UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive - Create in Windows

How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 8.1

This tutorial will show you how to create a Windows 7 or Windows 8 or 8.1 installation bootable USB flash drive for UEFIfrom either a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 installation ISO or DVD.

Requirements:

• At least a 4GB USB flash drive
• 64-bit Windows 7 ISO or DVD (If you want to install Windows 7)
• 64-bit Windows 8 ISO or DVD (If you want to install Windows 8)
• 64-bit Windows 8.1 ISO or DVD (If you want to install Windows 8.1)
• 32-bit is not supported.
• Set the boot mode to use UEFI and not CSM (Compatibility Support Module) in your UEFI firmware settings.
• Temporarily disable Secure Boot in your UEFI firmware settings. Some motherboards will not boot from a USB unless you do this first. When the Windows installation is finished, you can enable secure boot if you like.
• If you have fast boot or ultra-fast boot enabled in your UEFI firmware (if supported), then you may need to temporarily disable it until Windows has finished installing to be able to boot from a USB flash drive at boot.

EXAMPLE: UEFI Bootable USB Flash Drive
NOTE: This is it listed in the motherboard's boot menu.

OPTION ONE

To Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive using Free Program "Rufus"

1. Download the latest version of Rufus at the link below, and save it's .exe file to your desktop.

   Note

This is a standalone exe file that doesn't install anything to your PC
For Rufus FAQs, see: FAQ · pbatard/rufus Wiki · GitHub

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way



2. Connect your USB flash drive if you have not already.

3. Run the rufus_v###.exe file, and click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.
NOTE: ### = latest version number.

4. Set Rufus with the settings below: (see screenshot below step 5)

• Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
• Under Format Options, check Create a bootable disk using, click/tap on the browse icon to navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 ISO file, and then make sure that Standard Windows installation is selected (dotted).
• Under Partition scheme and target system type, select GPT partition scheme for UEFI computer.
• Under File system, select FAT32.
• Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 16 kilobytes or 4096 bytes) it has listed.
• Under Format Options, check Quick format.
• Under Format Options, check Create extended label and icon files.
• Under New volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.

5. When ready, click/tap on Start. (see screenshot below)





6. Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)




7. Rufus will now start creating the bootable UEFI USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)




8. When Rufus is "DONE", you can close Rufus. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: It could take a little while to finish.




9. You are now ready to do a clean install of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 using UEFI with your bootable UEFI USB flash drive.

• How to Install Windows 8/8.1 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Install Windows 7 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)

OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive

1. Connect the USB flash drive.

2. Open an elevated command prompt in Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1.

3. In the elevated command prompt, type the commands below one at a time and press Enter after each one. (see screenshot below step 5)

• diskpart
• list disk

4. Make note of the Disk # (ex: Disk 4) for the USB flash drive. (see screenshot below step 5)

It is critical that you use the correct disk #. If you do not, then you could delete the wrong drive below and lose everything on it


5. In the elevated command prompt, type the commands below one at a time and press Enter after each one. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute # in the first command with the actual disk # from step 4 above. For example: select disk 4

• select disk #
• detail disk (this is to verify that you selected the correct disk before using "clean" below)
• clean
• create partition primary
• format fs=fat32 quick
• active
• assign
• list volume
• exit

6. Make note of the volume letter (ex: K) for the USB flash drive in the command prompt. (see screenshot above)

7. Do step 8, step 9, or step 10 below depending on if you are using a Windows 7/8/8.1 ISO or DVD.

   Warning

It has been reported that using the downloaded Windows 8 upgrade ISO does not always give you an UEFI bootable USB option in the boot menu.

If this happens to you, then use the ESD-TO-ISO.exe program created by our member Simon (SIW2) below to create an ISO that will work with UEFI. Afterwards, start this tutorial over using this new ISO instead.

See OPTION TWO here: Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create

8. If Using a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 ISO File in Windows 8
NOTE: For a Windows 7 ISO or Windows 8/8.1 ISO file.


A) Open File Explorer, navigate to the .iso file, right click or press and hold on the .iso file, then click/tap on Mount. (see screenshot below)






B) The mounted .iso file will now automatically open. Select all files in it, right click or press and hold on the selected files, click/tap on Send to and the Removable Disk for your USB flash drive letter (ex: K) from step 6 above. (see screenshot below)






C) This could take a bit to copy the ISO contents to the USB.

D) When finished, go to step 11 below.

9. If Using a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 ISO File in Windows 7
NOTE: For a Windows 7 ISO or Windows 8/8.1 ISO file.


A) If you have not already, you will need to download and install the latest alpha version of the free program 7-Zip.
NOTE: You can use any program that performs the same function to extract or mount an ISO, but I just find 7-Zip easier to use.

