How to Create a Windows Bootable USB Easily?

Posted by Shawn Hamilton to Computer Help

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A bootable copy of Windows on a disk is handy if anything wrong happens on the existing startup drive. Some years ago, Compact Drive was the only way to create boot CD, install software or transfer data from and to your PC. Now, USB flash drive is getting cheaper and easier to handle. It is reusable with larger capacity. It becomes easier and simpler to create bootable USB, especially for netbook users.

You are highly recommended to create bootable USB, in the event of an unexpected system failure. To do so, you would be able to boot your computer from USB flash drive and repair corrupted system, recover any important information stored on the hard drive, and do much more.

Since we have valid reasons for wanting a bootable copy of Windows, we're going to show you how to create one using a USB flash drive and CD disc.

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Part I: Things you need to Prepare to Create Bootable USB or Boot CD

create bootable usb
  • A third-party boot USB burning program: Windows Boot Genius allows you create Windows boot USB and burn boot CD as you like. With fancy interface, it is easy enough for every level of computer to finish the boot USB burning task, even for a computer novice.
  • An 8 GB or larger USB flash drive: Here we choose 8 GB flash drive due to two reasons: Firstly, 8 GB is large enough to accommodate the current minimum amount of space required to burn a boot USB by using Windows Boot Genius. Secondly, it is budget-friendly.
  • A Windows-based workable computer: Windows Boot Genius is designed for Windows users.
  • Some free time. The creation time varies by the speed of the USB flash drive, but plan on 10 minutes to half an hour.

Part II: How to Make a Bootable USB for Windows 7/ Vista

Step 1. Insert a USB into your computer. When your PC recognizes the USB, open the command prompt via: Start > (type in the search bar) cmd , then press Enter.

Step 2. Type in: diskpart, then press Enter in the command prompt. After that, a new window will be opened.

Step 3. Once inside this new window, type in: list disk . All active drives will be displayed to the command prompt.

  • After that is done, you will want to select your USB. Typically, it's always the smallest one in size, so you will always be able to tell which one it is.
  • Clean your USB. Please make sure that you have backed up all data stored on the USB, because you will lose all your data in this step. Type in: clean.

Step 4. Now you will create a partition for the USB. Type in: create partition primary.

Step 5. Type in: select partition 1 . This will select the partition you have just created. Now type in: active. This will make the partition active on the USB.

Step 6. Format your USB. This could take some time depending on the size of the drive and the processing power of your computer. Usually a few seconds to 45 minutes. Type in: format fs=ntfs. Once completed, type in: assign.

Step 7. Congratulations, you now have created a Windows bootable USB. Type "exit" in command prompt

Step 8. Insert your Windows DVD in the optical drive and note down the drive letter of the optical drive and USB media. Here I use "D" as my optical (DVD) drive letter and "H" as my USB drive letter.

Go back to command prompt and execute the following commands:

  • D: CD BOOT and hit enter. Where "D" is your DVD drive letter.
  • CD BOOT and hit enter.
  • After that type BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 H: and hit enter. (Where "H" is your USB drive letter).

Step 9. Once you have done that,Open the DVD from windows explorer (My computer). You might have to right-click, then click on "Open". select all that you see and transfer to your USB.

Sounds a little bit confused? If this doesn't work eventually, just try following steps, only 3 steps.

Part III: How to Create a Windows Bootable USB using Windows Boot Genius?

After preparing all the things above, you can get started now to make bootable USB.

  • Step 1: Connect USB to your computer via a USB cable.
  • Step 2: Launch Windows Boot Genius, it checks the USB flash drive automatically (If not, check it from drop-down list manually).
  • Step 3: Click "Burn"to start to burn boot USB. If this USB is a new one, you may find that it has been re-formatted for use. If it is filled with information, a prompt will pop up to remind you that it will be erased or formatted after clicking "Burn". create bootable cd When the process is completed, the USB flash drive is ready for use as a bootable USB.

Part IV: How to Make a Bootable CD for Windows OS?

If you would rather create bootable CD of Windows, you can follow the short instructions as below.

  • Step 1: Insert a blank CD to your computer.
  • Step 2: Launch Windows Boot Genius. Typically, this software checks your CD automatically. If not, select it manually.
  • Step 3: Click "Burn" to begin to burn boot CD. burn boot cd

As we mentioned above, we create startup USB or CD to use it in an emergency when your computer won't boot and get your computer back to working condition.

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