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When it comes to creating bootable USB drives, Rufus is one of the most popular and widely used tools, primarily because of its speed and simplicity. However, a common question among users who are looking to install Linux or other operating systems using Rufus is: Does Rufus install GRUB?
To answer this, it’s essential to first understand what GRUB (Grand Unified Bootloader) is and what Rufus does during the creation of bootable media. Let’s explore these concepts in detail.
What is GRUB?
GRUB, short for Grand Unified Bootloader, is a bootloader used to manage multiple operating systems on a computer. It allows you to select which OS to boot when you power on your computer. GRUB is widely used in Linux distributions, and it can also be installed as the default bootloader on systems that dual-boot Linux alongside other operating systems like Windows.
GRUB is a critical component for Linux installations, as it enables the system to boot from a disk that may have multiple partitions, filesystems, or operating systems.
What Does Rufus Do?
Rufus is a lightweight Windows application designed to create bootable USB drives from ISO images. It supports a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and other utilities. Rufus works by writing the ISO file to the USB drive in a way that allows the drive to be booted from.
During this process, Rufus essentially transfers the contents of the ISO image onto the USB drive, setting up the bootloader required to boot the system from that drive.
Does Rufus Install GRUB?
Rufus itself does not install GRUB in the traditional sense. What it does is write the bootloader (from the ISO you’re using) to the USB drive.
When you create a bootable USB with a Linux ISO using Rufus, Rufus will write the bootloader included in the ISO to the USB drive. If you’re using a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora, for example, this bootloader is typically GRUB. So, in this sense, when you create a bootable USB for a Linux system with Rufus, it will effectively install GRUB as part of the bootable environment.
However, if you’re using an ISO that doesn’t include GRUB, such as a Windows installation ISO, Rufus will install the bootloader used by that operating system (such as Windows Boot Manager) instead.
Summary: Does Rufus Install GRUB?
- Yes, Rufus installs GRUB when creating a bootable USB from a Linux ISO that uses GRUB as its bootloader (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora).
- No, if the ISO does not use GRUB, Rufus will install the bootloader associated with that particular ISO (e.g., Windows Boot Manager for a Windows ISO).
It’s important to note that while Rufus facilitates the installation of GRUB, the exact version and configuration of GRUB depend on the Linux distribution’s own settings and how that distribution packages its ISO. Rufus simply writes what it finds within the ISO to the USB drive.
Conclusion
Rufus makes it easy to create bootable media, but it does not directly install GRUB. Instead, it installs whatever bootloader is included in the ISO you are using, and in the case of most Linux distributions, this will be GRUB. If you’re using Rufus to create a bootable USB for a Linux system, it will most likely result in a bootable device with GRUB installed as the bootloader.
