A USB bootable drive is an essential tool for computer technicians and enthusiasts. It allows you to install a new operating system or perform diagnostics on a computer that is not functioning properly. Creating a bootable USB drive is easier than you might think, and it can be done using the command prompt (CMD) on a Windows computer. In this blog, we will guide you through the process of creating a bootable USB using CMD.
Step 1: Insert your USB pendrive into your computer’s USB port. It’s important to note that any data on the USB drive will be erased during this process, so make sure to back up any important files before proceeding.
Step 2: Open the Command Prompt (CMD – Windows Key + R, then type “cmd.” Press “Enter” ) on your computer. You can do this by pressing the Windows key and the letter R at the same time, then typing “cmd” in the Run box that appears and hitting Enter.
Step 3: In the Command Prompt (CMD) window, type “diskpart” and hit Enter. This will open the DiskPart utility.
Step 4: Type “list disk” and hit Enter. This will display a list of all the disk drives connected to your computer.
Step 5: Locate your USB drive in the list of disks. It will be labeled with its size and drive letter.
Step 6: Type “select disk x” (replace “x” with the number of your USB drive as listed in the previous step) and hit Enter. This will select your USB drive as the active disk.
Step 7: Type in command prompt window “clean” and hit Enter. This will erase all data on the USB pendrive.
Step 8: Type in command prompt window “create partition primary” and hit the “Enter” button. This will create a new primary partition on the USB pendrive.
Step 9: Type in command prompt window “select partition 1” and hit Enter. This will select the new partition as the active partition.
Step 10: Type in command prompt window “format fs=ntfs quick” and hit Enter. This will format the partition in the pendrive using the NTFS file system.
Step 11: Type “active” and hit Enter. This will mark the partition as Active – state.
Step 12: Type “assign” and hit Enter. This will assign a drive letter to the USB pendrive.
Step 13: Type “exit” and hit Enter. This will exit the DiskPart utility.
Step 14: Navigate to the directory where the ISO file of the operating system you want to install is saved. If you don’t have an ISO file, you can download one from the internet.
Step 15: Type “cd directory” (replace “directory” with the name of the directory where the ISO file is saved) and hit Enter.
Step 16: Type “xcopy . /s/e/f g:” (replace “g” with the USB pen drive (location) letter) and hit Enter. This will copy all the files from the ISO OS file to the USB pendrive.
Step 17: Wait for the copy process to complete. This may take several minutes, depending on the ISO file size.
Congratulations! You have successfully created a bootable USB drive using CMD. You can now use this USB drive to install an operating system or perform diagnostics on a computer that is not functioning properly. Remember to always backup your important files before performing any system changes, and never use an unauthorized ISO file.