How to burn an ISO image and create a bootable or bootable USB on Windows, Linux or Mac? step by step guide

The creation of a Bootable USB has become very popular. Have you ever wondered how to install an operating system or simply run special programs without risking the one you have on your computer? Well, the answer lies in this peculiar type of flash drive, which will allow you to have an ISO image that you can run from the Boot menu that all portable or desktop devices have in their firmware.

Installing an operating system via a bootable USB is the solution for many people, because it is cheaper and some laptops (mini-laptops) cannot read CDs, and can only be accessed via USB devices. But beyond that, they have also become popular because it is a way to experiment with advanced software. without the version of Windows, Linux or MacOS being compromised.

If everything we are telling you still sounds like quantum physics, then continue reading this tutorial so you can learn once and for all what a bootable USB is, what its uses are and how you can create your own in the main operating systems such as Linux, Windows or MacOS. So pay attention and put this article in your bookmarks so that you can study it all well several times until it is clear to you.

What is a bootable USB stick and what are its uses?

You will ask yourself What is a Bootable USB?, is that device that through a process is capable of providing an operating system to the computer. The word “Boot” refers to modifying the boot order of your devices, when you “boot” your pendrive you make this be read before the computer boot systemwhich allows the installation of various tools and other actions without compromising any component of the original operating system.

These are used to run tools or programs so that the original operating system is not compromised, or failing that, to install it on computers that have recently undergone a hard reset. What you need is an ISO image of the operating system that you want to install on the bootable USB and a flash drive of at least 4 GB.

Steps to Burn an ISO Image to USB and Make it Bootable

Currently there are different operating systems here we will teach you how to create a bootable USB from the main ones (Mac, Linux, Windows). In an easy and simple way. Before starting, you need to have a completely new pendrive or, failing that, do a hard reset the one you have on hand.

Doing this is very easy, you just have to go to “Equipment” in the operating system you have; locate the removable device; right click on it and then left click on the option “Format“. After this all the information that is stored in it will disappear.

It should be noted that after making it bootable you will be able to continue storing information in it as normal as long as there is enough space for it. If in the future you would like to make it normal again, then you simply format it and that’s it. Without further ado, we begin with the explanation of how to create your removable boot device in Windows, Linux and MacOS.

on Windows

This is the operating system in which it is easier to do everything since most of us are more identified with it. The process is very easy and first you will need to download a program that allows you to do the process. We recommend you “Rufus” that in this link you can download it from your Rufus.ie official website.

Once you have it in your documents, the steps to follow are as follows:

• Open the folder where the download was saved, select the program and double click on it.
• A main window will appear, where you will see several drop-down options. The first option Device; the second option Type of the target partition and system; third file system and the fourth Cluster size. Also a space where you can change the name of the device and some formatting options.
• With the program already open, connect the pendrive, right away Rufus will show below the first option (Device) the full name of the device, if it does not appear, verify that the device is connected correctly.
• Locate a disk icon at the bottom of the program, which is located to the right of the lower option with the name “Create Disc Boot with…” and click on that icon.

• The Windows folder explorer will open automatically, once opened you will locate the ISO image that you previously downloaded, double click on it to select it.
• In the field of New Label You will change the name of the device to one that makes it easier for you to recognize it. The other configuration options are left the same.
• At the bottom there is a button that says Startclick on it.

• A dialog window will open informing you that everything contained in the pendrive will be erased, you click on To accept.
• Wait for the operation to complete until a message appears at the bottom saying Operation performed. Normally, it takes between 5 to 15 minutes to finish.
• You disconnect the USB, and ready you already have your booted device.

on MAC

The procedure in this operating system tends to vary a lot since the programs can facilitate or even hinder the process, but here you will find the easiest way. For Mac it is recommended that you use the tool boot camp assistantthis application is factory installed on Apple computers.

