Would you like to know how to install an operating system from a USB? Do you know that it only takes one program to create a bootable flash drive? With the Universal USB Installer, you can quickly and easily download both Ubuntu Linux as well as Windows with only a few simple steps. You can easily download the program without cost and free of risk from the official webpage.
Universal USB Installer is not available for Mac but there are some alternatives that runs on macOS with similar functionality. The most popular Mac alternative is balenaEtcher, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked 31 alternatives to Universal USB Installer and seven of them are available for Mac. This section provides simplified instructions: In Windows with Gpg4win; In macOS with GPGTools; In Tails; Using the command line; In Windows with Gpg4win. Download the OpenPGP signature for the Tails 4.12 USB image OpenPGP signature for the Tails 4.12 ISO image and save it to the same folder where you saved the image. Download the Tails signing key and import it into Gpg4win.
What is Universal USB Installer?
Installing an operating system through a USB flash drive isn’t as simple as simply moving files around, but it can still be done easily if you follow the correct steps to ensure that the installation is completed successfully. By following the steps closely, you can have an operating system that can be installed without a CD in only a few minutes.
The Universal USB Installer is a powerful tool that allows you to mount the ISO image of an operating system on a USB flash drive so that it can easily be installed to any machine you plug it into. Both the program and the ISO (Linux or Windows) can be downloaded via the free links below. Once the download is finished, you can use the program to mount the ISO onto your USB flash drive.
What is it for?
The Universal USB Installer allows you to easily install operating systems using dedicated software to create either a USB flash drive for either a backup or a fresh installation.
Easily Install Linux and Windows From Your Flash Drive
A USB installer allows users to start their operating system without using any complicated tools or a CD drive, which aren’t often included with modern systems.
Supported Systems
![Universal usb installer latest version Universal usb installer latest version](/uploads/1/1/8/8/118894922/149820024.jpg)
The installer supports practically any operating system, but it’s most compatible with the Windows and Linux distributions highlighted in previous paragraphs due to their ease-of-use.
On one hand, Windows is the most widely-used operating system in the world and is familiar to almost everyone. On the other hand, Linux has almost all of the features of commercial operating systems, and is often completely free, depending on the distribution. Linux software is also free for the most part.
Let’s Look at a List of Compatible Software:
Ubuntu 32/64 BitLinux Mint 32/64 BitDebian Live/Netinst 32/64 BitBacktrack / Kali Linux Fedora 32/64 BitOpenSUSE 32/64 BitPuppy LinuxLinux distros for childrenOther distributions in alphabetical orderAntivirus recovery imagesNumerous other programsWindows
- Ubuntu Desktop
- Xubuntu Desktop
- Kubuntu Desktop
- Lubuntu Desktop
- Edubuntu Desktop
- Ubuntu Studio
- Ubuntu Server Installer
- Ubuntu Alternate
- Mythbuntu Desktop
- Blackbuntu
- Debian Netinst
- Debian Live
- Fedora Desktop
- Fatdog64
- Lighthouse Puppy
- Lucid Puppy
- Precise Puppy
- Puppy Arcade
- Puppy 4.3.1
- Racy Puppy
- Slacko Puppy
- Wary Puppy
- AOMEI (Disk Cloning and Backup Tool)
- Acronis Rescue CD
- Android
- AntiX
- Antergos
- ArchBang
- ArchLinux
- ArtistX
- Aurora
- BackBox
- Baltix Linux
- BCCD
- BlehOS
- Bodhi
- Boot Repair Disk
- Carmedia
- CentOS
- Chakra
- Clonezilla
- Crunchbang
- DBAN 2.2.X
- Deft Linux
- Deepin Linux
- DRBL
- DSL 4.4.10
- Dreamlinux
- Dynebolic
- EASUS Disk Copy
- EasyPeasy
- Elementary OS
- Elementary Unleashed
- Feather Linux
- Finnix
- Fuduntu
- Fusion Linux
- Gamedrift
- Gentoo
- GEEXBOX
- gNewSense
- GRML
- gOS gadgets
- GParted
- Jolicloud
- Kiwi
- KNOPPIX
- Kororaa
- KXStudio
- Leeenux
- Liberte
- LinHES
- Linux XP Like
- LPS
- Macbuntu
- Mandriva One 2011
- Matriux
- MCNLive Toronto
- Meego
- MicroCore
- Netrunner
- Ophcrack
- OSGeo Live
- Pardus
- PartedMagic
- PCLinuxOS
- Pear OS
- Peppermint
- PING
- Pinguy OS
- Plasma active
- PLoP Linux
- Porteus
- Redo Backup
- Rescatux
- RIP Linux
- Runt Linux
- Sabayon Linux
- SalineOS
- Satux
- Simply MEPIS
- SLAX
- SliTaZ
- Sn0wL1nuX
- SolusOS
- System Rescue CD
- Tails
- Terralinux
