Universal USB Installer (UUI) | Easily USB Boot
Using this open source USB boot maker software is easy as 123. Simply select your target flash drive, choose your distribution from the list, browse to the ISO file (or choose to download the ISO), and then click Create. Once finished, you should have a ready to run Live USB containing the Live operating system, Windows installer, or system diagnostics utility you previously selected.
Some boot from USB tools use simple DD (Copy and Convert) commands to directly burn ISO to USB. The DD method of copying, commonly referred to as "Data Destroyer" works by overwriting the entire file system on a flash drive with that of a CD or DVD image. This process causes the drive to appear limited to the size of the chosen ISO file which can prevent you from continuing to use the drive for storage purposes. However, if the filesystem used by the CD/DVD image supports expansion, it may be possible to recover lost USB drive space by extending the space and creating another partition to use for storage.
UUI offers a more practical method than DD through the use of an exFAT partition for storing bootable ISO files and block images, along with a separate hidden secondary FAT boot partition which is used to boot those files. This method allows your USB drive to appear to Windows as a regular exFAT formatted flash drive and enables you to continue using your removable device for traditional storage purposes.
Persistence feature for saving changes
Another key feature of this bootable USB maker is the use of persistent storage, where available. This persistence feature allows you to save changes and then restore those changes on subsequent boots. Ubuntu based Casper persistence works with FAT32, NTFS, or exFAT formatted drives. Starting with version 2.0.1.6, the USB drive is formatted with an exFAT filesystem, so an option to use a larger than 4GB casper-rw or live-rw persistent block file, (also known as an overlay image) is now possible. Currently supporting up to 40GB persistence.
Drag and Drop ISO Files onto USB
Drag and Drop functionality is supported so long as you don't need persistence, and do not need the tool to keep track of your installs for possible removal at a later point.
Instead of relaunching this Live Linux USB Creator to add more distributions, you can simply drag additional ISO, IMG, WIM, VHD(x), VDI.vtoy, and EFI files from any folder on your computer and drop them onto any folder under the UUI folder on your flash drive. You can also create your own folders within the UUI folder to use for storage. During bootup, the system will automatically populate the menu entries for those newly discovered items.
Secure Boot from USB?
Yes, Secure Boot is supported from USB with UUI. Simply select "VTOYEFI" and then the option to "Enroll_This_Key_In_MokManager.cer" during startup.
Requirements to Create a Live Bootable USB flash drive
IMPORTANT: UUI will show drives detected by Windows as either removable media (USB Drive) or a fixed (Local Disk). See my personal list of the best recommended fast SSD flash drives to use with this tool.
- Universal-USB-Installer-2.0.2.0.exe to make the bootable USB drive.
- A running Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 Operating System.
- At least an 8 GB + flash drive.
- Computer with a system BIOS/UEFI that can boot from USB.
- Your Favorite Windows or Linux ISO File.
Download Universal USB Installer
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