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Reinstall Zorin OS via USB stick

If your laptop is experiencing problems, reinstalling via a USB stick can be helpful. For example if:
- The laptop no longer starts properly
- The wLw Repair Helper does not work
- You deliberately want to carry out a clean reinstallation
This allows the operating system to be reinstalled and many typical software problems can be rectified.

Important: When reinstalling via a USB stick, all data on the laptop will be irrevocably deleted. Therefore, think carefully beforehand whether you really want to carry out this step. Also make sure that all important documents are backed up, for example on a separate USB stick or other external storage device, and no longer on the laptop itself.

You can use a new installation of Zorin OS via a USB stick for the following applications:

  • wLw-Repair Helper does not work
  • The laptop no longer starts properly
  • You deliberately want to carry out a clean reinstallation

What you need

  • Your laptop on which you want to reinstall Zorin OS
  • A USB stick with at least 8 GB memory
  • A second device, for example ...:
    • a laptop with Zorin
    • a Windows laptop
    • an Android mobile phone
  • The charger from your laptop

Instruction video

You can start a new installation of Zorin OS with a USB stick by following the steps in the instruction video below:

Subtitles are available in all languages for this video. Press the [cc] button in the video to change the language.

Create a bootable USB stick with Zorin

In the video above from [00:45]

Laptop 1Laptop on which Zorin will be reinstalled
Laptop 2Accompanying laptop with which the USB stick is created

To reinstall Zorin OS, you need:

  • A USB stick with at least 8GB memory
  • A functioning Zorin PC

Make sure that all your data is stored on another USB stick or in the cloud, Google Drive or OneDrive. (All content on the USB stick will also be deleted).

Procedure:

  • Open Laptop 2 and open the link or enter „Zorin OS Download“ in the search bar.
  • Open the first link 
  • Scroll down until you see „Zorin OS - Core“ see
  • Download the latest version of Zorin OS
  • Press on „download“
  • Confirm with „Skip to download“
  • Now you will see a pop-up, wait until this ISO file is completely downloaded.
    • You will find the downloaded ISO file in the Files application under Downloads
Popsicle on Laptop 2 download
  • Open on Laptop 2 the application „Software“
    • It looks like a blue suitcase.
  • At the top left you will see a magnifying glass, press on it and enter „Popsicle“ a
  • Install on Laptop 2 the first software to appear.
  • Once Popsicle is downloaded, open the application and insert your USB stick into the laptop.
  • Search at Popsicle under „Select image“ the Zorin OS ISO file that we have just downloaded.
  • Then press the „Next“ button
  • Under „Data carrier“, select your USB stick from the menu and then press „Next“
  • Then enter the password from your laptop to confirm that you want to record the USB stick.
    • It is important that all data on the USB stick is deleted.
  • The USB stick will now be flashed. As soon as the flashing is complete, press „Done“.
  • Open the „Files“ application and eject the USB stick with „Unmount“. Then remove the USB stick from your laptop.

Create a bootable USB stick with Windows

In the video above from [03:05]

Create Zorin OS boot stick with Windows:

Laptop 1Laptop on which Zorin will be reinstalled
Laptop 2Accompanying laptop with which the USB stick is created

To reinstall Zorin OS, you need:

  • A USB stick with at least 8GB memory
  • A working Windows PC

Make sure that all your data is stored on another USB stick or in the cloud, Google Drive or OneDrive. (All content on the USB stick will also be deleted).

Create boot USB stick:
  1. Download via this link (on Laptop 2) Rufus down: https://rufus.ie/de/
    1. To do this, you need to download Rufus via the first link in the table
  2. Download via this link (on Laptop 2) to download the Zorin OS ISO file: https://zorin.com/os/download/
  3. Insert the USB stick into Laptop 2
  4. Open on Laptop 2 the Rufus application
  5. Select the Zorin ISO file under „Selection“ from your downloads
  6. The USB stick is automatically recognised by Rufus
  7. Press Start and record the USB stick. As soon as it is finished, remove the USB stick.

Create a bootable USB stick with an Android mobile phone

In the video above from [04:55]

Create Zorin OS boot stick with Windows:

Laptop 1Laptop on which Zorin will be reinstalled
Device 2Android mobile phone with which the USB stick is created

To reinstall Zorin OS, you need:

  • A USB stick with at least 8GB memory
    • The USB stick must have USB-C to USB-A connections
  • An Android mobile phone
  • Etchdroid mobile phone application

Make sure that all your data is stored on another USB stick or in the cloud, Google Drive or OneDrive. (All content on the USB stick will also be deleted).

Download Zorin OS ISO file:
  1. Open your browser
  2. Enter Zorin OS Download
  3. Scroll down and download either Zorin OS 18 Core and then click on „Skip to download“ or go further down and download Zorin OS 17 Core via „Download historical versions of Zorin OS“
  4. Wait until the ISO-file is downloaded and save it to your files
Download Etchdroid:
  1. Open the Google Play Store on your mobile phone
  2. Enter in the search bar „Etchdroid“ and download the app:
Recording a USB stick
  1. Open the Etchdroid application
  2. Insert the USB stick into the mobile phone
  3. Go to „Write image“
  4. Search for the appropriate ISO file and select it
  5. Choose „Allow access“ from
  6. Choose „Write image“
  7. Wait until the image is written and then select Verify image
  8. Now you can use the stick to reset the laptop
  9. Go to the step „Reinstall Zorin OS with the bootable USB stick“

Here you will find the most useful links for the Zorin OS reinstallation via USB stick:

Reinstall Zorin OS with the bootable USB stick

Zorin OS installation:

  1. Insert the Zorin OS USB stick into the Laptop 1
  2. Switch Laptop 1 off completely by pressing and holding the on button for 30 seconds
  3. Start Laptop 1 reboot. As soon as you have pressed the power button, press the boot button repeatedly to enter the boot menu. (See table for the boot menu button)
  4. In the boot menu, select the option on which „USB“ (with the arrow keys and the Enter key)
  5. Confirm in the next menu with the Enter button „Try or install Zorin OS“
  6. In the next menu (mountains as background), use the arrow keys to go up 3 times to set the language to German
  7. Press „Install Zorin OS“
Boot menu button

BrandBoot menu buttonBIOS/UEFI buttonNotes
AcerF12Del or F2Sometimes you have to F12 must first be activated in the BIOS.
ASUSEscF2For some older models: F8 for boot menu
DellF12F2F12 opens the One-Time Boot Menu directly.
HPEsc, then F9Esc, then F10At the start Esc Press and hold , then select Menu.
Microsoft SurfaceNo direct shortcutPower + Volume Up (hold when switching on)Opens the UEFI menu.
FujitsuF12
F2		For older ones: Esc or F11.

  1. For the keyboard, select „Switzerland, German - No dead keys“ from
  2. Follow the further instructions from the laptop and make sure that the laptop is „Without data retention“ is reinstalled.
  3. Select the USB stick with the Arrow buttons and press the ENTER-button.
  4. As soon as Zorin restarts, select German as the language and then go to „Install Zorin“

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