Guide to Creating a UEFI Bootable USB Stick from an ISO

Creating a UEFI bootable USB stick from an ISO is a straightforward process that can be easily accomplished on both Windows and Linux operating systems. This guide will walk you through the steps for both platforms, ensuring you can create a bootable USB that supports the UEFI firmware.

Steps for Creating a UEFI Bootable USB on Windows

Creating a bootable USB on Windows can be done using the versatile tool, Rufus. Follow these detailed instructions to ensure a successful setup:

Download Rufus: Visit Rufus's website and download the latest version of Rufus. Prepare the USB Drive: Connect your USB stick to your computer and back up any important data, as the process will erase the drive. Open Rufus: Launch the Rufus application. It may require administrator privileges, so make sure to run it as an administrator. Select the USB Drive: In the Rufus interface, select your USB stick from the list of available drives. Ensure it is correctly identified. Select the ISO File: Click on the ISO image button in Rufus and navigate to your ISO file. Select the ISO you wish to use for the bootable USB. Partition Scheme: For UEFI systems, ensure that the Partition scheme is set to GUID Partition Table (GPT). This is crucial for UEFI boot. Start the Process: Click on the Start button to begin the process. Wait until the process is complete. Completion: Once the process is done, safely eject the USB drive.

Steps for Creating a UEFI Bootable USB on Linux

Linux users can create a UEFI bootable USB using the command line tools and dd command, a low-level disk copying command. Follow these steps to create a bootable USB:

Identify the USB Drive: Insert your USB stick and run the following command in the terminal to identify the drive: lsblk

Note the device name, e.g., /dev/sdX, where sdX is the letter assigned to your USB.

Unmount the USB Drive: If the USB drive is mounted, unmount it with the following command: sudo umount /dev/sdX1

Be careful to replace /dev/sdX1 with the correct partition identifier for your USB drive.

Create the Bootable USB: Use the dd command to write the ISO to the USB drive. Replace and /dev/sdX with your actual ISO file path and USB device name: sudo dd if of/dev/sdX bs4M statusprogress

Ensure you are very careful with the dd command as it can overwrite the targeted drive.

Sync and Eject: After the process completes, run the following command to sync data: sync

Then safely eject the USB drive by running: sudo eject /dev/sdX

Final Steps: After creating the bootable USB, you can boot from it by selecting it in the BIOS/UEFI boot menu during system startup.

Notes

UEFI Compatibility: Ensure your system supports UEFI. Some Linux distributions might have built-in tools like mkusb or Ventoy that can simplify the process. Always verify the integrity of your ISO file before creating a bootable USB.

By following these steps, you can create a UEFI bootable USB stick from an ISO, ensuring that your system can boot from the USB drive seamlessly. Whether you're running on Windows or Linux, the process is manageable and well-documented here.