- TinyCore
- Trisquel
- Uberstudent
- Ultimate Boot CD
- Ultimate Edition
- WifiWay
- WifiSlax
- xPUD
- XBMC
- XBMCbuntu
- StartOS
- wattOS R5
- Zenwalk Live
- Zorin OS
- AOSS (Malware Scanner)
- AVG Rescue CD
- Avira Antivir Rescue Disk
- Bitdefender Rescue CD
- Comodo Rescue Disk
- DrWeb LiveCD
- F-Secure Rescue CD
- G DATA Antivirus
- Kaspersky Rescue Disk
- Panda Safe CD
- Trinity Rescue Kit
- Windows to Go (on VHD)
- Windows Vista Installer
- Windows 7 Installer
- Windows 8 Installer
* Other operating systems will be added over time
Download the Free Program: Official Link
Downloading the Portable Universal USB Installer is a simple process. Due to it being such a well-known free program, it’s available on many websites.
However, you can find a direct download for free through the following link:
Latest Official Version (Virus-Free)
Once you have it, the only thing you’ll need is the ISO images before you can create the portable installation drive.
Downloading the ISOs
Just as downloading the program to create the USB installer was simple, so too is downloading the ISO images you need for the operating systems themselves. It’s easy to obtain either Windows or Linux online due to their massive popularity.
Ubuntu and Other Linux Distributions
In regards to Linux, it’s possible that you may not even need to download them, since the repository may be included with the universal USB installer already. However, we’ll still give you the official download link for the latest version of Ubuntu:
Windows
Since Windows isn’t free, it likely isn’t available on the installer by default. However, it’s still easy to download, either by purchasing it through Microsoft or by other means. In any case, the process is often easy and quick, and you can get Windows through the following link:
Download link for the latest version of Windows 10. You can also find Windows 7 and Windows Vista. With this image and the installer software, you only need to follow a few more steps before your portable installer is ready.
How to Use the Universal USB Installer: Step by Step
Assuming you already have the program and your desired ISO image ready for mounting to the USB, the next steps are relatively simple, and can be summed up by the following:
- Open the installer.
- Select a Linux distribution or other operating system from the list.
- Choose the flash drive where you’d like to mount the image to create a bootable USB drive or a USB installer.
Technical Requirements
The initial requirements aren’t very far-fetched for most people. In addition to the program itself, you only need few things:
- At least 2GB of empty space on the USB flash drive.
- Microsoft Windows XP or a later version of Windows.
- A total of at least 5GB of space on the flash drive.
How to Install the Operating System
The process to install the OS is relatively simple. The most complicated part of the whole process is booting the USB drive with the OS that we want.
Here we have several options, depending on whether we want to install the operating system on a fresh and clean PC, create a new partition along-side a current operating system, or just use the new operating system without having to modify the computer itself. The most common method is to install the OS from scratch, either as an update to an older OS or as a fresh install on a PC without one.
How to Install Windows From USB
Installing a Windows operating system from a USB drive is as easy as selecting it in BIOS or from the computer’s boot screen, where the USB flash drive will appear as an option if it’s been detected properly.
All you have to do is select the flash drive and wait for your PC to complete the operation on its own. The process should be very simple, and quite fast. Errors should be sparse if all of your hardware and firmware is compatible.
This process is the same for Windows 7 or 10, as well as most other versions of Windows.
How to Install Ubuntu From USB
Installing Ubuntu or other distributions of Linux is also extremely easy via USB. All you need to do is restart the computer when the default USB memory isn’t detected. Once you’ve done this, the standard installation window should open, and you should be able to start the process instantly. You’ll be guided through the entire process, so the chances of failure are minimal.
Common Issues
While it’s true that problems are unlikely if all requirements are met, unexpected errors can always crop up. If an error does occur, it’s most likely to occur at the end of your installation. If this happens, it’s advisable to try again with a different ISO image.
