Creating a Bootable USB with Windows OS for a Linux Environment

Yes, you can create a bootable USB drive with Windows OS that can run in a live environment on a Linux device. However, it's important to note that running Windows in a live mode is not as straightforward as with Linux. This article guides you through the process of creating a bootable USB drive, providing step-by-step instructions for both Linux and Windows users, along with necessary tools and important notes.

Requirements

Windows ISO: Download the Windows ISO file from Microsoft. USB Drive: At least 8 GB of storage. Tools: You can use tools like Rufus on Windows and WoeUSB or Etcher on Linux to create the bootable USB.

Steps to Create a Bootable USB Drive

Using WoeUSB on Linux

Install WoeUSB: Format the USB Drive: Create Bootable USB:

1. Download and install WoeUSB via the terminal:

sudo apt install woeusb

2. Use GParted or the Disks utility to format the USB drive to NTFS.

3. Open WoeUSB, select the Windows ISO file, choose the target USB drive, and click on:

woeusb --device /dev/sdX

Replace /dev/sdX with your USB drive identifier (be careful to choose the correct drive).

Using Rufus on Windows

Download and Open Rufus: Select USB Drive and ISO: Start the Process:

1. Download Rufus from the official site and open it.

2. Insert your USB drive and select it in Rufus.

3. Click on Partition Scheme: Choose the appropriate partition scheme MBR or GPT depending on your system's firmware (BIOS or UEFI).

4. Click Start to begin the process.

Note: Insert the USB drive into the Linux device.

Reboot the device and access the boot menu usually by pressing F12, ESC, or DEL during startup.

Select the USB drive to boot from it.

Important Notes

Alternatives: If you need a full Windows environment, consider using Windows To Go (though it's officially deprecated) or virtualization solutions like VirtualBox or VMware. Hardware Compatibility: Ensure your hardware supports booting from USB and that you have the necessary drivers for specific use cases.

This method allows you to run Windows for installation or recovery purposes on a device that primarily runs Linux.