B) Open Windows Explorer, navigate to the .iso file, right click on the .iso file, then click on 7-Zip and Extract files. (see screenshot below)







C) In the Extract dialog, click on the browse button, select the Removable Disk for your USB flash drive letter (ex: K) from step 6 above, and click on OK, and OK. (see screenshots below)






D) This could take a bit to copy the ISO contents to the USB.

E) When finished, go to step 11 below.

10. If Using a Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 Installation DVD


A) Insert the Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation DVD into the CD/DVD drive.

B) In the Computer window, open the DVD. (see screenshot below)






C) Select all files in it, right click or press and hold on the selected files, click/tap on Send to and the Removable Disk for your USB flash drive letter (ex: K) from step 6 above. (see screenshot below)






D) This could take a bit to copy the DVD contents to the USB.

E) When finished, go to step 11 below.


11. If Using 64-bit Windows 7

   Note

Thanks to theog for this step

You do not need to do this step unless you are creating a 64-bit Windows 7 UEFI USB flash drive.

If you are not, then go to step 12 below instead.

A) On the USB flash drive, "copy" the efi\microsoft\boot folder up one level into the efi folder as efi\boot. (see screenshot below)






B) If you have not already, download and install the latest alpha version of the free program 7-Zip, then run 7-Zip.

C) In 7-Zip, navigate to the sources\install.wim\1\Windows\Boot\EFI\bootmgfw.efi on the USB flash drive, select the bootmgfw.efi file, copy it to your desktop, click/tap on OK, and close 7-Zip. (see screenshot below)







D) Rename the bootmgfw.efi file on your desktop to bootx64.efi.


E) Copy/Move the renamed bootx64.efi file into the efi/boot folder (step 11A) on the USB flash drive.






F) Go to step 12 below.

12. You are now ready to do a clean install of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 using UEFI with your bootable UEFI USB flash drive.

• How to Install Windows 8/8.1 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Install Windows 7 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Boot from a USB Drive within Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Boot from a USB Drive on Surface
• Enable or Disable Always Automatically Boot PC from USB Drive in Windows To Go Startup Options
• How to Create a Windows To Go Startup Options Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Create Bootable USB or DVD with Windows 8 and 8.1 ISO
• How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive
• How to Download and Run the "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant"
• How to Create or Download a Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO
• How to Install Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Install Windows 7 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Enable or Disable Secure Boot in UEFI
• How to Create a Recovery USB Flash Drive in Windows 8

 

[Akeo]

Just gonna point out that Rufus v1.3.3 has now been released.
The changes between this version and the last are listed here.

If you are subscribed to the release channel (i.e. if you allowed Rufus to check for updates), you should be notified about the new version and prompted to download it automatically.

 

[Brink]

Thank you for the update Pete.

 

[pk2013]

Thanks you

 

[Mergho]

How to determine whether i'm having UEFI/BIOS firmware motherboard or not ?

 

[theog]

How to determine whether i'm having UEFI/BIOS firmware motherboard or not ?

If you make the USB as per tutorial, the USB will boot in UEFI or Legacy modes, as the same as the DVD will.

 

[Sonic98]

How to determine whether i'm having UEFI/BIOS firmware motherboard or not ?

If you make the USB as per tutorial, the USB will boot in UEFI or Legacy modes, as the same as the DVD will.

I guess I'll try it again

 

[mathemagician]

Hi everyone, I'm new here

I have the same problem as jamerst had in post #47: When I insert the UEFI-prepared USB stick containing Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, I get that "Windows failed to start..." error message with status 0x000000d. See screenshots below. (Sorry for being unclear, probably because it's a glossy screen.)

Hardware:
Toshiba Satellite U940 (Ultrabook with a 32 GB mSATA SSD + 500 GB HDD)
Kingston Data Traveller, USB 2.0, 16 GB

What I've done before:
I exchanged the 500 GB HDD for a 60 GB OCZ Agility 3 SSD, disabled Secure Boot and Fast Boot, and changed the BIOS setting from UEFI to CSM. I then did a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit onto that SSD, deleting old partitions and creating a new one during setup. I know I could leave it at that, but I'd really like to get it working through UEFI!

Here is what I've tried/made sure of so far:

• Tried Option 1 and 2 from this tutorial - following it to the letter.
• Used the only USB 2.0 port, but also tried the USB 3.0 ports - to no avail.
• I have read all 21 pages of this thread and tried all suggested solutions.
• In the BIOS, Secure Boot and Fast Boot are disabled, it is set to boot from UEFI now, and the USB stick is recognised and set to be first in the boot order. However, it does not, like some other systems, specify the USB stick or any other drive as UEFI or anything.
• The Windows ISO was a genuine one, not from a torrent site or something.

What I haven't tried yet - will do so now:

• Try another USB stick.
• Try removing the mSATA SSD - not sure if that would help.

I have a feeling that it simply cannot boot from the USB stick and skips it, then tries to launch Windows 7 off the drive, which was not a UEFI install.

