Congratulations on downloading the Windows 11 disc image (ISO) file from the official Microsoft website! However, that ISO file is still in the "blueprint" stage. To perform a clean install of Windows 11 on your PC, you need to use this blueprint to create a "construction tool" called a "bootable installation USB drive."
You might think that writing to a USB memory stick is difficult, but don't worry. Using an excellent free tool called "Rufus," anyone can create an installation USB memory stick reliably and surprisingly easily.
In this article, we will explain in detail all the steps to create a Windows 11 installation USB memory stick using the latest version of Rufus.
Things to prepare
Before you begin, please prepare the following two items:
1. Windows 11 ISO file: If you haven't downloaded it yet, please refer to this article to get it safely from the official Microsoft website.
How to download Windows 11 ISO files
USB memory of 2.8GB or more: The data inside isEverything will be erased. Be sure to use an empty USB memory stick or one that contains data that can be erased. We recommend using a USB 3.0 compatible memory stick, as it allows for faster writing speeds.
What is Rufus and why is it the best tool?
Rufus is a popular free tool used worldwide for burning ISO files to USB flash drives.
- Fast and lightweight: It is very light and has a fast writing speed.
- Feature packed: You can create bootable USB drives for various operating systems, including not only Windows but also Linux.
- Safe: Required for Windows 11 installation,GPT partition,Secure bootIt automatically sets up complex settings correctly.
Download and launch Rufus
1. Access the official website: Visit the official Rufus website below.
Rufus – Easily create bootable USB drives https://rufus.ie/ja/
2. Download: Download the latest version of Rufus (rufus-x.xx.exe) to download. The portable version is convenient as it does not require installation.
3. Boot: Downloadedextension.exeDouble-click the file to start it. If the "User Account Control" message appears, click "Yes."
[Image explanation] How to create a USB memory stick for installation
Once you launch Rufus, all you have to do is select a few options. It's pretty simple, so let's go through them one by one.
Step 1: Select your device
- "device": You plugged it into your PC USB memoryIt should be automatically selected. Check the capacity and other details to make sure it's correct. If you have multiple USB memory sticks inserted, select the correct one here.
Step 2: Select ISO file
- Selecting the Boot Type: You can leave it as "Disc or ISO image" here.
- Select button: Click the "Select" button on the right and select the file you previously downloaded. Windows 11 の ISO ファイルSelect.
After selecting the ISO file, the file name will be displayed as follows:
Step 3: Check partition configuration and target system
Once you select the ISO file, Rufus will automatically determine the optimal settings. For Windows 11, the settings should typically look like this:
- Partition Configuration: GPT
- Target System: UEFI (CSM disabled)
This setting is the standard configuration for enabling Secure Boot on modern PCs.
Step 4: Check Volume Label and File System
- Volume Label: The name of the USB memory. It is set automatically for easy identification, but you can change it to any name you like.
- File System: NTFS will be selected automatically.
Step 5: Press the "Start" button
Once you have confirmed all the settings, click the "Start" button at the bottom of the window.
Step 6: "Windows User Experience" window
Pressing the Start button will bring up an additional customization screen called "Windows User Experience."
Usually, you can just click OK without making any changes.
Step 7: Review the final warning
A final warning will appear: "WARNING: ALL DATA ON THE DEVICE WILL BE ERASED." Make sure the USB drive is empty and click OK.
Step 8: Wait for the burning to complete
* When writing begins, Explorer may open several times.
Once the green progress bar reaches the far right and the status changes to "Ready", all work is done! Click the "Close" button to exit Rufus.
How to perform a clean install or overwrite install (repair) of Windows 11
Understanding other settings (advanced users)
In most cases, you won't need to change any of the settings that Rufus automatically configures, but knowing what each setting means will help you proceed with more confidence and safety.
Image Options
- Standard Windows installation: This is the standard option for creating regular installation media.
- Windows To Go: This is a special mode that allows you to boot the USB memory itself as the OS. This is a function for advanced users who want to install Windows on an external HDD/SSD and use the same environment on any PC.
Partition Configuration
- GPT: This is a new partitioning scheme that is standard on modern PCs.UEFI It is used in conjunction with a new BIOS system calledSecure bootThis is required to take advantage of modern security features such as Firefox, Firefox 500, and Firefox 600. Be sure to select this if you are installing Windows 11.
- MBR: This is an old partition scheme used on very old PCs. It is only used when installing Windows 10 on an old PC whose BIOS does not support UEFI.
Target System
- UEFI (CSM disabled): This is the current standard boot system used in conjunction with "GPT". It is required for Windows 11.
File system
When you select the official Windows 11 ISO image, the file system will automatically be selected as "NTFS".
This is because the Windows 11 installation files contain files over 4GB in size, which cannot be handled by the FAT32 format. Rufus automatically creates a small FAT32 area to boot your PC and a large NTFS area to store the installation files, so you do not need to change this setting.
Cluster Size
- 4096 bytes (standard): This is the minimum unit size when saving data to a USB memory.The default value is the most efficientDoing so may actually decrease performance.
Formatting options and hidden advanced settings
Rufus has some more advanced settings that you don't normally need to touch. What do they do? By knowing their meaning, you can fully master the tool Rufus.
Advanced formatting options
- クイックフォーマット: Checking this box will perform a fast format that erases only the table of contents of the USB memory. Normally, this is OK. Unchecking this box will perform a "full format" that completely erases all areas, which takes a very long time.
- Create enhanced label and icon files: Check this box to set a unique icon and name (volume label) for the USB memory.
autorun.infThis will create a file calledFunctionality that is purely cosmeticand has no effect on the operation of the installation. - Bad Block Detection: It scans the entire area of the USB memory and checks for physical errors (bad blocks). This is very time-consuming (may take several hours),Only if you suspect that your USB memory stick is old and malfunctioning.This is a special diagnostic function.
Advanced Drive Properties
- Lists USB-connected HDDs: [Danger] Normally, never check this box. If you check this box, external hard drives for data storage will also be displayed in the device list. If you accidentally select and format a data HDD,All data will be lost.
- Added fix for older BIOS: This option adds special compatibility settings for very old PCs (over 10 years old, etc.) that do not support UEFI.Completely unnecessary on modern PCs.
- Enable Runtime UEFI Media Validation: This option adds a function to check whether files are corrupted when booting from a USB flash drive. This provides additional peace of mind, but on some PCs this verification function can cause the computer to fail to boot.Normally, do not check this box.I recommend that.
Summary
Now you have the perfect bootable installation USB drive to perform a clean install of Windows 11 at any time.
- ready: Prepare an empty USB memory stick of 8GB or more and the official ISO file.
- tool: Rufus allows you to perform complex settings automatically and reliably.
- Procedure: Just select the device and ISO file and press "Start".
With this USB memory stick, you can safely restore your OS to a clean state even if you have some trouble with your PC. We recommend that you create one and keep it in a safe place.
How to perform a clean install or overwrite install (repair) of Windows 11
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