Create Windows 10 bootable usb in Ubuntu
How to create Windows 10 bootable usb in Ubuntu
Requirements
Here we will show you how you can create Windows 10 bootable usb in Ubuntu. In this case, we will do a step by step process and create Windows 10 bootable usb in Ubuntu. There are some requirements for the process, we will use one WoeUSB software for this and of course there will be some commands in the terminal but nothing major, just for the setup and installation. All terminal commands will be provided. Rest of the process is done with the WoeUSB software.
Here are the requirements:
- WoeUSB software
- USB drive with over 4GB of capacity
- Windows 10 iso image
Procedure
WoeUSB installation
Let’s begin. First step is to start the terminal and we need to add a new repository. Type in the following command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
Here is the result. You need to get same output like from the picture. After you added the new repository, you need to update the system, so the next command you need to run is:
sudo apt update
Next step is to install the WoeUSB software. Type in the command:
sudo apt install woeusb
Formatting the USB drive
Now, insert the USB drive on your PC. USB drive needs to be formated. You can use any tool for that but in for this example, we will use the fdisk tool – a built in tool that comes by default with the Ubuntu. Just search for the fdisk when you hit the super key or open the app menu. The app has a HDD icon and it will be labeled disks in the app menu.
When you open the fdisks, select your USB drive, and then in the center of the app, there will be a cogwheel icon, click on it and select the first option – Format partition.
You will get a Format volume prompt where you need to enter the name for the USB and to select how to format the USB. For this purpos we need to format it as NTFS partition. Check the option for use with Windows(NTFS) and then click on Next in the upper right corner.
A new prompt will open with a warning that all the data will be lost on the USB. Click on the red Format button.
The format process will take a minute. The prompts will close and return you the fdisk main page. DO NOT remove the USB until the format is completed. There’s ll be format status. You can see in the picture above, there’s row called Job. You need to check that row and on it will say when the format is done.
Before proceeding with the next step, there’s one thing which is really important and it needs to be done this way, otherwise this process won’t work. After you formated the USB drive, the drive MUST NOT be mounted.
Starting WoeUSB and burning the Windows iso image to the USB
Once you made sure that drive is formated and not mounted, you can start the WoeUSB app. In first field – from a disk image, you need to select and load your Windows 10 iso image. On the bottom of the app, there’s a box that will list all your connected USB drives, in this case we only have and need to use only that one. Select your USB and click Install button.
Then the iso burning process on the USB will start. It can take a while, somewhere around 10-15 minutes. Leave it as it is and wait for it to finish.
Once the process is finished, you’ll get a prompt that the installation was successful. If you do get this prompt, that means it worked and you’ve successfully created a bootable Windows 10 USB.
Summary
Those were the steps how to create Windows 10 bootable usb in Ubuntu. The process does take couple of steps but it’s pretty straightforward and not complicated.
I hope you found the post helpful. Thank you for your time.
Am trying to learn to use Ubuntu on my laptop and use it as my main computer.
I bought a little HP Pavilion which comes loaded with Windows 10 with idea of using it when I really needed to do something with a Windows prog I couldn’t do on Ubuntu.Unfortunately lost my Windows log in password so can’t now get in at all.
Sems a program called Ophcheck can reveal the password if the HP is booted from a USB with the Ophcheck ISO burned on it. Can I set up the USB on my Ubuntu laptop to which I have downloaded the Ophcheck ISO file?
If so do I need anything else on the USB if I can get the BIOS changed to load from the USB stick ?
grateful for any help as in no man’s land really at the moment
Hi Dave,
I believe I’ve never heard of Ophcheck… Are you maybe referring to Ophcrack? If so, you can use an app called UNetbootin – Link to the app
And you don’t need anything additional to do in the BIOS except changing the boot order. Also, if your HP has boot menu(it’s possible), you can boot the USB from the boot menu without changing anything in the BIOS. Good luck and have a nice day…
Thanks for the terminal commands, it worked great!
Hi there… Thanks for the feedback. Glad it’s working for you.
Doesn’t work for me. “source image has exceed the FAT32 Filesystem 4GiB Single File Size Limitation and cannot be installed. “
same not working. got an error “source image has exceed the FAT32 Filesystem 4GiB Single File Size Limitation and cannot be installed” any workaround?
Hi there… You can try to run the woeusb from the terminal… I managed to recreate the issue on my Manjaro machine and it worked when I ran the woeusb from the terminal. Navigate to the folder where you’ve downloaded the Windows ISO. The command line to run is: sudo woeusb –target-filesystem NTFS –device filenameofthe.iso /dev/sdX – Replace the X with the letter of your USB drive, also the USB must be unmounted in order to work and in the file name of .iso, there must be no brackets. There is also a progress bar in the terminal. Here is a pastebin of the command again just in case since there are double-dashes on couple of places – https://pastebin.com/pH2wa7Dj Kind regards…
Hi there… You can try to run the woeusb from the terminal… I managed to recreate the issue on my Manjaro machine and it worked when I ran the woeusb from the terminal. Navigate to the folder where you’ve downloaded the Windows ISO. The command line to run is: sudo woeusb –target-filesystem NTFS –device filenameofthe.iso /dev/sdX – Replace the X with the letter of your USB drive, also the USB must be unmounted in order to work and in the file name of .iso, there must be no brackets. There is also a progress bar in the terminal. Here is a pastebin of the command again just in case since there are double-dashes on couple of places – https://pastebin.com/pH2wa7Dj Kind regards…
Works for me perfectly. Thanks for this post
Hey, thanks so much for commenting. I’m glad it’s working for you! 🙂
Very good, worked, thanks. Managed to repair a friend’s HP Pavillion and reinstall w10. Though I think they’re going to go over to Ubuntu now!
Hey thanks so much for commenting… really appreciate it! I’m glad the post was useful to you! 🙂
Hi! I’m planning to use both ubuntu and windows in a computer, which had intel motherboard. I did exactly aa you said, but it doesn’t show anything, except for ubuntu and its memtests and advanced options. Also broken windows XP
Hi,
Thanks for your explanation. I followed your post and created the bootable windows on my usb key. So, when I insert the usb key, I have two devices which are shown: UEFI_NTFS and Windows USB. Now, the question is how to use them in order to get connected on the windows ?