How to Fix Rufus ISO Image Extraction Failure [3 Ways]

User Case: Rufus ISO Image Extraction Failure

Rufus is a powerful tool that helps you take a bootable ISO file (such as a Windows installation image) and put it onto a USB drive so that the drive is bootable and can be used for installation purposes. However, there may be various issues, like Rufus stuck on scanning image and Rufus could not open media, causing Rufus failed to create a bootable USB, or other problems like Rufus non bootable.

On this page, we focus on the Rufus ISO image extraction failure error. This error usually means something went wrong during the extraction process of the ISO file. It could be a corrupted ISO or issues with your USB drive. Whatever the root cause, don't worry - there are several ways to fix it. In this article, we'll explore 3 proven solutions and introduce an easy alternative for creating bootable USBs on Windows computers.

How to Fix ISO Image Extraction Failure on Rufus

When dealing with Rufus ISO extraction failure, the first step is to check if you are running the latest version of Rufus. You can go to the official Rufus website and check that its latest version number matches the one you are running. If not, please update your Rufus software and try again.

Solution 1. Check Your ISO File

If it is not a problem with the Rufus software, a corrupted or incomplete ISO file is often the culprit of Rufus ISO image extraction failure on Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7. You can try the following steps to verify the integrity of your ISO.

• Redownload the ISO: If you're unsure whether your ISO is corrupted, download it again from the official Microsoft website or your operating system provider.
• Verify ISO Hash: Use Windows PowerShell to check the SHA-256 or MD5 hash of the ISO fileby opening PowerShell to run: CertUtil -hashfile filename.iso SHA256, then comparing it to the hash value listed on the download site.

• Try mounting the ISO on your system to see if it opens correctly. Windows 10 and later have built-in ISO mounting capabilities- just right-click and select Mount.

Solution 2. Disable BitLocker for USB Drive

BitLocker encryption can interfere with Rufus's ability to write files to the USB drive. If your USB is encrypted, Rufus may be unable to format or write to it properly, leading to a Rufus ISO image extraction failure. To disable BitLocker:

Step 1. Insert the USB drive into your PC.

Step 2. Open Control Panel and go to System and Security > BitLocker Drive Encryption.

Step 3. Locate your USB drive and click Turn Off BitLocker.

Step 4. Wait for the decryption process to complete. This might take a few minutes, depending on the drive size. Once BitLocker is disabled, open Rufus and try again.

Solution 3. Try a New USB Drive

Sometimes the hardware is to blame for Rufus error ISO image extraction failure on Windows 10/11. If your USB stick has bad sectors or is of low quality, it might not handle the ISO image properly.For how to fix Rufus ISO image extraction failure, here some ways to test if the USB is the issue:

• Select a Different USB Drive - Choose a USB drive that is at least 8 GB in size and from a reliable brand.
• Make sure the USB drive is properly formatted to FAT32 or NTFS before launching Rufus.
• Try different USB ports - preferably ports on the back of your PC for stable power supply.

Best Way to Create Bootable USB for Windows Computers

While Rufus is a useful and lightweight tool, it's not always the most user-friendly, especially for beginners. If you're tired of troubleshooting various Rufus errors or simply want a more straightforward solution, try AOMEI Backupper Standard.

This tool is a full-featured backup software that supports creating bootable USB drives or CDs/DVDs, and it also allows you to export ISO file to burn to any removable device. It is capable of creating full system backups, disk backups, and partition backups.

How to create bootable USB with AOMEI Backupper Standard:

Step 1. Download and run AOMEI Backupper, click Tools on the left and choose Create Bootable Media.

Step 2. Select the connected USB drive when choosing the Bootable Media and then click Create to begin the bootable USB creation process.

With a bootable USB that can help you boot up computer, you can also create system image or other backup images according to your needs. So when problems occur, you can restore your computer to an earlier date to recover important data as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

Now you know how to fix Rufus ISO image extraction failure. Or if you prefer an easier way to create bootable USB drive, AOMEI Backupper Standard is an excellent option. It also supports computer backup and restore, cloning bootable USB drive to another USB, or upgrading hard drive on computer without data loss. Just get it and try it out.