Universal USB Installer aka UUI is a Live Linux Bootable USB Creator that allows you to choose from a selection of Linux Distributions to put on your USB Flash Drive. The Universal USB Installer is easy to use. Simply choose a Live Linux Distribution, the ISO file, your Flash Drive and, Click Install. Upon completion, you should have a ready to run bootable USB Flash Drive with your select operating system installed. Other features include; Persistence (if available) – Ubuntu, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu Casper Persistence feature works with FAT32 or NTFS formatted drives. Larger than 4GB casper-rw is possible only when the USB drive is formatted with the NTFS filesystem.
Universal Usb Installer Mac Download Software
NOTE: If you are looking to add multiple Linux Distributions, System Diagnostic Tools, Antivirus Utilities, and Windows Installers to your bootable USB, use YUMI – Multiboot USB Software, instead.
Universal USB Installer (UUI) Screenshots
Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.9.7.exe – November 2, 2020 – Changes
Updated to support newer Ubuntu 20.10 and derivitives. Moved casper writable file creation to occur on USB.
Updated to support newer Ubuntu 20.10 and derivitives. Moved casper writable file creation to occur on USB.
IMPORTANT: The Windows to Go option requires the USB be formatted NTFS with 20GB free disk space to hold the virtual disk. See FAQ for more info.
Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.9.7.exeSource Code
Universal Usb Installer Mac Download Windows 10
MD5: 9C0E714E47AAE90B83674B614AB46574
IMPORTANT NOTE: Your USB drive must be Fat32/NTFS formatted, otherwise Syslinux will fail and your drive will NOT Boot.
Bootable USB Flash Drive Creation Requirements:
- Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.9.7.exe
- Windows Vista/7/8/10 or WINE to create the USB (Win 98/XP/2K WILL NOT Work!)
- *Fat32 or NTFS Formatted Flash Drive. MBR partition only GPT will not work!
- PC with a BIOS that can boot from USB
- Your Favorite Linux ISO
Feel free to inform me of unlisted Live Linux distributions or version revisions, and I will do my best to update Universal USB Installer (UUI) to support them.
Universal USB Installer Recent Changelog:
11/02/20 – Version 1.9.9.7: Updated to support newer Ubuntu 20.10 and derivitives. Moved casper writable file creation to occur on USB.
10/31/20 – Version 1.9.9.6: Updated several links (still more to check). Add entry for Sergei Strelec.
10/14/20 – Version 1.9.9.5: Removed Try via DD option. Moved Antergos and Mageia entries to use Grub for boot.
10/12/20 – Version 1.9.9.4: Updated to support Puppy Linux Fossapup64. Fixed Try Unlisted ISO (Grub) option. Updated to support newer CentOS installers. You must use an NTFS format on your USB when using the DVD ISO, because it is larger than 4GB.
08/04/20 – Version 1.9.9.3: Fixed broken links for Antergos, EasyPeasy, Xpud, and CubLinux.
07/28/20 – Version 1.9.9.2: Updated to support LinuxFX (aka: Windows FX or WinFX).
07/17/20 – Version 1.9.9.1: Support Ubuntu's 'writable' casper persistence file name.
12/04/19 – Version 1.9.9.0: Updated to support Clear Linux and Pop OS.
09/17/19 – Version 1.9.8.9: Updated to support Skywave Linux, and newer Knoppix. Corrected Ubuntu based persistent conditional statements.
06/01/19 – Version 1.9.8.8: Updated to support newer Archbang, ArchLinux, Manjaro, Dr.Web, and AntiX. Add support for KaOS, Pop OS, Bionic Pup, Emmabuntus, and MX Linux.
02/19/19 – Version 1.9.8.7: Updated to support initrd boot option for newer Ubuntu based distributions when USB drive is formatted NTFS. Added persistence option to Kodachi entry.
10/31/20 – Version 1.9.9.6: Updated several links (still more to check). Add entry for Sergei Strelec.
10/14/20 – Version 1.9.9.5: Removed Try via DD option. Moved Antergos and Mageia entries to use Grub for boot.
10/12/20 – Version 1.9.9.4: Updated to support Puppy Linux Fossapup64. Fixed Try Unlisted ISO (Grub) option. Updated to support newer CentOS installers. You must use an NTFS format on your USB when using the DVD ISO, because it is larger than 4GB.
08/04/20 – Version 1.9.9.3: Fixed broken links for Antergos, EasyPeasy, Xpud, and CubLinux.
