How to Create Windows 10 UEFI Bootable USB in Linux

Quick note: I have tried and failed all the USB bootable apps out there (Etcher, USB Flasher, Unetbootin, Rufus with wine, ventoy). This is the only method that had worked for me.

Install wimtools with terminal

sudo apt insatll wimtools

Format pendrive with GTP Partition table and FAT32 file system using Disks or GParted.

Open the ISO file with Disk Image Mounter and copy “Install.wim” from “sources” to a separate folder.

These days the “Install.wim” comes around 4.5GB. We need to split this into two files, preferably a 4GB and 500MB file. So that it can fit inside a FAT32 filesystem. To do this issue the below command in terminal.

“CD” to the directory you have saved the “Install.wim” file in terminal.

wimlib-imagex split Install.wim Install.swm 4000

This will take a while to complete.

In the mean time start copying all the contents from the ISO file, expect “Install.wim” to the pendrive directly.

When the “Install.wim” conversion finishes, copy the two “Install.swm” to Pendrive > sources.

Reboot and change these settings in BIOS.

  • Turn off “Secure Boot”
  • Turn off “Legacy Boot”
  • First boot device “Your Pendrive”

One thought on “How to Create Windows 10 UEFI Bootable USB in Linux

  1. Convert install.esd to install.wim

    error:

    wimsplit mnt/sources/install.esd split/install.wim 4000
    # [ERROR] Splitting of WIM containing solid resources is not supported.
    # Export it in non-solid format first.
    #
    # Finished splitting “mnt/sources/install.esd”
    # ERROR: Exiting with error code 68:
    # The requested operation is unsupported.

    fix:

    du -h mnt/sources/install.esd
    # 4.2G mnt/sources/install.esd

    # convert to non-solid format per `man wimexport`
    # compression level 1 -> 6GB install.wim
    # i dont care about file size, just make it quick
    wimexport mnt/sources/install.esd all install.wim –compress=LZX:1

    mkdir split
    wimsplit install.wim split/install.wim 4000

    du -h split/*
    # 2.0G split/install2.wim
    # 4.0G split/install.wim

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