Windows 10: How to create a bootable Windows 11 installation for testing

Windows, just like most Linux distributions, offers an option to create a bootable Windows installation on USB drives. This has several benefits, including testing Windows 11 without touching the underlying system or accessing files and apps on the go.

Good news is that the entire process is free. You do need a USB drive or stick with a capacity of at least 16 gigabytes, preferably more, but that is the only requirement that costs money. Other than that, you will be using the free, open source tool Rufus to create the portable installation of Windows 11 and the download is free from Microsoft (you may need a license though at one point).

Preparations are key




The very first thing you need to do is download the latest ISO of Windows 11. Microsoft has a download website that offers the download. Just hit this link, scroll down on the page that opens to the "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices" section, and activate the confirm button to get started.

Microsoft will do some testing and verifying, after which you are asked to select a product language before the verification step ends. Click on the download button afterwards and select a save location for the ISO image of Windows 11 on your PC.

Download Rufus next. It is a small download and should not take longer than a second or two. Run Rufus right after the download. This displays the main interface of Rufus.

Here you need to make the following changes:

1. Click on the Select-button near the top and use the file browser that opens to pick the downloaded Windows 11 ISO image.
2. Select "Windows To Go" under "Image option".
3. Activate the Start-button to start the process.
4. When asked, select the Windows edition that you want to install. When in doubt, either pick Windows 11 Home or Pro.
5. Make sure that "Prevent Windows To Go from accessing internal disks" is checked. This ensures that the bootable Windows installation won't interfere with operating systems on internal disks.
6. Check "Remove requirement for an online Microsoft account", if you want to use a local account from the get-go.
7. Check "Create a local account with username" and type the username you want to use, to create this account automatically.
8. Click OK to continue.
9. Confirm the warning that all data will be destroyed on the USB drive.

Rufus will write the Windows 11 files on the USB device, which may take some time to complete. You may then boot from into Windows using the USB device.

Booting




Now that the USB drive with Windows 11 on it is ready, all that is left is to boot from it. You may need to adjust the boot sequence of the PC in the BIOS. Make sure that USB has a higher priority than the actual operating system, that is probably on one of the internal hard drives.

If you do not know how to get into BIOS or UEFI, monitor the first screens that appear when you start the PC. You might catch a glimpse of the key that you need to press to access it. You could also try pressing the usual keys, such as F1 for that.

Another option that you have is to enable Advanced Startup, if you run Windows on the PC. In Windows 10, you'd open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. From there, activate the Restart now button under "Advanced startup".

When Windows boots into the recovery environment, select "Use a device" and activate the USB option there. Windows should then boot from the inserted USB device.

Next time you want to boot into the regular systems, simply unplug the USB device and everything should be back to normal.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post How to create a bootable Windows 11 installation for testing appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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Multi-bootable USB

Hey guys from TPU, couldn't find any specific thread pertaining to the question asked on title. As mentioned, I'm trying to create a bootable USB, but with many specifics boots available.

I've been trying to create one with multiple boot device including one that enables me to run Windows 10 directly on the USB Thumb Drive but to no avail.

The list of bootable images i'm trying to create are

1. Windows 10 (A full OS running from thumb drive)
2. Windows 10 ISO (Bootable disk image for fresh install)
3. MemTest86+

Have tried YUMI or UUI from the website USB PenDrive Linux but as this is my first time, i don't know how am i screwing up or am doing it right.. Anyone got a rough idea on a step by step guide? Thanks!

 

How to create windows 11 bootable usb installer on macOS monterey?

Thank for your suggestion, one more question, I was confused by the UEFI or MBR options , how can I choose it correctly?

I tried to select UEFI option to create a windows 11 bootable USB on macOS, it showed a message "burn successfully", and I can successfully boot it from my HP laptop and install a windows 11. and I tried MBR option too, it also works fine, so, what's the difference between this two options? can I choose any one?

 

How to create windows 11 bootable usb installer on macOS monterey?

Hi Peter,

Don't worry. Creating a bootable USB on Mac is not as easy as Windows, which has dozens of free tools available such as rufus, media creation tool. I know thing becomes worse since Big Sur after Apple removed this feature from Boot Cam Assistant app.

Actually, I did the same thing a couple of weeks ago to help my son reinstall Windows 11 on his thinkpad laptop. I have an iMac at home running macOS Monterey 12.2.1 and spent a couple of hours to sort this thing out.

First, make sure download a legit copy of Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft website, not from other unverified sources.

Windows 11 herunterladen

Second, prepare for a USB flash drive with more than 8 GB storage.

Finally, download and install sysgeeker wonderiso app on your Mac and burn Windows 11 ISO to USB. This will make a bootable Windows 11 installation USB from the ISO. Here is a step-by-step tutorial for that:

How to Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installer on macOS

P.S. don't waste time on those apps as it proves not working according to my test, including UNetbootin and Etcher.