Let it boot, let it boot, let it boot. Here's a detailed tutorial showing how to create Windows 10 USB installation media in Linux, including ISO download and extraction, compression of the install.wim file with wimlib, USB device preparation - partitioning and formatting, data copy, optional steps for booting NTFS partitions on UEFI systems, some other tips and tricks, and more. Enjoy. https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/windows-10-usb-media-linux.html Cheers, Mrk Mods: I wasn't sure where this fits better - here or the Linux section, please move accordingly if needed.
Mrk, I'm having trouble with the first line... sudo mount -o loop windows10.iso /mountpoint I get mount: /mountpoint: mount point does not exist
I think mountpoint is actually the directory where you want to mount the iso image. Eg: /mnt/windows10
Out of interest, my UEFI firmware does allow booing from the NTFS partition on the UFD made by Rufus from the 5 GB ISO. The 1 MB FAT partition can be deleted and the UFD still boots, even with Secure Boot enabled. I wonder why Microsoft don't compress install.wim? Install.esd is compressed. Even so, great tutorial Mrk.
Thanks. I tried on an older box (2014), and it didn't boot from NTFS. Could try others, but for now, the compressed wim works. Mrk
I'm very impressed by your method and I understand your desire to "do it all" in Linux. I'm lazy and I'll use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to make an ISO.
I always want to have a minimum-cost, maximum-flexibility setup. Say I need to install windows, but have no other windows available to create the media. In that case, I'd be stuck. Mrk
Been there. I think in the past I sucessfuly created 2 partition setup for bootable Windows usb drive, but I don't have manual for that. One partition was formatted as FAT, without wim file and second was NTFS partition.