07/28/20 – Version 1.9.9.2: Updated to support LinuxFX (aka: Windows FX or WinFX).
07/17/20 – Version 1.9.9.1: Support Ubuntu's 'writable' casper persistence file name.
12/04/19 – Version 1.9.9.0: Updated to support Clear Linux and Pop OS.
09/17/19 – Version 1.9.8.9: Updated to support Skywave Linux, and newer Knoppix. Corrected Ubuntu based persistent conditional statements.
06/01/19 – Version 1.9.8.8: Updated to support newer Archbang, ArchLinux, Manjaro, Dr.Web, and AntiX. Add support for KaOS, Pop OS, Bionic Pup, Emmabuntus, and MX Linux.
02/19/19 – Version 1.9.8.7: Updated to support initrd boot option for newer Ubuntu based distributions when USB drive is formatted NTFS. Added persistence option to Kodachi entry.
UUI can create a Bootable USB containing any of the following:
— Ubuntu 32/64 Bit --
- Ubuntu Desktop
- Xubuntu Desktop
- Kubuntu Desktop
- Lubuntu Desktop
- Edubuntu Desktop
- Ubuntu Studio
- *Ubuntu Server Installer
- **Ubuntu Alternate
- Mythbuntu Desktop
- Blackbuntu
— Linux Mint 32/64 Bit --
- Linux Mint
— Debian Live/Netinst 32/64 Bit --
- Debian Netinst
- *Debian Live
— Backtrack/Kali Versions --
- Kali Linux
- Backtrack
— Fedora 32/64 Bit --
- Fedora Desktop
— OpenSUSE 32/64 Bit --
- OpenSUSE 32bit
- *OpenSUSE 64bit
— Puppy Linux Based --
- Fatdog64
- Lighthouse Puppy
- Lucid Puppy
- Precise Puppy
- Puppy Arcade
- Puppy 4.3.1
- Racy Puppy
- Slacko Puppy
- Wary Puppy
— Linux Distros for Kids --
- DouDouLinux
- Qimo 4 Kids 2.0
- Sugar on a Stick
— Other Distros Alphabetical --
- AOMEI (Disk Cloning and Backup Tool)
- Acronis Rescue CD
- Android
- AntiX
- Antergos
- ArchBang
- ArchLinux
- ArtistX
- Aurora
- BackBox
- Baltix Linux
- BCCD
- BlehOS
- Bodhi
- Boot Repair Disk
- Carmedia
- CentOS
- Chakra
- Clonezilla
- Crunchbang
- DBAN 2.2.X
- Deft Linux
- Deepin Linux
- DRBL
- DSL 4.4.10
- Dreamlinux
- Dynebolic
- EASUS Disk Copy
- EasyPeasy
- Elementary OS
- Elementary Unleashed
- Feather Linux
- Finnix
- Fuduntu
- Fusion Linux
- Gamedrift
- Gentoo
- GEEXBOX
- gNewSense
- GRML
- gOS gadgets
- GParted
- Jolicloud
- Kiwi
- KNOPPIX
- Kororaa
- KXStudio
- Leeenux
- Liberte
- LinHES
- Linux XP Like
- LPS
- Macbuntu
- Mandriva One 2011
- Matriux
- MCNLive Toronto
- Meego
- MicroCore
- Netrunner
- Ophcrack
- OSGeo Live
- Pardus
- PartedMagic
- PCLinuxOS
- Pear OS
- Peppermint
- PING
- Pinguy OS
- Plasma active
- PLoP Linux
- Porteus
- Redo Backup
- Rescatux
- RIP Linux
- Runt Linux
- Sabayon Linux
- SalineOS
- Satux
- Simply MEPIS
- SLAX
- SliTaZ
- Sn0wL1nuX
- SolusOS
- System Rescue CD
- Tails
- Terralinux
- TinyCore
- Trisquel
- Uberstudent
- Ultimate Boot CD
- Ultimate Edition
- WifiWay
- WifiSlax
- xPUD
- XBMC
- XBMCbuntu
- StartOS
- wattOS R5
- Zenwalk Live
- Zorin OS
— Live Antivirus Rescue CDs --
- AOSS (Malware Scanner)
- AVG Rescue CD
- Avira Antivir Rescue Disk
- Bitdefender Rescue CD
- Comodo Rescue Disk
- DrWeb LiveCD
- F-Secure Rescue CD
- G DATA Antivirus
- Kaspersky Rescue Disk
- Panda Safe CD
- Trinity Rescue Kit
— Other Software --
- Falcon 4 Boot CD
- Hiren's Boot CD
- Kon-Boot
- Sergei Strelec
— Windows to Go + Windows Installers --
- Windows to Go (on VHD)
- *Windows Vista Installer
- **Windows 7 Installer
- ***Windows 8 Installer
— Try to use an Unsupported ISO --
- Try Unlisted Linux ISO
More Live Linux Distributions will be added as time permits. Feel free to contact me to submit recommendations.
