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Asked: 2024-09-25T09:29:36+05:30 In:

How can I create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive while using Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into the whole dual-booting thing lately, and I need some help. So here’s the situation: I’m using Ubuntu as my primary OS, but I’ve also got a Windows license that I want to set up. The thing is, I need a bootable USB drive for Windows 10, and that’s where I’m getting stuck. I tried a few methods I found online, but everything just seems overly complicated or doesn’t quite work out.

First off, I’ve heard about using tools like WoeUSB and UNetbootin—has anyone had success with those? I tried installing WoeUSB using a PPA but ran into some dependency issues. Then I thought about just downloading Windows 10 ISO and using dd, but I’ve read that it can be risky if you accidentally overwrite the wrong drive. I don’t want to end up erasing my whole hard drive!

Also, I’ve read mixed things about compatibility—some people say that if you create the USB with a certain tool, it won’t work on older BIOS systems or might not support UEFI. How much truth is there to that? What options do I have to ensure that I create a USB that can properly boot and install Windows no matter what system configuration I’m dealing with?

And let’s not forget about the format—it looks like I need to do some formatting beforehand, right? I’m a bit paranoid about messing up the file allocation table. If someone could walk me through the steps without assuming I’m a Linux guru, that would be a huge help.

Also, I keep hearing about the need for a proper FAT32 format for the USB drive for Windows installation. Is that really a must? And if so, how do I go about doing that on Ubuntu? At this point, I’d appreciate any tips or personal experiences anyone has had. It seems like it shouldn’t be that hard, but I’m just feeling a little overwhelmed. Any advice or guidance would be awesome!

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    2 Answers

    1. To create a bootable USB drive for Windows 10 using Ubuntu, tools like WoeUSB and UNetbootin can indeed help, but they can also introduce dependency issues. If you encountered problems installing WoeUSB, try using the AppImage version of WoeUSB available on their GitHub page, as it may alleviate dependency concerns. For UNetbootin, while it’s widely used for various ISOs, support for Windows ISOs specifically can be hit-or-miss regarding bootability, especially on older BIOS systems or UEFI setups. If you’re comfortable with the command line, using the dd command is another option; however, exercise caution to ensure you target the correct drive. It’s advisable to back up any important data before proceeding.

      Regarding formatting, using FAT32 for the USB drive is indeed recommended, as Windows installations may require this format for compatibility. You can format your USB drive on Ubuntu using the Disks utility or via the terminal. To do it through the terminal, first, find your USB drive with lsblk, then unmount it using umount /dev/sdX1 (replace sdX1 with your actual device identifier), and format it using mkfs.vfat -I /dev/sdX. This will prepare the drive for creating a bootable USB. Once formatted, you can either use WoeUSB or UNetbootin to create your bootable USB with the Windows 10 ISO. Just ensure the USB is created with UEFI compatibility if you plan to use it on modern hardware.

    2. Sounds like you’re on quite the adventure with dual-booting! Let’s break it down step-by-step for creating that bootable USB drive for Windows 10. Don’t worry; I’ll keep it simple!

      Using WoeUSB

      WoeUSB is a handy tool for creating bootable Windows USB drives. Here’s a straightforward way to install it:

      1. Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T).
      2. First, make sure your system is updated:
        3. sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
      3. Now, add the WoeUSB PPA:
        4. sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tomtomtom/woeusb
      4. Install WoeUSB:
        5. sudo apt install woeusb
      5. If you run into dependency issues, double-check that you have all required packages installed.

      Making a Bootable USB with WoeUSB

      Once you have WoeUSB installed:

      1. Insert your USB drive (make sure it’s empty or back up anything important). You can find the drive’s name using:
        2. lsblk
      2. Open WoeUSB from your applications.
      3. Select the Windows 10 ISO and your USB drive.
      4. Click “Install” and let it do its magic. It will format it correctly, so no worries about FAT32 for now!

      If WoeUSB Stalls…

      If WoeUSB doesn’t work for you, another way is using dd. But, like you mentioned, it can be risky.

      1. Identify your USB drive again:
        2. lsblk
      2. Unmount the USB drive:
        3. sudo umount /dev/sdX1
      3. Now, use the dd command carefully (replace `path-to-windows.iso` with your actual ISO path and `sdX` with your USB name):
        4. sudo dd if=path-to-windows.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress && sync
      4. Be super careful with this command as it writes directly to the drive!

      Compatibility Concerns

      About compatibility with older BIOS and UEFI, it’s true. Some USB drives created with certain tools might not boot on legacy BIOS systems. WoeUSB usually has good support, but always check if your motherboard has UEFI or legacy BIOS settings. You might also want to ensure the USB drive is formatted as FAT32, as this works better for most setups.

      Formatting the USB Drive

      If you need to format the USB to FAT32:

      1. Use the Disks utility from the system settings:
      2. Select your USB drive, click on “Format,” choose FAT32, and apply.
      3. Alternatively, use the terminal:
        4. sudo mkfs.vfat -I /dev/sdX

      Final Tips

      Don’t forget to back up any crucial data on the USB before you start this process! Good luck with your Windows installation, and take it step by step. You’ve got this!

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