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How to Create a Bootable USB Flash drive in Windows/Linux using CMD?

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A Bootable USB is a disk that is used to boot up a system for the installation of an Operating System. If you want to use any particular USB Driver for Installation of any operating system, there is a need to make it bootable along with the ISO File of the OS. To Create a Bootable Windows/Linux USB, there are some methods present.

However, the Creation of Bootable USB Software could be easily achieved with Command Prompt or Terminal. A Bootable USB Windows can be made using a command line only for systems that have Higher Versions of Windows (7/8/8.1/10). Early versions of Windows i.e. before Windows 7, can’t be used for making a Bootable Windows/Linux Pendrive.

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In this article, we will discuss the necessary steps required to Make a Bootable Pendrive for Windows or Linux using CMD in no time.

Quick Preview of Steps to Create Bootable USB using CMD:

  1. Launch CMD in Administrative format.
  2. Enter the Pendrive to the device.
  3. Find out the Disk Name using commands.
  4. Select the USB Drive file and format it.
  5. Make it ready using the Active command.

Quick Highlights on Bootable USB Devices:

  • Bootable USB Devices have an OS that can be used on devices without installing it.
  • The Bootable USB Device is not used for installation purposes.
  • Bootable Pendrive is an easy choice to portability carry any OS with you.
  • After inserting it on any device, it doesn’t leave any mark of its insertion.
  • The Bootable USB Devices are well secure to handle the Operating Systems.

Steps to Create a Bootable Windows/Linux USB Using CMD

Step 1: 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. Boot-USB-using-CMD-00
  • Open Task Manager, go to File -> Run new task, search for CMD and press enter. Boot-USB-using-CMD-001

Step 2: Connect the USB Device to the computer that is to be made bootable.  

Step 3: Type the command diskpart and then press Enter.

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Step 4: Type the command list disk to display a list of all the available storage devices on your system. Press Enter to continue.

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Step 5: 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.

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Step 6: 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.

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Step 7: Type the command create partition primary and press Enter. This will make the disk primary and ready to be made bootable.

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Step 8: To choose the partition created as primary, type the command select partition 1, and press Enter.

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Step 9: 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

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Step 10: Type the command active and press Enter. This will mark the primary bootable partition as Active.

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Step 11: Type the command exit to exit DISKPART and press Enter. Now close the command prompt window.

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Step 12: Now copy all the data from the OS(Windows/Linux/etc.) installation disk to your USB drive that is just been made bootable.

So, these are the simple steps you should execute to Develop Bootable Pendrive on Windows. In this step, every major operation is completed on the Command Prompt not in the Windows Powershell. These are the steps to make Pendrives Ready for Boot after inserting the proper OS there.

FAQs to Create Bootable Windows/Linux USB using CMD

How to create a Bootable USB on Windows using Command Prompt?

To create a Bootable USB Drive on Windows using CMD, the following steps should be executed.

  1. Open Command Prompt in Administrative Format.
  2. Insert the USB Drive.
  3. Select the Disk using the Diskpart command & others.
  4. Format the USB Drivers.
  5. Create a Partition if necessary.
  6. Make it activated using Active Command.

Will the USBs used for making Bootable remove every data?

Yes! The USE Device that will be used for making Bootable Pendrive along with any Operating System ISO file, will remove every content from the device. So, before going for the operation, they back up every data necessary in the device on another device.

Is it secure to make a USB Bootable Device?

Yes, it is completely secure to make a USB Bootable Device for any certain Operating System ISO File. From the device perspective, there will be no issues. Unless you downloaded a Spam ISO file from a third-party website that can cause issues to your pendrive as well as the device where you will insert it.



Last Updated : 30 Jan, 2024
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