In case you don’t have it, you can find it at the following link: support.apple.com/boot-camp. Once you have it located, the steps to follow are as follows:

• Connect your flash drive to the Mac (remember everything on the device will be erased).
• Locate the app boot camp assistant and open it by accessing Applications > Utilities (or start with Spotlight).
• check the box Create a Windows installation disk and uncheck Install Windows version.

• Click the button Continue.
• In the option that says ISO image click on To chooseto select the previously downloaded ISO image on your Mac.
• Select the removable drive you want to make a Bootable USB, then click Continue.

• Confirm what you want format USB flash drive and wait.

• When the process is ready you will see that the unit changed its name to WININSTALL.
• Your bootable device is now readywhat remains is to remove the USB from the computer.

on linux

This is an operating system that little by little grows and competes with Windows, for this reason many of the programs that are used in the Microsoft OS can also be used in Linux.

To be able to make a bootable UBS in this interface, follow the steps that we explain below:

• You will have to download the necessary application to make your device bootable, by recommendation download WinUSBfrom the following link: Pkgs.org/download/winusb
• Once downloaded use the following commands in the terminal to install it:
  • sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
  • sudo apt update
  • sudo apt install winusb

Once everything is installed, proceed to create the boot disk. of Windows. First starting the program and follow the steps that we explain below:

• When you start the program, you will select the boot disk (iso image) under the first text (From a disk image iso).

• Then select the USB you are going to use and click on Install.

• And it only remains to wait for the process to complete, and you can remove the device.

• First determine where the device is located you can locate it with the help of the program WinUSB (an example address will appear: /dev/sdd).
• Once the device and the ISO path are located (you can find it in the same way as the device) use the following: sudo winusb –format/to/windows.iso>

• Indevice> you will place the address of the device and in /to/windows.iso> the address of the ISO image.
• You wait for the process to finish and you would already have your USB ready to install the operating system.

How to use a bootable USB?

All computers have a menu boot or Boot menu which can be accessed by turning it on just before the operating system starts running. As you may have noticed, we have taught you how to create a bootable extractable with an ISO image of the Microsoft Windows operating system, but this does not mean that it can only be run on computers with said system installed.

You can use it on any computer since it runs before the original operating system starts running Do you remember that we told you that you can do things without putting the OS at risk? Well, that is the trick of these USBs, they have nothing to do with the software since it is something that is executed from the firmware.

ThenHow do we enter our USB? Well, it all depends on the computer. Generally in computers with Intel processors it is done by pressing the F11 or Del keys a couple of times before the OS starts, but this is not a norm. In some cases it can be F12, Esc or even none, just by inserting the bootable extractable the device will recognize it and send you directly to the boot menu.

To find out which key is correct for you, simply turn your computer off and on, or restart it, and look at the bottom of the black screen that appears at startup the key designated for Boot or Boot Menu. Once you have identified it, press it as we have indicated and that’s it. Once inside you can start your external bootable peripheral.

List of the best programs and tools to create USB bootable disks

We have taught you how to create a boot disk using Rufus in Windows, Boot camp assistant on MAC and WinUSB on Linux, but these are not the only programs that you can use for it. Here is a list of quite good alternatives that you can use if you wish.

• LiLi USB Creator: Works only on Windows (Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista and XP)
• UNetbootin: although it is old, this one works great on windows, linux and mac
• Windows USB/DVD Download Tool: widely used today by Windows users (Windows 7 and 8)
• YUMI: is an excellent program that creates multiboot boot disks, that is, with more than one operating system. It also allows you not only to install operating systems, but also any type of ISO image, so you can also include utility programs.

Now You are already an expert creating boot disks with ISO images to install operating systems or run tools without compromising the one you have installed on your computer. Surely you’re saying “Is this why a technician charged me when formatting my computer?And the answer is a big yes.

Knowledge in the digital world is worth a lot and with us you will be able to learn absolutely everything related to it so that you do not have to continue paying anyone and on the contrary you are the one who charges for it.