Free Tools To Create Bootable USB From ISO File

Quite a few free tools out there to help you create bootable USB drive from Windows ISO file. While using the native Command Prompt method remains to be the best method toprepare bootable USB thumb drive and install Windows from it, not all users are comfortable with command line and prefer using third-party software for the job.

When it comes to transferring contents from ISO to USB and make the drive bootable with the help of third-party tools, users have a couple of good software to choose from. One can either use the official Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from Microsoft or go for other third-party tools.

While most of the tools out there function as advertised, not all tools support creating USB from ISO file and instead requires setup files extracted from ISO file. For instance, the popular WinToFlash tool doesn’t support ISO files, meaning you need to extract the contents from ISO file before running the tool. To help Windows users, we have compiled a list of four free tools that help you prepare bootable USB flash drive from ISO file.

In no particular order, below are the four best free tools available to create bootable USB from ISO file.

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: This is the official tool to prepare Windows bootable USB from downloaded ISO file. Even though the tool was originally developed for Windows 7, it’s compatible with Windows 8 as well. Interface is fairly simple and easy-to-use.

Rufus: Probably the best tool out there for the job. Rufus lets you check your USB drive for bad blocks before transferring the contents of ISO file and also lets you create bootable ISO file from Windows installation files. It’s fully compatible with USB 3.0 drives and faster than its competitors. Rufus is portable and requires no installation.

Windows 8 USB Installer Maker: While this tool is similar to other tools mentioned here, it doesn’t offer advanced options, which means both novice and power users who need a bootable USB drive maker without those confusing options will find this tool useful. As the name suggest, it’s designed for Windows 8 but works on Windows 7 as well.

WinUSB Maker: This tool not only lets you transfer the ISO file contents to your USB but also lets you create a full backup and restore of the USB. Just like other tools, it’s also portable and supports Windows XP as well.

If you ask me to select the best one from above list, I would go for Rufus.

How to Install Windows 8 from a USB

Forget the CD and install Windows 8 with your flash drive 

A guide? To install Windows? Slapping a new operating system on your desktop or laptop PC should be old hat by now, right? This is Windows 8, after all: Odds are pretty good that you, an astute and well-travelled Maximum PC reader, have been around the ol’ Windows installation block a few times before.

And unlike previous versions of the operating system, Windows 8 doesn’t even need that much babysitting. Once you’ve set the installer application running, it’s off to the races: You can sit back, enjoy a nice beverage or a fun sitcom, and let Microsoft’s fantastically efficient OS installation routine do all the work. By the time your Windows 8 OS needs your input, you’re practically finished – but a few short steps, if not minutes, away from the tiled joy that is Windows 8 proper.

So, er, what does that leave us to talk about?

Plenty. Ditch your discs; we’re going to show you how to install Windows 8 from a USB key. 

Installing Windows 8 from a USB key

If you shun DVDs, love speedier installations, have a digital download of Windows 8, or just plaindon’t have an optical drive – or are too lazy to hook one up – then it’s going to be a USB-based installation for you. And that’s just fine; it’s a great, quick way to get an operating system onto your hard drive and extremely useful if you, say, keep your Windows installation disc tucked away as an .iso on your network drive instead of thrown in one of your desk drawers.

The easiest way to accomplish this process is to already have your hands on a copy of Windows 8’s downloadable .iso file – acquirable by purchasing it from Microsoft itself. If you have a flash drive of the appropriate size (at least four gigabytes or greater, depending on whatever file Microsoft lets you grab), you’re golden. Insert your flash drive into a USB slot on your system, and then go grab Microsoft’s Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool – don’t let the name dissuade you.

Install the app and run it. It’ll ask you to select an .iso file to be “burnt” onto your USB key. Go ahead and select your Windows 8 .iso file – the fact that it’s not the right operating system as the tool’s name has absolutely no bearing on what you’re doing. 

Yes, we know, it says "Windows 7" download tool, but you can just ignore that part.

On the next screen, you’ll be asked whether you’d like to create a “Windows 7 backup” – again, ignore the name – on a USB device or DVD. Pick the obvious answer, select your USB key from the drop-down menu.

Select your USB device

When you're ready to let 'er rip, click on "Begin copying!"  If the tool needs to format your USB key first, it'll let you know.