Does Rufus Still Work ?

jimbo45 · Jul 18, 2025

Del 80 said:
Ok, going to try again.......currently downloading the W11 ISO file to a flash drive (again).......can someone walk me through using RUFUS to install it on an older laptop please, to by-pass the requirements......in plain and simple terms......TIA.....

1) download the latest version of rufus from the site (use the 4.7p version (latest) and just execute it.
2) browse to the iso file you've made an image of
3) choose standard windows installation but select the skip secure boot and RAM requirement boxes/
4) if you have an older laptop you need to ensure that the usb format uses fat32 , and not ntfs as some older laptops won't boot ntfs.
5) wait until complete

Now all you have to do is boot the device

Cheers
jimbo

Del 80 · Jul 18, 2025

Ok thanks.....flash drive is nearly ready........update to follow......

BamaInArk · Jul 18, 2025

Del 80 said:
Ok, going to try again.......currently downloading the W11 ISO file to a flash drive (again).......can someone walk me through using RUFUS to install it on an older laptop please, to by-pass the requirements......in plain and simple terms......TIA.....

Why are you "downloading" the ISO to a flash drive vs some location on the system drive itself?

BamaInArk · Jul 18, 2025

jimbo45 said:
1) download the latest version of rufus from the site (use the 4.7p version (latest) and just execute it.

Cheers
jimbo

FYI....4.9/4.9p is the latest.

FIREMEDIC2700 · Jul 18, 2025

steveg · Jul 18, 2025

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.

Del 80 · Jul 18, 2025

Post 25 is jolly informative, thank you......I shall follow it to the letter........update to follow........

Del 80 · Jul 18, 2025

Mmmhhh......still not working, I can't seem to be able to browse to the ISO file in RUFUS......any suggestions ?.......

FIREMEDIC2700 · Jul 18, 2025

what are trying to do?

Del 80 · Jul 18, 2025

Trying to install W11 on a W10 laptop, using RUFUS.....it won't recognise the W11 ISO file on the flash drive.....I must be missing something ?

FIREMEDIC2700 · Jul 18, 2025

did u follow that video i posted ?

Del 80 · Jul 18, 2025

Yes, but RUFUS won't recognise the ISO file.......

TairikuOkami · Jul 18, 2025

Del 80 said:
Trying to install W11 on a W10 laptop, using RUFUS.....it won't recognise the W11 ISO file on the flash drive

Older laptops are generally not UEFI compatible, even if they claim so, have you used MBR or GPT option?

Del 80 · Jul 18, 2025

Using the MBR option......

TairikuOkami · Jul 18, 2025

Do you have the latest BIOS, not sure if it applies to your model, but as for version A21, it should be set to Thorough Mode.

Dell Fast Boot BIOS Feature:
The Dell Windows 8 released BIOS adds a new feature that is called Fast Boot.
When upgrading from a Pre-Windows 8 released BIOS to a Windows 8 released BIOS this feature will be set in Thorough mode.
Setting this feature in minimal causes USB devices/ports to be disabled in the pre-OS environment.
If you are dependent on USB devices in the pre-OS environment this setting should remain in the Thorough mode setting.

antspants · Jul 18, 2025

Del 80 said:
....

I think you’re complicating things for yourself

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.

pietcorus2 · Jul 18, 2025

Without internet...........?

Hazel123 · Jul 18, 2025

antspants said:
I think you’re complicating things for yourself

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

(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.

I just tick the first two.

glasskuter · Jul 18, 2025

IMO you have not provided enough information about this "older machine". Some Folks jumped the gun and not asked if your cpu handles sse4.2 nor verified your partition table as being GPT or MBR. All this info affects whether or not the usb dire is bootable or even useable.
If your does not handle sse4.2, you can not under any circumstances run Windows 11-24h2 on it. It is not by-passable. You would have to try 23h2

Depending on your disk partitioning, you use the correct Rufus option that is compatible with it..ie GPT or MBR.

Del 80 said:
currently downloading the W11 ISO file to a flash drive (again)

After several folks advised you, you still downloaded the iso to the flash drive. if you download the official iso from MS, you save it to another location on your computer, not the flash drive.

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

Use Rufus to Create a Windows 11 Install disk that bypasses TPM, Secure Boot requirements (How-to).

This guide shows how to use RUFUS to create a Windows 11 install disk on a USB, to bypass the TPM, Secure Boot and Microsoft Account requirements to setup Windo

www.wintips.org

I highly advise you to make a full system image before upgrading.

Del 80 · Jul 18, 2025

Most informative......thank you,

Does Rufus Still Work ?

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Like a rolling drone.

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.​

My Computers

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My Computer

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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.

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.