How To Install WoeUSB on Manjaro

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install WoeUSB on Manjaro. In the realm of operating systems, the ability to create a bootable USB drive is a crucial skill. Whether you’re a system administrator, a developer, or a tech enthusiast, there are times when you need to install or repair a Windows system. This is where WoeUSB comes into play. WoeUSB is a simple, yet powerful tool that allows you to create your own USB stick Windows installer from an ISO image or a real DVD.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of the WoeUSB on a Manjaro Linux.

Prerequisites

• A server or desktop running one of the following operating systems: Manjaro, and other Arch-based distributions.
• A Windows ISO file: You can download the Windows ISO file from the official Microsoft website or any other trusted source.
• A USB stick: The USB stick should have enough storage for the Windows ISO. Typically, an 8GB USB stick is sufficient for most Windows ISO files.
• A stable internet connection is crucial for downloading and installing packages.
• A non-root sudo user or access to the root user. We recommend acting as a non-root sudo user, however, as you can harm your system if you’re not careful when acting as the root.

Install WoeUSB on Manjaro

Step 1. Update System and Install Dependencies.

Before installing any new software, it’s always a good idea to update your system packages. This ensures that you have the latest versions of all software and libraries, which can help prevent compatibility issues. Open your terminal and enter the following command:

sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S base-devel

This command updates all installed packages on your Manjaro system. The -Syu option tells pacman, the package manager in Manjaro, to synchronize with the software repositories and upgrade all out-of-date packages.

Step 2. Installing WoeUSB on Manjaro.

Manjaro Linux supports the Arch User Repository (AUR), a community-driven repository for Arch users. It contains package descriptions (PKGBUILDs) that allow you to compile a package from the source and then install it via Pacman. The WoeUSB package is available in the AUR. To install it, use the following command:

pamac build woeusb

This command tells pamac, the package manager that comes with Manjaro, to build and install the WoeUSB package from the AUR.

After the installation is complete, it’s a good practice to verify it. This can be done by checking the version of WoeUSB. Enter the following command in your terminal:

woeusb --version

Step 3. Download the Windows ISO File.

The next step is to download the Windows ISO file. You can download it from the official Microsoft website or any other trusted source. Make sure to remember or note down the path where you save the ISO file as you will need it in the next steps.

Step 4. Identify the USB Drive.

Before we can create the bootable USB, we need to identify the USB drive’s device name. This can be done using the lsblk command:

lsblk

This command lists all block devices (hard drives, USB drives, etc.) on your system. Identify your USB drive from the list and note down its device name (e.g., sdb, sdc, etc.).

Step 5. Format the USB Drive.

Before you can create a bootable USB, you need to format the USB drive. This can be done using the mkfs command:

sudo mkfs.ntfs /dev/sdX

Replace sdX with your USB drive’s device name. This command formats your USB drive with the NTFS file system, which is required for a Windows bootable USB.

Step 6. Create a Bootable USB Drive using WoeUSB

Now, we’re ready to create the bootable USB drive. This can be done using the woeusb command:

sudo woeusb --device /path/to/windows.iso /dev/sdX --target-filesystem NTFS

Replace /path/to/windows.iso with the path to your Windows ISO file and sdX with your USB drive’s device name. This command tells WoeUSB to create a bootable USB with the Windows ISO file on your specified USB drive.

Step 7. Verify the Bootable USB Drive.

After the process is complete, it’s important to verify that the USB drive is bootable. You can do this by rebooting your system and selecting the USB drive as the boot device. If everything went well, you should see the Windows installer start up.

Step 8. Troubleshooting Common Issues.

Despite our best efforts, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Here are some common issues that you might encounter during the process and how to resolve them:

• WoeUSB fails to create the bootable USB: If WoeUSB fails to create the bootable USB, make sure that the USB is properly formatted. You can format it using the mkfs command as shown in step 6. If the problem persists, try using a different USB stick.
• System does not boot from the USB: If your system does not boot from the USB, check your system’s boot order settings. You can usually access these settings by pressing a specific key (such as F2, F12, or Del) during system startup. Make sure that the USB drive is at the top of the boot order.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed WoeUSB. Thanks for using this tutorial to install the latest version of the WoeUSB on the Manjaro system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official WoeUSB website.