🗜️Convert ISO file to UEFI bootable Drive

Guide for converting an ISO file into a UEFI-bootable virtual drive.

This process converts an ISO file into a bootable virtual drive, functioning similarly to a USB flash drive or a Windows-To-Go (WTG) drive.

Prerequisites

• ISO File: The source OS installation image.

• Mounted VHD (Empty): A VHD file created and mounted via IODD.

  • Refer to: Creating VHD Files

• Rufus Application: Download from https://rufus.ie/

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Step-by-Step Conversion

1. Mount the VHD File

Mount the prepared empty VHD file on your IODD device. It will appear as a "Virtual Drive" on your PC.

2. Configure Rufus

Run the Rufus application with Administrator privileges.

Configuring Rufus for VHD installation

1. [Device]: Select the mounted VHD drive (Ensure it is the virtual drive, not a physical disk).

2. [Boot selection]: Click SELECT and choose your original ISO file.

3. [Image Option]: Select Standard Windows installation (or Windows To Go if you wish to run the OS directly from the drive).

4. [Partition scheme]: Set to GPT.

5. [Target system]: Set to UEFI (non CSM).

For better compatibility with certain Win-To-Go installations on older systems, using MBR / BIOS (or UEFI-CSM) may be required.

1. [File system] & [Cluster size]: It is highly recommended to use the default values.

2. Click the [START] button to begin the bootable file creation.

Verify Target Drive Selection Always double-check that the target drive is the VHD-mounted "Virtual Drive." Never select the physical IODD drive itself, as this will lead to data loss. Enabling Write-Protection on the physical drive before starting is a recommended safety measure.

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3. Booting from the Virtual Drive

Once the process in Rufus is complete, you must configure your PC to boot from this virtual drive.

1. Save the current state of the IODD by pressing the [9] key.

2. Follow the instructions in the CMOS/BIOS Boot Order Setting section:

   • Go to BIOS Setup Guide

To ensure the virtual drive is recognized during the boot sequence, some motherboards may require the IODD to be set to VHD-only mode or have the specific VHD file pre-selected and saved as the primary boot state.