Creating a bootable USB for OS ISO files

In order to install an Operating System to your target system, you will need some way to load the Operating System’s ISO file.

In this article:

Step 1 - Obtain your desired Operating System ISO file

For this example, I am using Rocky Linux 8 from this website Download - Rocky Linux.

Clicking the 'DVD' option under 'x86_64 will automatically start downloading the ISO file on your current browser. The ISO file is about 10.4GB, but size may vary depending on the latest version.

Step 2 - Create the bootable ISO USB drive using Rufus

Step 2a - Obtain Rufus

Rufus must be >v.3 at the time of writing this article. If you already have Rufus download, skip to step 2b.

For this step, I use the tool/app Rufus. Link to obtain Rufus - Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Once you click on 'Rufus <current version>', it will automatically start downloading the executable through your current browser. It's a really small app, so the download will complete instantaneously.

Step 2b - Select the ISO to load onto the bootable USB drive

If your Rocky ISO finished downloading, it should show up in your 'Downloads' folder. Plug in your USB drive and make sure that Device is selected in Rufus.

Rocky Linux 8 is a ~10GB ISO file, and took ~20 minutes to finish.

Done.

Once the green progress bar is completely filled and states ‘READY’, your bootable USB drive containing the ISO file can be safely removed from your system.