installing Linux from USB stick - which "USB creator" to use?

[Moltke]

Thanks to both Moltke and torreydale for that advice.  Useful to know which programes work with Windows and which with Linux. 

The built-in option in Linux Lite looks even simpler.  I like the idea of not having to install anything.  I'll have to look at it. 

One obvious question - does the USB stick have to be blank.... or formatted ..... or partitioned before doing the Restore Disk Image?

As far as I know, whatever the tools you use will format the usb stick, so i guess you don't have to. You're asking for user-friendliness, I have to say that this word describes Rufus; it's foolproof.