Universal USB Installer

Universal USB Installer (UUI) by PenDriveLinux is a lightweight yet powerful Windows-based utility that simplifies the process of creating bootable USB drives.

Ideal for users who frequently work with Linux distributions, antivirus utilities, or other bootable ISOs, this tool offers a quick and efficient method for writing ISO files to USB flash drives.

Universal USB Installer for Windows is a standalone executable that allows users to create bootable USB drives with a wide variety of Linux distributions, system tools, and utility ISOs.

Whether you're installing Ubuntu, running a live antivirus rescue disk, or testing operating systems, this tool streamlines the process with an easy-to-navigate interface and minimal setup requirements.

Key Features

• Support for hundreds of Linux distributions and system tools
• Persistence storage (for select Linux distributions)
• FAT32 and NTFS formatting options
• Simple ISO-to-USB creation
• Drag-and-drop ISO support
• Bootable rescue disk and Windows installer options
• Option to download ISO directly from within the app

User Interface

The user interface is minimalistic and functional. It consists of a step-by-step layout (hence the tagline "Easy as 1 2 3") where users:

• Select a distribution
• Choose the ISO file
• Pick the USB drive

Clear labels, dropdown menus, and checkboxes make the process intuitive even for beginners.

Installation and Setup

No installation is required. Simply download the executable file from the official PenDriveLinux website and run it. The program is portable and doesn’t clutter your system with registry changes or background services.

How to Use

Download the ISO: Obtain the ISO file of the operating system or tool you wish to use.

Launch UUI: Open the downloaded executable.

Select Distribution: Choose from the dropdown list or opt for “Try Unlisted ISO” for unsupported ISOs.

Locate ISO File: Browse and select the ISO file from your PC.

Choose USB Drive: Select the appropriate USB drive letter.

Format and Create: Optionally format the USB and click “Create” to begin.

The process usually takes a few minutes depending on the size of the ISO and the speed of your USB drive.

FAQs

Can I use this to install Windows from a USB?
Yes, Universal USB Installer supports Windows installation ISOs.

What is persistence and which distributions support it?
Persistence allows you to save data between sessions. Distributions like Ubuntu and Linux Mint support persistence.

Does it support UEFI?
Some ISOs created with UUI may not boot in UEFI mode. Legacy boot is more reliably supported.

Is formatting my USB required every time?
No, formatting is optional unless you're experiencing issues or switching distributions.

Can I use it on macOS or Linux?
No, UUI is Windows-only.

Alternatives

Rufus – Popular and faster ISO-to-USB tool with UEFI support.

Balena Etcher – Cross-platform and user-friendly but lacks advanced features.

YUMI – Also from PenDriveLinux, supports multiboot USB creation.

Ventoy – Allows booting multiple ISO files without reformatting.

System Requirements

OS: Windows 11, 10, 8 or 7

USB flash drive (4GB minimum recommended)

Administrative privileges

Internet connection (for ISO download feature)

PROS

• Free and portable
• Easy-to-use interface
• Supports a wide range of distributions
• Built-in ISO download links
• Persistence feature available

CONS

• Windows-only
• Limited UEFI support
• No multiboot (use YUMI instead)

Conclusion

Universal USB Installer remains a reliable, no-frills solution for creating bootable USB drives. While newer tools like Ventoy offer additional flexibility, UUI’s straightforward design, broad compatibility, and optional persistence feature make it an excellent choice for users looking to install or test operating systems quickly.

Note: Requires Fat32 Formatted Flash Drive.