Rufus

Rufus

2111

Information

Version:
4.1
Size:
1.1 Mb
License:
0
OS:
Windows
Architecture:
64-bit

Rufus is a popular, lightweight, and free utility program that helps users create bootable USB flash drives. Developed by Pete Batard, it is one of the most reliable tools for creating USB installation media for various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and UEFI bootable ISOs.

The program is known for its simplicity and high performance, being significantly faster than many similar tools. Rufus supports multiple formats and file systems, including FAT32, NTFS, and exFAT. It can also format drives, check them for bad blocks, and create DOS-bootable drives.

One of Rufus's main advantages is its small size (less than 2MB) and the fact that it doesn't require installation – it runs directly as a portable application. The program is regularly updated and has become a go-to solution for IT professionals and regular users who need to create bootable USB drives.

Despite its simple interface, Rufus offers advanced features and options for experienced users while remaining user-friendly enough for beginners. It's compatible with all versions of Windows from XP onwards and is completely free and open-source software.


Rufus Overview
General Information
Full Name Rufus (Reliable USB Formatting Utility with Source)
Developer Pete Batard (Akeo)
Initial Release 2011
Latest Version 4.3 (as of 2023)
License GNU General Public License v3
Operating System Windows XP and later versions
File Size Approximately 1.3 MB
Programming Language C
Official Website rufus.ie
Main Features
Main Features • Creates bootable USB drives
• ISO to USB conversion
• Formats USB drives
• Creates Windows installation media
• Supports various file systems
• Low-level drive formatting
Supported File Systems
Supported File Systems • FAT32
• NTFS
• exFAT
• UDF
• ReFS
Boot Types
Boot Types • UEFI
• BIOS (Legacy)
• Hybrid UEFI+BIOS
Key Functions
Key Functions • ISO image writing
• Disk cloning
• Bad blocks check
• Quick formatting
• Full formatting
• Custom partition schemes
Supported Media
Supported Media • USB drives
• Memory cards
• Flash drives
• External HDDs/SSDs
Maximum Size Support
Maximum Size Support • Up to 16TB devices
• Individual files up to 4GB (FAT32)
• No file size limit (NTFS)
Special Features
Special Features • Portable application (no installation required)
• Command-line support
• Multiple language support
• Custom boot sector code
• GPT/MBR partitioning
Security Features
Security Features • SHA-256 verification
• Write protection options
• Secure formatting
Interface Languages
Interface Languages 38+ languages supported
System Requirements
System Requirements • Windows XP or later
• Admin rights
• .NET Framework (for some features)
• Minimum 64MB RAM
Common Use Cases
Common Use Cases • Creating Windows installation media
• Linux distribution installation
• BIOS updates
• System recovery tools
• Disk formatting
Advantages
Advantages • Small file size
• Fast operation
• Reliable performance
• Regular updates
• Free and open-source
Limitations
Limitations • Windows-only
• Requires admin rights
• Single drive operations only