Does Rufus Still Work ?

antspants · Jul 18, 2025

glasskuter said:
Here's your step by step to create media. Follow it EXACTLY to comply with your partition table.

Exactly the same as my instructions. Fair point about MBR though.

antspants · Jul 18, 2025

Hazel123 said:
I just tick the first two.

Me also Hazel, except I block Bitlocker

idgat · Jul 18, 2025

Del 80 said:
.it won't recognise the W11 ISO file on the flash drive

YOU DON"T PUT THE ISO ON THE FLASH DRIVE (And yes, I am intentionally shouting)

- download the ISO from Microsoft website to your computer
- download Rufus to your computer (v4.9.226)
- connect the boot USB to be created
- run Rufus (everything on the USB will be lost, it's wiped clean ... which is why it's not working if you've got the ISO on it!!!!)
- the USB drive name should appear in "Device"
- "Boot Selection" should auto show "Disk or ISO etc"
- click Select (the word Select, DO NOT USE THE PULL DOWN MENU. Again, obviously the Download option is not working for you fopr whatever reason, so why continue to try and use it)
- navigate to where the ISO is stored on your device
- select the ISO file
- START Rufus

Failsafe. Foolproof

idgat · Jul 18, 2025

antspants said:

Hazel123 said:
I just tick the first two.

No, click the lot.

Given the OPs predicament, there should be no room for misinterpretation and/or confusion (somewhere in this thread the OP mentioned not being able to bypass restrictions. As with all of the OPs post, that one also was devoid of specific detail, just the mention that it happened)

The only variation I'd allow/suggest, remove the actual user name (but leave local account option ticked). That allows the installer/user to create their own name account, just in case it won't be the same

I use this for EVERY device, compliant of Microsoft's ersatz attempt at security, or not

antspants · Jul 18, 2025

Added the tutorial to find what partition table is used for your drive (Tutorial Post 36)

Hazel123 · Jul 18, 2025

And format the usb drive again before you start all the above, if you downloaded the ISO onto the usb

A downloaded ISO looks like this on your computer it'll probably be saved in "Documents" folder. Except it'll probably just say "Windows 11" - I renamed mine below for my own benefit.

If you're not sure about MBR and GPT - try GPT first and see if the usb boots. If it doesn't, reformat the usb, start again and try mbr.

Here - I've made a short video to show you exactly what to do - you'll see the ISO in the list where it's selected. Sorry it's a bit wobbly - was holding phone in one hand and clicking with the other. Also you might need to go full screen to actually see it properly.

antspants · Jul 18, 2025

Hazel123 said:
And format the usb drive again before you start all the above

RUFUS formats the USB before creating the media. Totally wipes it, kills whatever is on it.

antspants · Jul 18, 2025

RUFUS is actually also widely used as a USB Format utility.

jimbo45 · Jul 19, 2025

steveg said:
Not tried for W11 but Clonezilla was the only thing I could get to work for cloning a linux handheld game emulator sd boot card. Everything else failed to boot.

Just boot any linux live distro and simply use dd !!!

i.e sudo dd if=<input file, partition or /dev/ source device> of=<output file, partition or /dev/target device> bs=4096M status=progress.

Works for ANY file system as this just copies physical data blocks -- doesn't care how the file system is organised -- but it "copies" empty space too - so you won't get fast times for large files unlike say cloning with things like macrium -- but it WORKS every time regardless of the file system or even the encryption.

Cheers
jimbo

Del 80 · Jul 19, 2025

O.k.....so getting there...slowly.....manged to create the installation media on the flash drive, using RUFUS.....but when I try to boot from it nothing happens, any advice welcomed........partition scheme is GPT......file system is NTFS ??.....

kelper · Jul 19, 2025

Turn off safeboot in BIOS.

antspants · Jul 19, 2025

Del 80 said:
partition scheme is GPT......file system is NTFS ??.....

Did you check that GPT is the actual partition table that C is using?

Check if Disk Drive uses MBR or GPT Partition Style in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to check if a disk drive is using the GPT (GUID Partition Table) or MBR (Master Boot Record) partition style in Windows 11. Disks can be divided into multiple chunks called partitions. Each partition - even if there's only one - has to have a partition style -...

www.elevenforum.com

I believe that:
If you create a GPT-partitioned USB using Rufus: your system must boot in UEFI mode.
The Windows installer will refuse to install on an MBR disk unless you wipe or convert it to GPT during installation or alternatively, choose MBR in Rufus settings

antspants · Jul 19, 2025

I’m going to post this for you again, and wish you luck with it.

