How to Create a Bootable USB for Windows and Ubuntu

To create a bootable USB drive for a Dell computer, use the Dell OS Recovery Tool on a working Windows computer to download the correct Windows recovery image and create the drive. Then insert the USB drive into the Dell computer you want to repair, restart it, press F12 repeatedly at the Dell logo, and select the USB drive from the One Time Boot Menu. For reinstalling Ubuntu, follow these steps.

Need to reinstall Windows or Ubuntu on your Dell computer? This article points you to the right tools and guides to help you create a bootable USB drive quickly and with confidence.

What would you like to do?

Reinstall Windows on your Dell computer

Dell recommends using the Dell OS Recovery Tool to create your Windows installation USB drive. It automatically downloads the right version of Windows for your Dell computer and prepares the USB drive for you, no manual steps required.

Get step-by-step instructions to use the Dell OS Recovery Tool

What you'll need:

• A USB drive with at least 16 GB of storage
• A working internet connection
• A Windows PC to run the Dell OS Recovery Tool

Install Ubuntu on your Dell computer

If you want to install Ubuntu Linux on your Dell computer, Dell provides a dedicated guide to help you download the Ubuntu recovery image and set up your USB drive correctly.

Get step-by-step instructions to create an Ubuntu installation media

What you'll need:

• A USB drive with enough storage space (check the guide for the exact requirement)
• A working internet connection

Boot from the USB drive

After you create the bootable USB drive, use the One Time Boot Menu to start your Dell computer from it:

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the Dell computer you want to repair or reinstall.
2. Restart the computer.
3. When the Dell logo appears, press F12 repeatedly until "Preparing one-time boot menu" appears on the screen.
4. In the One Time Boot Menu, under UEFI Boot, select the USB drive and press Enter.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to continue.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I still use Diskpart to create a bootable USB drive?
A: The Diskpart method works only with older Windows versions that Microsoft no longer supports (such as Windows 7 and Windows Vista). For Windows 11, use the Dell OS Recovery Tool linked above. It's the safest and most reliable option for your Dell computer. Microsoft Windows 10 End of Support Announcement

Q: Which method is right for me?
A: If you're not sure, go with the Dell OS Recovery Tool for Windows. It's designed to work seamlessly with Dell computers and takes care of all the technical details for you.

Q: Why is my USB drive not showing in the boot menu?
A: Usually the computer doesn't recognize the drive as bootable in UEFI mode, or the drive wasn't connected in time. Try the following, in order:

1. Connect the USB drive before you turn on or restart the computer. Then press F12 repeatedly at the Dell logo.
2. Connect the drive directly to a USB port on the computer, not through a hub, dock, or adapter. Try a different port. On a desktop, try a port on the back.
3. Recreate the drive using the Dell OS Recovery Tool. Drives prepared by other methods, or by copying files manually, might not be UEFI-bootable. If the problem continues, try a different USB drive.
4. Open BIOS setup (press F2 at the Dell logo) and check that the boot mode is UEFI and that USB ports and USB boot support are enabled. Option names vary by model, check your system's user manual.
5. Update the BIOS to the latest version. If you changed other BIOS settings, restore the defaults and try again.

If the drive still doesn't appear, test it on another computer to find out whether the drive or the Dell computer is the cause.

Q: How can I force my computer to boot from a USB drive?
A: Use one of these methods:

• One Time Boot Menu (recommended): Insert the USB drive, restart the computer, press F12 repeatedly at the Dell logo, select the USB drive, and press Enter. This doesn't change any BIOS settings.
• BIOS boot order: Press F2 at the Dell logo to open BIOS setup. Go to the boot sequence settings, move the USB drive to the top of the list, apply the changes, and exit. Change the order back after you finish so the computer starts from its internal drive. On some models, a USB drive appears in this list only while it's connected.
• From Windows: If Windows starts, go to Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then select Use a device and choose the USB drive.

If the USB drive doesn't appear in any of these, see the FAQ "Why is my USB drive not showing in the boot menu?"

Q: Why is Windows 11 not booting from USB?
A: For Windows 11, the Dell OS Recovery Tool creates a SupportAssist OS Recovery USB drive (the "Automated by SupportAssist" image). When the computer boots from it correctly, the SupportAssist OS Recovery environment opens, with options such as Scan Hardware, Repair, Back Up Files/Disk Cloning, and Reset. If the computer doesn't boot from the drive, check the following:

1. Select the UEFI entry. Press F12 repeatedly at the Dell logo and select the USB drive listed under UEFI Boot. Windows 11 requires UEFI and doesn't support Legacy/CSM boot mode.
2. Recreate the USB drive. Use a blank USB drive with at least 16 GB of space, disconnect any other USB drives, and select the Automated by SupportAssist image for Windows 11. The tool formats the drive and permanently erases its data.
3. Check that SupportAssist OS Recovery is enabled in BIOS. Press F2 at the Dell logo, go to SupportAssist System Resolution (or SupportAssist, depending on your BIOS version), select SupportAssist OS Recovery, select the check box, then save and exit.
4. Confirm your computer supports SupportAssist OS Recovery. For computers with Qualcomm processors, try Windows Push-Button Reset first. See How to use Windows Push-Button Reset to reinstall Windows on a Dell Computer.

Q: Can you boot Windows from a USB drive without installing it?
A: Booting from the Windows 11 recovery USB drive doesn't start an installation. It opens the SupportAssist OS Recovery environment, where you can do the following without reinstalling Windows:

• Scan Hardware to run a diagnostic scan.
• Repair to fix common boot and operating system issues.
• Back Up Files/Disk Cloning to copy your files to an external drive.
• Reset to reinstall Windows. Windows is reinstalled only if you select Start Reset and confirm the warning that all data will be deleted.

Running a full Windows desktop from the USB drive isn't supported. Microsoft's Windows To Go feature, which did this, was removed in Windows 10 version 2004 and later and isn't available in Windows 11.