Question:

I am facing a problem with installing any operating system on my laptop, which crashed recently. Whenever I attempt to install an O.S, I get an error message saying “Unable to load driver `rufus_exfat_x64.efi`: [26] security violation”. I have tried different O.S versions, but the error persists. What could be the cause of this problem and how can I fix it?

Answer:

How to solve the “Unable to load driver `rufus_exfat_x64.efi`: [26] security violation” error when installing an O.S

If you are trying to install a new operating system on your laptop, but you keep getting the error message “Unable to load driver `rufus_exfat_x64.efi`: [26] security violation”, you are not alone. Many users have reported this issue, especially when using Rufus, a popular tool for creating bootable USB drives. In this article, we will explain what causes this error and how you can fix it.

`rufus_exfat_x64.efi` is a driver file that Rufus uses to support the exFAT file system, which is a newer and more efficient version of FAT32. exFAT is compatible with most modern operating systems, such as Windows 10, Linux, and macOS. However, some older or less common operating systems, such as Windows 7, may not support exFAT natively. This means that if you try to install such an O.S from a USB drive formatted with exFAT, you may encounter an error.

The error message “Unable to load driver `rufus_exfat_x64.efi`: [26] security violation” indicates that the O.S installation program cannot access the driver file due to some security restrictions. This could be caused by several factors, such as:

• The BIOS or UEFI settings of your laptop are configured to prevent unauthorized drivers from loading.
• The driver file is corrupted, missing, or incompatible with the O.S you are trying to install.
• The USB drive is faulty or has a bad connection.

How to fix the error?

There are several possible solutions to fix the error and install the O.S successfully. Depending on your situation, you may need to try one or more of the following methods:

• Change the BIOS or UEFI settings. You may need to disable some security features, such as Secure Boot, Fast Boot, or CSM, that could interfere with the driver loading. To do this, you need to access the BIOS or UEFI menu of your laptop, usually by pressing a specific key (such as F2, F10, or Del) during the startup. Then, look for the options related to boot mode, security, or compatibility, and change them accordingly. Be careful not to modify any settings that you are not sure about, as this could cause other problems. Save the changes and exit the menu, then try to install the O.S again.
• Format the USB drive with a different file system. If the O.S you are trying to install does not support exFAT, you may need to format the USB drive with a different file system, such as FAT32 or NTFS. To do this, you can use Rufus or another tool, such as Disk Management or Diskpart, to erase and reformat the USB drive. Make sure to backup any important data on the USB drive before formatting, as this will erase everything on it. Then, create the bootable USB drive again with the new file system and try to install the O.S again.
• Use a different tool to create the bootable USB drive. If Rufus does not work for you, you may need to use a different tool to create the bootable USB drive, such as UNetbootin, Etcher, or WinToUSB. These tools may have different options and features that could work better with the O.S you are trying to install. Follow the instructions of the tool you choose to create the bootable USB drive and try to install the O.S again.
• Check the USB drive for errors or use a different USB drive. If the USB drive is damaged or has a bad connection, it could cause the driver file to be unreadable or inaccessible. To check the USB drive for errors, you can use a tool such as CHKDSK or CrystalDiskInfo, which can scan and repair the USB drive. Alternatively, you can try using a different USB drive that is known to work well and see if that solves the problem.

Conclusion

The

error message “Unable to load driver `rufus_exfat_x64.efi`: [26] security violation” can be frustrating, but it is not impossible to fix. By following the methods above, you should be able to install the O.S you want on your laptop. If none of the methods work, you may need to contact the O.S or Rufus support team for further assistance. We hope this article was helpful and informative. Thank you for reading.