Cheers

antspants said:
RUFUS (rufus-4.9 .exe)

You don’t need to format the USB, RUFUS will do it.

Download the latest “ISO”

The latest ISO is available via the Media Creation Tool. (Option One in the tutorial below)

At the time of this post, the latest version available from Microsoft is: > Windows 11 Version 24H2 build 26100.4349 ISO

After Media Creation Tool as finished downloading Windows 11and when asked, tell Media Creation Tool to create the ISO and not burn to media (USB)

Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft

This tutorial will show you how to download an official Windows Server or Windows 11 64-bit or ARM64 ISO file from Microsoft. Microsoft provides ISO files for Windows Server and Windows 11 to download. You can use these ISO files to clean install or in-place upgrade Windows 11. The Flight Hub...

www.elevenforum.com

Create the install media with Rufus

Download RUFUS

#1 Direct RUFUS to your USB

#2 Click “Select” and direct RUFUS to the ISO that you downloaded from Microsoft.

#3 should sort itself out if the OS drive is partitioned properly. But to be sure, make certain it’s GPT. Your Windows OS really should be partitioned to GPT. Make sure #3 says GPT

If you’re running an older system and have no choice but to use MBR (According to your HDD partition structure) then choose MBR at #3 in the image below. Find what partition table is used, in this Tutorial

(Random web images)

When instigating the creation of the media and clicking “Start”, the following options will show. Select your choices.

Select Remove requirement for 4GB+ RAM, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 (to bypass requirements)

With the rest; Deselect/Select whatever you do/don't want (Like the local account options & Bitlocker)

Click OK and the USB install media will be created on the USB

Once Rufus has created the USB installer, you can proceed with the Windows installation.

Hazel123 · Jul 19, 2025

Do you have a spare usb stick? If so make another one set for MBR instead of GPT and see which one works

That's the advantage of having the ISO downloaded - you can make more than one usb stick.

And as Kelper says - have a look in your bios and turn off anything that says safe boot or fast boot. If you're not sure how to get into bios, then just hit the escape key repeatedly as soon as you switch on, and a menu will come up - one item on the menu will be bios, another will be boot manager - which lets you choose to boot from the usb stick.

pseymour · Jul 19, 2025

On the Dell Latitude E5430, the BIOS key is F2.

Hazel123 · Jul 19, 2025

I noticed on your computer specs it says you already have Windows 11 23H2 installed is that right?

antspants · Jul 19, 2025

kelper said:
Turn off safeboot in BIOS.

Try this also

Del 80 · Jul 19, 2025

Well, I've just about given up on the entire exercise.....I have tried everything that everyone suggested, to no avail, except turning secure boot off......which you can't do on these old Toshiba Sattelite's.......it looks like all six of them are destined to landfill......many thanks to those that tried to help......

TairikuOkami · Jul 19, 2025

Del 80 said:
Well, I've just about given up on the entire exercise.....

I know the feeling, someone brought me an old laptop to install 11 on it, it took me several days to figure out, how to boot USB, post install was even worse. I could not repeat it, even if I wanted to. He came back a month later and asked me to install back 10, because surprise surprise, 11 was slower and that he will give me $20 for the work. I said I will give him $20, if he never brings this laptop again.

Hazel123 · Jul 19, 2025

Del 80 said:
Well, I've just about given up on the entire exercise.....I have tried everything that everyone suggested, to no avail, except turning secure boot off......which you can't do on these old Toshiba Sattelite's.......it looks like all six of them are destined to landfill......many thanks to those that tried to help......

That's a shame. What model is it? I just saw a Dell model in your computer specifications? Before you give up - will it boot anything else from usb? Eg Linux? Because it really should install. I've installed on old netbooks before now (not 24H2 but 23H2).

Before you give up, try posting on this thread

Let's install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware

Inspired on this thread: Let's run Win10 on really really old hardware - Windows 10 Help Forums Most of our machines are unsupported on Windows 11, why not force it? --------- Run Windows 11 on unsupported machines --------- 1. How to Bypass Windows 11's TPM, CPU and RAM Requirements 2...

www.elevenforum.com

Does Rufus Still Work ?

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Download the latest “ISO”​

Create the install media with Rufus​

When instigating the creation of the media and clicking “Start”, the following options will show. Select your choices.​

Click OK and the USB install media will be created on the USB​

Once Rufus has created the USB installer, you can proceed with the Windows installation.​

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Download the latest “ISO”

Create the install media with Rufus

When instigating the creation of the media and clicking “Start”, the following options will show. Select your choices.

Click OK and the USB install media will be created on the USB

Once Rufus has created the USB installer, you can proceed with the Windows installation.

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