISO file.

Click image to see larger version



Click image to see larger version
Step Three -- Hybrid Image Confirmation

Leave all other parameters with their default values and click Start to initiate the write process.

You will then be alerted that Rufus has detected that the Ubuntu ISO is an ISOHybrid image. This means the same inage file can be used as the source for both a DVD and USB stick without requiring conversion.

Keep Write in ISO Image mode selected and click on OK to continue.

Rufus will warn that all data on your selected USB device is about to be destroyed. This is a good moment to double check you've selected the correct device before clicking OK when you're confident you have.
If your USB stick contains multiple partitions Rufus will warn you in a separate pane that these will also be destroyed.


Step Four -- Write the ISO

The ISO will now be written to your USB stick, and the progress bar in Rufus will give you some indication of how long this will take. With a reasonably modern machine, this should take around 3 minutes.

Click image to see larger version




Installation Complete

Rufus will complete the write process and silently drop-back to its default window.

Congratulations !! You now have Ubuntu on a USB stick, bootable and ready to go.



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