woeusb

Format a USB then create a bootable Windows installation drive

$ woeusb --device [path/to/windows.iso] [/dev/sdX]

$ woeusb --partition [path/to/windows.iso] [/dev/sdXN]

woeusb --device

--device
    Create a bootable USB drive from the specified ISO image or DVD. source_image.iso is the path to the Windows ISO image. target_device is the device name of the USB drive, usually something like /dev/sdb1 or /dev/sdc.

--help
    Display help message and exit.

--version
    Display version information and exit.

WoeUSB (Windows to USB) is a tool that allows you to create bootable Windows USB installation drives from an existing Windows ISO image or a DVD on a Linux system.

It is particularly useful for users who primarily use Linux but need to install or repair a Windows operating system on a computer. The tool can be used to create a USB drive from various Windows versions ISOs, from Windows Vista up to Windows 11 (support may vary depending on the ISO and the version of WoeUSB).

The utility is command-line based, offering options to specify the source ISO/DVD and the target USB drive. It carefully formats the USB drive and copies the necessary files for the Windows installation to boot correctly. WoeUSB supports both legacy BIOS and UEFI booting. The command line can be invoked via `woeusb` command and a GUI is also available with `woeusbgui`.

Using WoeUSB will completely erase the contents of the target USB drive. Be absolutely sure you are specifying the correct device. Some older versions of WoeUSB may not properly support newer Windows ISOs. Ensure you have sufficient permissions to access and modify the target USB device, usually by running WoeUSB as root (using `sudo`). UEFI support might require specific configurations or file system limitations (like FAT32). Some ISO images may fail to work due to formatting inconsistencies or unsupported installation methods within the ISO.

If you encounter errors, verify the integrity of the ISO image and the USB drive. Check the WoeUSB logs for detailed error messages. Ensure the target USB drive is not mounted before running the command. Trying a different USB drive or a different Windows ISO can sometimes resolve issues. If you are facing UEFI problems, check that your ISO is compatible and use FAT32 if necessary.

WoeUSB also provides a GUI front-end that simplifies the process of creating bootable USB drives. The GUI is available via the command `woeusbgui`. The GUI version can be easier to use for users who are less familiar with the command line.

The WoeUSB project was created to provide a Linux alternative to tools like Rufus or the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool for creating bootable Windows installation media. It has gone through several iterations with improvements to ISO compatibility, UEFI support, and bug fixes. Development continues by active community members to provide up-to-date ISO support.

dd(1), mkfs.vfat(8), mount(8), umount(8)