Generally when you install Windows, you either use the set up directly or use a DVD (burn the ISO) to boot and then install. But one of the simpler means of installing Windows on multiple PC is using a bootable USB drive. Since USB drive is available in all desktops and laptops unlike DVD drives, it is much more easier to install Windows using USB drive.
To create a bootable USB drive, there are quite a lot of free apps available for Windows. In this article we will cover the best free tools to create a bootable USB drive for Windows.
1. WinToFlash:
WinToFlash starts a wizard that will help pull over the contents of a windows installation CD or DVD and prep the USB drive to become a bootable replacement for the optical drive. It can also do this with your LiveCD. WinToFlash help you pull over the contents of a Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 2008, Windows 7, Windows 8 installation disk and prepare the USB drive to become a bootable replacement for the optical drive.
2. WinToBootic:
WinToBootic is another free tool for creating Windows 7/8 focused Boot Disk. You can make bootable USB Flash or Hard Disk and burn Windows 7/8/PE2/PE3 content from ISO, DVD or Folder. The app does not require any installation as it is completely portable. It supports Windows XP or later versions.
3. UNetbootin:
UNetbootin allows you to create bootable Live USB drives for Ubuntu, Fedora, and other Linux distributions without burning a CD. It runs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. UNetbootin can create a bootable Live USB drive, or it can make a “frugal install” on your local hard disk if you don’t have a USB drive.
4. WinUSB Maker:
WinUSB Maker is yet another free and portable tool for Windows which allows you to create a bootable USB drive from a folder or an ISO file. With this tool, you can make dynamically any Removable Device / External HDD as bootable with Windows Setup. The app allows full faster drive backup / restore, including the MBR, the user can make an full backup of the USB Drive including the MBR Boot Sector, and all stored files. More details here.
5. Rufus:
Rufus is yet another freeware tool which claims to be the fastest tool to create a bootable USB drive. This tool allows you to select any removable device available on your PC and then create a bootable disk from ISO image or default DOS option provided with the tool. More details on the app available here.
6. Windows 7 ISO to USB/DVD Tool (from Microsoft):
This tool is provided by Microsoft to quickly create a bootable USB drive. The interface is simple and straight forward, you can select the ISO image and then create the bootable drive. You can download the tool from here.
Other Free Tools to create Bootable USB:
The ones mentioned above are the most popular ones, there are many other free tools which we have covered on this blog.
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