We all need to start from scratch sometimes and if you're building a new PC, chances are you'll need to learn how to make a bootable USB drive. This will enable you to boot your PC directly from a USB ...

As someone who extensively writes about all things Windows, I find myself installing the Windows operating system quite often. Most of the time, these installations are geared toward setting up ...

If your Chromebook does not boot into the operating system anymore, you can create a recovery USB flash drive and use it to reinstall a copy of Chrome OS on your computer. Google provides a tool ...

A bootable Mac OS X thumb drive comes in handy when you need to troubleshoot OS issues for yourself, your family, or your friends. It’s also extremely useful for keeping your basic setup consistent ...

If you are wondering why copying files or a Bootable USB drive won’t work, then the answer is that copying will not make the drive bootable. When Windows starts, it looks for an entry point which is ...

Some viruses and malware can infect the boot sector of your flash drive. This can occur right when you plug the flash drive into an infected system. Plugging the infected flash drive in to an office ...

Rufus is a free, portable utility that creates bootable USB flash drives from ISO files. As of 2026, the latest version is Rufus 4.13 — and it’s faster and more capable than ever, with built-in ...

Your new Mac doesn’t include an installation media. With the help of a GUI, Jack Wallen shows you how to create a handy flash drive for macOS. You bought that shiny ...

Now that Windows 11 is out, you might be internally debating whether to make the leap now, wait a bit for it to mature, or stick with Windows 10 (or whatever OS you are currently using) for the long ...

Apple hasn’t shipped operating systems on physical media in almost a decade, but there are still good reasons to want a reliable old USB stick for macOS Mojave. Luckily, it’s not hard to make ...

John O’Brien’s PC can’t boot from a USB drive. Every PC needs a way to boot into something other than the installed operating system. Removable boot media allows you to repair your Windows ...

When Windows fails, this tiny USB drive takes over.