UUI – Universal USB Installer Troubleshooting, Issues, Bugs:
The Windows to Go option requires the USB drive be NTFS formatted and have 20GB+ free space to hold the virtual disk. Many flash drives you might find at local department stores won't be fast enough. You'll need a Very Fast Flash Drive. When Windows boots from the USB for the first time, it'll go through the setup process and then reboot. You'll need to boot using your Windows to Go flash drive a second time to finalize the setup process and finally boot into your full Portable Windows.
UUI Expects the Volume Label of your USB drive to be UUI in order for OpenSUSE, CentOS and several other distributions to boot. UUI attempts to automatically create this Volume Label, however it can sometimes fail. Please ensure that the Volume Label of your USB remains UUI if you expect distributions to boot!
Persistence feature is currently broken with Newer Debian and Debian based distributions due to significant changes upstream. Debian now requires a rename of the persistent block file and label from live-rw to persistence and must hold a persistence.conf file containing / Union. I will be working on making the necessary changes to provide a fix as time allows.
If you're using Universal-USB-Installer-1.9.9.7.exe and you still receive Insane primary (MBR) partition notices,
Insane primary (MBR) partition. Can’t find myself on the drive I booted from
Your USB drive may be improperly formatted, contains more than one partition or MBR, or your BIOS is not properly detecting the USB drive and its firmware needs to be updated. You can try these methods to Format and Restore your USB Drive
An Error (1) occurred while executing syslinux.
If you encounter a message stating
An error (1) occurred while executing syslinux. Your USB drive won't be bootable.
The most likely cause is that your USB drive is formatted as exFAT or some other unsupported format. You'll need to reformat as fat32 (currently preferred) or NTFS.
My PC wont Boot from my Flash Drive, but supports USB boot!
Many Flash Drives ship USB-FDD formatted and some systems will not detect or even boot USB-FDD. I have found that most systems can however boot USB-ZIP, and or USB-HDD. If you are having a hard time getting your BIOS to detect your flash drive, you can try to format it as USB-HDD or USB-ZIP using BOOTICE (GET IT HERE), and then proceed to use Universal USB Installer to put your chosen Distro on USB.
OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES:
- If you're running a Windows Vista or 7 Installer from your USB, after the first reboot, remove the flash drive and let the pc complete from the hard disk.
- When browsing for an ISO, UUI will only display ISO Files that match exactly what the tool is asking for. For example, if you chose to install Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop i386, you should not expect the tool to display your ubuntu-10.10-netbook-i386.iso as you have not chosen to install the netbook variant.
Auto Detection: If you run Universal USB Installer from the same directory containing an installable ISO, the script should Auto Detect the ISO and bypass step 2.
* Although you can use an NTFS formatted USB, Ubuntu based 'persistence' features will only work with a Fat16 or Fat32 formatted drive. Additionally some Linux Distributions will not boot from an NTFS formatted USB.
This tool does not support adding, installing, and booting from multiple Linux Distributions. Only One Distribution can be installed per USB drive. However the YUMI Multiboot USB Creator can be used to create a Multi System USB Device.
To try an ISO that isn't listed, simply choose one of the the last three options in Step 1. I recommend 'Try Unlisted Linux ISO (GRUB)' because it seems to be the most successful. Please inform me of any unlisted 'Linux ISOs' you get to work via these options, and I'll make a note to add them to the list.
NOTE: OpenSUSE DVD ISOs that exceed 4GB will not work due to the Fat32 limitation.
Ubuntu Server 'Failed to copy file from CD-ROM' Error (should currently be resolved)?
The Universal USB Installer should run from within Linux using WINE. However, the Fat32 format option does not work. Additionally, Syslinux must be manually installed onto the USB when using UUI.
Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 published under Bootable USB Creator Software