What is Rufus in computer?

Rufus is a small, yet powerful, utility software specifically designed to format and create bootable USB flash drives.

In the world of computers, installing operating systems, troubleshooting systems, or running specialized tools often requires starting the computer from a device other than its main hard drive. Traditionally, this was done using CDs or DVDs, but USB flash drives have become the standard. This is where Rufus comes in.

What Rufus Does

Based on the provided information, Rufus is a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives, including USB keys/pendrives, memory sticks, and similar devices. Its core function is to take a standard USB drive and prepare it so that a computer can start (boot) directly from it. This process involves formatting the drive and copying specific files onto it in a way that makes it bootable.

Key Functions and Uses

Rufus is particularly valuable for specific scenarios where a standard USB drive isn't sufficient on its own. It addresses the need to make a USB drive executable by the computer's boot process.

Its main functions revolve around:

• Formatting: Preparing the USB drive by clearing its contents and setting up a file system.
• Creating Bootable Media: Transferring operating system images or utility tools onto the formatted drive in a way that makes the computer recognize it as a bootable device during startup.

Practical Applications (Why use Rufus?)

The utility of Rufus becomes clear in several common computing tasks. According to the reference, it can be especially useful for cases where:

1. You need to create USB installation media from bootable ISOs (Windows, Linux, UEFI, etc.): This is perhaps the most common use case. When you download an operating system like Windows or a Linux distribution, it usually comes as an ISO file (a disk image). Rufus can take this ISO file and correctly write it to a USB drive, turning the drive into an installer from which you can set up the OS on a computer.
2. You need to work on a system that doesn't have an OS installed: If you are building a new computer or need to fix a corrupted operating system, you need a way to start the computer and access tools or begin the installation process. A bootable USB created with Rufus allows you to boot the system directly from the USB drive, bypassing the internal hard drive.

Summary Table: Rufus Utility

In essence, Rufus simplifies the process of getting operating systems or diagnostic tools onto a USB drive in a format that computers can boot from, making it an essential tool for system administrators, technicians, and power users alike.