How to create bootable USB from an ISO image


One invaluable feature of modern computers is the ability to boot from removable storage such as USB flash drives and external hard drives. Despite this feature’s availability, it isn’t easily utilised because there isn’t any native support available in Microsoft Windows (which as of 2012, is still the most common Operating System in the world).

We came across a great application called UNetbootin. It allows you to ‘burn’ an ISO image to a USB flash drive.

UNetbootin

Download here: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/)

To ‘burn’ an ISO image to the USB flash drive, follow these instructions:

  1. Install it as you would any other application.
  2. Load UNetbootin from your start menu.
  3. Select the Disk Image (second option down).
  4. Select ISO from the drop down.
  5. Click the three periods to browse for an ISO image.
  6. Make sure the Type is set to USB drive and the letter corresponds correctly.
  7. Click OK.
  8. The process will take a while, so grab a cup of tea!

You can also use UNetbootin to create Linux live boot disks.

Other solutions

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17 Comments

  1. Alessandro says:

    I did, but the pc doesn start with the USB ( ..of course I ‘ve changed the boot start on BIOS ) ..what s problem ??

  2. Norton says:

    It does NOT work. I’ve also tried tuxboot and I’m getting Operating system missing when booting!!!

    • Aidan says:

      If you’re getting ‘operating system missing’ when the image is loaded into the bootstrap then you havent extracted the files correctly. The boot image should be within the root dir otherwise it will not boot.

  3. Norton says:

    And the windows tool also doesn’t work !!! The program doesn’t even start… This is really potatic…

  4. Alex says:

    I have already problem, don’t boot.I try on 5 pcs but nothing to do.My usb disk crated with acronis boot ok.

    Mah, probably is a fake application (unpackage and copy only)

    • lol says:

      LOL, probably the most used app for making bootable usb devices should be a fake?
      Your inability to understand it doesn’t make it fake.

  5. KLBlaze says:

    You rock!!

  6. eric k says:

    you have to format the usb stick fat32, run the app, then boot.

    it hung up at init for me anyway.

  7. Tony says:

    You rock. Just used this for Falcon 4 boot on netbook. Worked like a champ.

  8. Adaio says:

    Some of the motherboards dont accept Booting from USB such as mine one, all I can Boot from is CD Drive.

    • Ben says:

      do a search for plop boot manager you boot this first. it will then give you the options of the things you can boot including USB. this is what i do. you can write it to floppy, cd straight to the hard drive and lots of different options. just make sure you read the site cos depending on how you want to use it depends on how you set it up.

  9. Zainal says:

    try using my way if you have the problem using UNetbootin…

    I try to extract Windows Vista ISO image…it work….but doesn’t work for Windows XP ISO image….

    Click Here For The Guide How To Use UNetbootin

  10. Mo says:

    UNetbootin worked perfectly for me on Ubuntu 10.10.
    I now have a bootable USB stick made with an iso of Hiren’s Boot CD (didn’t feel like burning it).
    UNetbootin probably doesn’t work for non-Linux operating systems, as is written on their site.

  11. Dylan1170 says:

    Is this supposed to take 2 hours + to download? Just asking :)

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