Any additional help would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[theog]

What I've done before:
I exchanged the 500 GB HDD for a 60 GB OCZ Agility 3 SSD, disabled Secure Boot and Fast Boot, and changed the BIOS setting from UEFI to CSM. I then did a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit onto that SSD, deleting old partitions and creating a new one during setup. I know I could leave it at that, but I'd really like to get it working through UEFI!

The Toshiba UEFI/BIOS has a miss option.

Toshiba OEM manufacturer:

UEFI = Windows 8 installed in UEFI mode only.

CSM = all OS's installed in Legacy mode.




Other OEM manufacturer:

UEFI = Windows 8 installed in UEFI mode only.

CSM = all OS's installed in Legacy mode only.

UEFI & CSM = all OS's installed in Legacy mode or UEFI mode.

 

[Brink]

Hello mathemagician, and welcome to Eight Forums.

That error usually means the installer is not written correctly to USB stick. What type of ISO file did you use? If you haven't already, then you might see if using the Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 U (x17-59465.iso) English one from the link below may work better.

Windows 7 Direct Download Links​

One thing I noticed is that you would still want to have your new SSD listed first in the boot priority list in BIOS, but instead select to boot from your boot menu to select to boot from the USB stick temporarily for just that one time. Otherwise, when the PC restarts the first time during installation, it will just boot from the USB again and start the installation process from scratch again.

Hope this may help some for now,
Shawn

 

[mathemagician]

The Toshiba UEFI/BIOS has a miss option.

Toshiba OEM manufacturer:

UEFI = Windows 8 installed in UEFI mode only.

CSM = all OS's installed in Legacy mode.

Thanks for pointing this out! How annoying! I suppose there is no way to get it to work then...

Does this mean if I tried preparing a USB stick (as explained in this tutorial) with Windows 8, that it would work through UEFI?

That error usually means the installer is not written correctly to USB stick. What type of ISO file did you use? If you haven't already, then you might see if using the Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 U (x17-59465.iso) English one from the link below may work better.

Thanks for the link! But I think that's where I have my Windows 7 Ultimate ISO from anyway. Plus, it did work with the same USB stick when I installed it through CSM.

Brink, wouldn't any attempt be kind of futile though - based on what theog said?

One thing I noticed is that you would still want to have your new SSD listed first in the boot priority list in BIOS, but instead select to boot from your boot menu to select to boot from the USB stick temporarily for just that one time. Otherwise, when the PC restarts the first time during installation, it will just boot from the USB again and start the installation process from scratch again.

Yes, I ended up accidentally repeating setup twice before (when I went through CSM).

 

[mathemagician]

Ok, I can confirm that creating a Windows 8 Professional (64-bit) bootable USB stick as described in this tutorial does work with UEFI. It seems theog is right - Toshiba (or at least my Ultrabook model) only allows Windows 8 to be installed through UEFI... Wonder why though?

 

[Brink]

Hello mathemagician,

Odd, I thought you had a CSM and UEFI option?

However, I'm happy to hear that you got it installed using UEFI like you wanted.

 

[mathemagician]

Hi Shawn,

Yes, there is a CSM and a UEFI boot option, but no CSM and UEFI, which, according to theog, would be required to install Windows 7 through UEFI.

All I got working was to boot from a Windows 8 UEFI USB stick but I haven't installed it yet. Might do it since before I swapped the HDD for the SSD and it was booting Windows 8 through UEFI (HDD + 32 GB mSATA SSD Cache) it was a hundred times faster than now with an SSD booting Windows 7 through CSM.

So what theog said about Toshiba purposely omitting the boot setting in the BIOS required to install Windows 7 through UEFI seems to be true, since it worked first time with a Windows 8 boot stick.

 

[Brink]

mathemagician,

You might also check to see if there may be a newer BIOS/UEFI firmware update available at Toshiba for your Satellite U940 that may add it or address any other bugs.

BIOS Downloads | Toshiba - Toshiba

 

[mathemagician]

Thanks for all your help, Brink and theog! Really appreciate it.

 

[mathemagician]

That was my first thought, unfortunately I already have the latest BIOS version.

 

[Brink]

In that case, you might contact Toshiba to see if asking them about a possible update may be in the near future, or if they are no longer providing firmware updates. Who knows, you might get lucky.

 

[mathemagician]

That's actually not a bad idea!

 

[jalexbon]

I have a Toshiba Satellite and all the steps above works fine to me up to where the Windows Logo shows up with the 'Starting Windows' message and it freezes there forever. My Toshiba Model is Satellite P875-S7310. HELP! THANKS!

 

[Brink]

Hello Jalexbon, and welcome to Eight Forums.

I believe that you may have posted this in the wrong section since what you described is not in the tutorial. Please provide more details to help clarify.