How to Create Bootable USB for Windows 11 in Linux (Ubuntu)?

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 using Linux (specifically Ubuntu). This method is useful for users who want to repair or reinstall Windows without needing an optical drive. By following these steps, you can create a UEFI GPT bootable USB that works seamlessly with Windows 11.

Step 1: Prepare Your USB Drive

Before you begin, ensure that you have a USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage.

Actions:

• Backup Data: Make sure to back up any important data from your USB drive, as this process will erase all existing data.
• Connect USB Drive: Insert your USB drive into the computer.

Check USB Drive

• Open a terminal and type the following command to list your drives:

  lsblk
  

• Identify your USB drive (usually labeled as /dev/sdb or similar).

Step 2: Download Windows 11 ISO

You need the Windows 11 ISO file to create the bootable USB.

Actions:

• Go to the official Microsoft website to download the Windows 11 ISO.
• Choose the appropriate version and download it to your computer.

Step 3: Install Required Tools

You'll need specific tools to create the bootable USB drive.

Actions:

• Install the wimlib package, which is useful for handling Windows images:

  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install wimlib
  

Step 4: Format the USB Drive

The USB drive needs to be formatted to the correct file system.

Actions:

• Use the GParted tool or the terminal to format the USB drive:
  • If using GParted:
    • Open GParted.
    • Select your USB drive.
    • Format it to FAT32.
  • If using the terminal:

    sudo umount /dev/sdX1  # Replace sdX1 with your USB drive identifier
    sudo mkfs.vfat -I /dev/sdX1
    

Step 5: Mount the Windows 11 ISO

You need to mount the downloaded ISO file to access its contents.

Actions:

• Create a mount point:

  mkdir ~/iso
  

• Mount the ISO file:

  sudo mount -o loop path/to/Windows11.iso ~/iso
  

Step 6: Copy Files to USB Drive

Now, copy the necessary files from the ISO to the USB drive.

Actions:

• Use the rsync command for efficient copying:

  sudo rsync -avh --progress ~/iso/ /media/usb/
  

• Here, replace /media/usb/ with the mount point of your USB drive.

Step 7: Make USB Drive Bootable

Now, you need to ensure the USB drive is bootable.

Actions:

• Use the wimlib command to make the USB bootable:

  wimlib-imagex split ~/iso/sources/install.wim /media/usb/sources/install.swm 3800
  

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully created a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 using Ubuntu. This USB drive can now be used to repair or reinstall Windows 11 on your computer.

Next Steps:

• Safely eject your USB drive:

  sudo umount /media/usb/
  

• You can now use this USB drive to boot your computer and install or repair Windows 11.