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Unable to use Rufus with Windows 11 GPT/UEFI

Anonymous
2021-08-19T23:36:06+00:00

With Windows 11, we were instructed to use GPT/UEFI when using Rufus to create a Windows 11 Insider ISO. Rufus has changed their policy and in order to use the newly created ISO states that Secure Boot must be disabled. Can Microsoft offer any help here?

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  1. CrazyKats 15,490 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2021-08-20T00:33:50+00:00

    Oh! I could be wrong but I think I know what's going on. If you download/use the official ISO, it contains both Home & Pro and it's too big for FAT32, therefore Rufus changes to NTFS automatically.

    Ahhh that makes sense.

    So that means we would have to turn off Secure Boot.

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-08-20T03:41:46+00:00

    FAT32 is no longer a requirement to install as UEFI.... I am screaming in the dark and no one is listening..

    Win 11 moves beyond this archaic belief.. The fact I installed Win 11 Dev channel today proves that what I am saying is a proven and tested fact.

    Also, this also worked in Win 10 .. so you are so far behind...

    Bla, Bla, Show me where the specs are changed for UEFI.

    I have 2 fully compliant Windows 11 machines one is just a year old and it can only boot from FAT32 formatted partition, the same for a machine that is 3 yrs old.

    The one that can boot from both is 8 yrs old.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-08-20T03:14:17+00:00

    In Win 11 you may not need FAT32. It would be really nice if folks would test their systems, if you have a qualified Win 11 system, to see if the NTFS install media would work..

    @Salgrass,

    FAT32 is a UEFI requirement, nothing to do with Windows 11 or windows 10.

    Some old UEFI machines can still boot both NTFS or FAT32 ( I have one of those).

    But not the new ones, they only boot from FAT32 as per UEFI specs.

    Also a FAT32 USB installation media built properly can be used on Both UEFI and Legacy BIOS machines , no need for different ones.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-08-20T02:49:38+00:00

    Hi,

    I never use Rufus to create the USB Windows Installation media I just mount the ISO and copy all files and folders to a FAT32 formatted USB device.

    If the install.wim is bigger than 4 GiB I have just to either split it in 2 install.svm files or convert it to install.esd .

    Worked for years and works fine with Windows 11 too.

    No problem with secure boot either.

    Why bother with all that and risk mistakes when Rufus can do it for you? re-enabling Secure Boot only takes a few seconds.

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  4. Anonymous
    2021-08-20T00:40:01+00:00

    Oh! I could be wrong but I think I know what's going on. If you download/use the official ISO, it contains both Home & Pro and it's too big for FAT32, therefore Rufus changes to NTFS automatically.

    Ahhh that makes sense.

    So that means we would have to turn off Secure Boot.

    Yes, no big deal.

    Windows will install properly, you can enable back Secure Boot afterwards.

    edit: I used an ISO from UUPdump with only Pro inside, that's why Rufus stays FAT32 in my case.

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