How to Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive in Windows Using CMD

Want to install new Windows on your computer using a USB drive and looking for a way to create a bootable USB? Then you can do it with a simple tool built into your computer called CMD (Command Prompt), and you don’t need any extra software. This guide will show you 12 easy steps to turn your USB into a bootable drive that can start up your computer with a new operating system.

Along with this we will explain how to use CMD to get your USB ready. You’ll learn how to format it, set it up, and copy the right files— all with simple commands. It works for both Windows and Linux, and it’s a reliable way to take charge of the process yourself.

How to Create a Bootable USB Flash drive

Steps to Create a Bootable Windows USB Using CMD

There are a total of 12 steps to Create a Bootable USB Flash drive, follow these steps:-

Step 1: Open CMD

Run the Command Prompt in Administrator mode. There are two ways to do the same:

• Search for CMD in the Start menu, right-click on the command prompt, and click on Run as Administrator.
• Open Task Manager, go to File -> Run new task, search for CMD and press enter.

Step 2: Connect USB Drive

• Connect the USB Device to the computer that is to be made bootable.  

Step 3: Use Diskpart Command

• Type the command diskpart and then press Enter.

Step 4: Use List Disk Command

• Type the command list disk to display a list of all the available storage devices on your system. Press Enter to continue.

Step 5: Select USB Drive

• Select the disk that is your pen drive. To choose the disk, type the command select disk X in this case, select disk 1 and press Enter.

Note: Generally, it is marked as Disk 1, it might vary from system to system. Make sure not to select any other available disk as it will get formatted.

Step 6: Format USB Drive

• To make a pendrive bootable, there is a need to format it to clean the existing data. This can be done by the use of clean commands.

Step 7: Create Partition

• Type the command create partition primary and press Enter. This will make the disk primary and ready to be made bootable.

Step 8: Select Partition as Primary

• To choose the partition created as primary, type the command select partition 1, and press Enter.

Step 9: Format as NTFS

• Before making the disk bootable, you need to format it as NTFS if you are using legacy BIOS. This can be done with the use of a command format fs=ntfs quick and press Enter.

Note: If you are using Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or in simple words UEFI BIOS then you must type in the following command instead. Most modern systems are UEFI systems, you can check your system manufacturer’s website to know whether your system is legacy BIOS or UEFI BIOS.

format fs=fat32 quick

Step 10: Use Active Command

• Type the command active and press Enter. This will mark the primary bootable partition as Active.

Step 11: Use Diskpart to Exit

• Type the command exit to exit DISKPART and press Enter. Now close the command prompt window.

Step 12: Copy Data to Bootable

• Now copy all the data from the OS installation disk to your USB drive that is just been made bootable.

Conclusion

Knowing how to create a bootable USB flash drive using CMD in either Windows or Linux is a valuable skill, especially when you need to install or repair an operating system. By following the methods outlined in this guide, you can efficiently create a bootable USB using CMD in Windows or Linux, allowing you to quickly and easily set up your system or troubleshoot issues. This method is not only reliable but also gives you greater control over the process compared to using third-party tools.