A bootable USB drive is a valuable tool for various purposes, such as installing operating systems, troubleshooting system issues, or running diagnostic tools.
While there are graphical tools available for creating bootable USB drives, using the Command Prompt in Windows provides a straightforward and efficient method.
In this guide, we'll walk through the steps required to create a bootable USB drive using Command Prompt, allowing you to harness the power of this versatile tool.
How to Make Bootable USB Drive Using Command Prompt
Creating a bootable USB drive using Command Prompt in Windows is a straightforward process that provides a reliable way to install operating systems or run diagnostic tools.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can harness the power of Command Prompt to create a bootable USB drive for your specific needs.
Step 1: Insert the USB Drive
Begin by inserting your USB drive into an available USB port on your Windows computer. Ensure that the drive is empty or that you have backed up any important data, as the process will erase all existing content on the drive.
Step 2: Open Command Prompt
To open Command Prompt, you can either search for "cmd" in the Windows search bar and press Enter or use the keyboard shortcut Win + R to open the Run dialog, type "cmd," and press Enter.
Step 3: Identify the USB Drive
In Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
diskpart
This will open the DiskPart utility, which allows you to manage disks and partitions in Windows.
Step 4: List Disks
Type the following command and press Enter to list all available disks on your system:
list disk
Identify the disk number corresponding to your USB drive based on its size. Be careful to select the correct disk, as selecting the wrong one can result in data loss.
Step 5: Select the USB Drive
Type the following command and press Enter, replacing "X" with the disk number of your USB drive:
select disk X
This command selects the USB drive for further operations.
Step 6: Clean the Disk
Type the following command and press Enter to erase all data on the selected disk:
clean
This command removes all partitions and volumes from the USB drive, preparing it for the bootable installation.
Step 7: Create a Bootable Partition
Type the following command and press Enter to create a new primary partition on the USB drive:
create partition primary
Step 8: Select the Partition
Type the following command and press Enter to select the partition you just created:
select partition 1
Step 9: Format the Partition
Type the following command and press Enter to format the selected partition as FAT32:
format fs=fat32 quick
Step 10: Assign a Drive Letter
Type the following command and press Enter to assign a drive letter to the formatted partition:
assign
Step 11: Copy Installation Files
Now, you can copy the files from the installation media of the operating system or tool you want to make bootable onto the USB drive. This can be done using File Explorer or Command Prompt, depending on your preference.
Step 12: Mark the Partition as Active
Type the following command and press Enter to mark the partition as active, making it bootable:
active
Step 13: Exit DiskPart
Type the following command and press Enter to exit the DiskPart utility:
exit
Step 14: Safely Eject the USB Drive
Once the bootable USB drive has been created, safely eject it from your computer to avoid data corruption.
Final Code
diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
format fs=NTFS
active
exit