Due to the fact that almost all users in their daily work at the computer no longer encounter optical disks, flash drives are increasingly confident in their niche.
Accordingly, to fully work with them, some specific programs are required that can fully realize the potential of this kind of equipment.
For example, the “responsibilities” of optical drives consistently included reinstalling the operating system. But today, when the number of laptops with a built-in CD / DVD drive becomes small, programs for writing images to a USB flash drive are becoming extremely popular. Consider their most functional and partially free varieties.
"UltraISO"
This application is a kind of "veteran", known to users since a very long time. The disadvantage is that the program is paid, but it definitely costs its money. The interface is somewhat unusual, many menu items are duplicated by buttons, but you can figure it out quickly.
Accordingly, even for beginners it will not be difficult to figure out how to record the image of "Windows" on a USB flash drive. Let's look at this process in more detail. So, firstly, we need the image itself, the legality of which is already on your conscience.
Open the program, and then execute the “File / Open” command. Point the application to the path to the image, click on the "OK" button. Then we go to the menu item "Boot / Burn disc image". Indicate your flash drive (which must be connected, of course). That's all!
What other programs for recording images to a flash drive exist? Oh, there are a lot of them.
"Unetbootin"
This utility has become especially popular among lovers of the Linux OS, since when using it, the problems with image recording quality are least likely to occur. Even the most inexperienced user can use it.
Since the program does not require installation, just run it, specify the path to the downloaded image, and then click on the "OK" button. Everything is as simple as possible! But are there any simpler and not burdensome programs for recording images on a USB flash drive? Oddly enough, but there are some.
"ROSA Imagewriter"
Initially, this program was intended only for Linux "Rosa" distributions (domestic, by the way), but it can be burned to a removable disk and something else. After starting, the most minimalistic window opens, in which you only need to indicate the path to the image and click on the "Record" button. The triumph of asceticism!
"Win32 Disk Imager"
It is extremely pleasing that in recent years, almost all programs for recording images on a USB flash drive have a moderate, simple and intuitive interface. Win32 Disk Imager is no exception. However, unlike the previous version, you can see the process of recording.
Otherwise, there are no special differences: select an image, specify a flash drive, and then click on the "Write" button.
By the way, all the programs reviewed by us (except for "UltraISO") are poorly suited for recording images of the Windows OS. But what if the carrier is absolutely necessary, but you don’t want to use its pirated version somehow? Calm down, there is a completely legal and fully functional solution from Microsoft itself.
"WinToFlash"
As you can see, the name is quite "speaking." Important! This program for recording a Windows image does not use the image itself to work, but the files that you can get when unpacking it. This can be done easily using the same free 7-Zip archiver by opening the image file as a simple archive.
Otherwise, there are no differences. Indicate the utility to the path to the folder with the results of unpacking, and then select the desired drive. After making sure that there is no valuable data on the flash drive, you can click on the “Run” button.