Create Windows 11 USB on Ubuntu

Create Windows 11 USB on Ubuntu | Generated by AI

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Question: In Linux/Ubuntu, how to create a Windows 11 installable bootable USB disk from an ISO?

Answer:

On Ubuntu, the most reliable method for Windows 11 is Ventoy. Unlike dd, it handles Windows ISO files correctly (Windows ISOs often have files >4GB and special UEFI requirements).

Method 1 (recommended): Ventoy

1. Download Ventoy

wget https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/releases/latest/download/ventoy-1.0.xx-linux.tar.gz

Extract:

tar xzf ventoy-*.tar.gz
cd ventoy-*

2. Find your USB device

Plug USB in:

lsblk

Example:

sda      500G  SSD
sdb       32G  USB

Assume USB is /dev/sdb.

⚠️ This erases the USB.

3. Install Ventoy

sudo ./Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdb

Confirm.

4. Copy Windows 11 ISO

After Ventoy finishes, the USB appears as a normal disk.

Just copy:

cp Win11_25H2_English_x64_v2.iso /media/$USER/Ventoy/

Safely eject:

sync

Boot from USB → Ventoy menu → select ISO → Windows installer starts.

Method 2: WoeUSB-ng (Windows-specific USB writer)

Install:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install woeusb-ng

Create USB:

sudo woeusb \
  --device \
  Win11_25H2_English_x64_v2.iso \
  /dev/sdb

Method 3: Manual FAT32 + split install.wim

Useful if BIOS is picky (some Lenovo Xiaoxin machines).

Partition USB

sudo parted /dev/sdb --script mklabel gpt
sudo parted /dev/sdb --script mkpart primary fat32 1MiB 100%
sudo mkfs.vfat -F32 /dev/sdb1

Mount ISO:

sudo mount -o loop Win11.iso /mnt/iso

Mount USB:

sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb

Copy everything except install.wim:

rsync -av --exclude=sources/install.wim /mnt/iso/ /mnt/usb/

Install wimlib:

sudo apt install wimtools

Split Windows image:

wimsplit \
 /mnt/iso/sources/install.wim \
 /mnt/usb/sources/install.swm \
 3800

Result:

sources/
 ├── boot.wim
 ├── install.swm
 ├── install2.swm

Windows Setup understands .swm.

Avoid this

Do not do:

sudo dd if=Win11.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=4M

for Windows 11.

dd works great for Linux ISOs, but Windows ISOs frequently fail because:

FAT32 cannot store install.wim >4GB
UEFI boot layout differs
some firmware does not accept the hybrid ISO layout

For your Lenovo Xiaoxin case, I would use:

Ventoy first (fastest)
If Lenovo BIOS refuses → manual FAT32 + wimlib split
If Windows installer sees no SSD → check Intel VMD/RST driver issue

References:

Ventoy project: https://www.ventoy.net/
WoeUSB-ng: https://github.com/WoeUSB/WoeUSB-ng
wimlib: https://wimlib.net/

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