Rufus
Rufus is a tool for Windows that creates bootable devices from USBs, formats drives, and installs various OS images like Linux, Windows, and FreeDOS without installation.
Introduction:
Rufus is a powerful, lightweight tool designed for Windows users who need to create bootable external storage devices like USB flash drives and SD cards. Its unique value proposition lies in its remarkable speed and versatility, enabling users to easily format drives and install various operating systems, including Linux distributions, Windows, and FreeDOS—all without requiring installation.Main Features:
- Wide Compatibility: Supports over 40 ISOs, including Windows XP, Windows 7, Debian, Fedora, and Raspbian.
- Fast Performance: Significantly quicker than competing tools, making bootable drive creation efficient, often completing tasks in half the time.
- Multiple Partition Types: Create bootable drives with options like Syslinux, ReactOS, Grub, UEFI: NTFS, and FreeDOS.
- No Installation Required: Just double-click the executable file to begin using Rufus immediately.
- Supports Installation from ISO Images: Create Windows installations and install Linux distributions effortlessly.
Customization:
Rufus allows users to select the type of drive and image they wish to create, offering flexibility in managing various operating systems on different devices. While Rufus is primarily straightforward, users can adjust partition schemes and file systems to suit their specific needs.Modes/Functionality:
- Bootable USB Drive Creation: Convert standard USB drives into bootable installations for Linux, Windows, and FreeDOS.
- Direct ISO to USB: Seamlessly install operating systems using ISO images downloaded from official websites.
- Advanced Formatting Options: Choose between various file systems and partition types to optimize compatibility with target devices.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Extremely fast drive creation compared to similar applications.
- User-friendly interface that requires no installation.
- High compatibility with a wide range of operating systems.
- Supports bootable drives for multiple partition types.
Cons:
- Lacks advanced graphical user interface functionalities found in some competing applications.
- Dependent on user-provided OS images for creating installations.
Frequent questions
How can I create a Windows 10 image with Rufus?
To create a Windows 10 image with Rufus, all you have to do is download the ISO from the official Microsoft website, then choose it from the available options when you create your boot disk.
Is Rufus portable?
Yes, Rufus is portable. The program doesn't require any kind of installation. The first time you run it, it creates a configuration file in the same directory where you run it from.
Is Rufus free?
Yes, Rufus is free. Rufus's creator doesn't even accept donations. Instead, users who want to show support are encouraged to donate money directly to the Free Software Foundation.
Is Rufus safe?
Yes, Rufus is 100% safe. It's a program that's had an impeccable track record for more than 10 years. It has also been analyzed by VirusTotal and has never tested positive.
Does Rufus work on Windows 11?
Yes, Rufus works on Windows 11. To create a Windows 11 boot disk with Rufus, just download the ISO from the official Microsoft website, then select it when you create the boot disk.
Discover more apps
MagiKart: Retro Kart Racing, reminiscent of Super Mario Kart, offers surprises.
LunaProxy offers stable residential proxies for social media accounts, affordable prices.
Genius DLL is an easy-to-use application for quickly downloading and registering DLLs, requiring just a few clicks to search, download, and manage libraries.
Quick Start tab on Chrome accesses apps, including iCloud Reminders.
Tiger Password Recovery is a user-friendly tool that efficiently retrieves lost passwords across various applications and devices using advanced algorithms.
Desktop Gadgets Revived brings back classic Windows widgets for customization.
Converts BAT files to EXE, adds icons, info, password protection. Useful for developers.
Renee File Protector is a tool that easily hides and locks files on your computer or external devices, ensuring sensitive information remains secure.
Similar to Rufus
Rufus is a tool for Windows that creates bootable devices from USBs, formats drives, and installs various OS images like Linux, Windows, and FreeDOS without installation.
Recuva is a software for recovering lost files easily and effectively.
Total Commander, the updated Windows Commander, enhances file browsing with features like built-in FTP, file compression, and customizable menus for improved user experience.
CrystalDiskInfo is an app for monitoring PC hard drive health using S.M.A.R.T. technology, offering a simple interface, detailed disk information, and customizable alerts for potential issues.
Unlocker is a lightweight program that lets you easily delete, rename, or move locked files and folders on your computer, eliminating frustrating error messages.
Macrium Reflect Free clones entire disk partitions, allowing for recovery of applications and settings, with efficient image size reduction and recovery options, including Linux.
FastCopy is a free Windows application that provides advanced file and folder copying options not available in the built-in file explorer.
Teracopy improves file transfers with more features, low resource usage.