How to create bootable Windows 8 USB Stick using DISKPART

Gone are the days, when we used to burn CD and DVDs to install operating systems. Now all modern operating systems lets you install using PEN Drive / USB Storage Device / USB Stick. And this article describes step by step guide to format and create bootable Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 USB Stick.

Prerequisites:

Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 ISO or installation files
A 4GB USB 2.0 Storage device (Its recommended to use USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 device for optimal performance)

How To:

Plug your USB storage device. and run Command Prompt and execute the following commands one by one.

Diskpart
Run Disk partition utility

List disk
To get disk index that is used to perform disk partitioning.

Select disk n
Selects disk n to perform disk partitioning. n is the number for your USB flash drive you obtained from above command.

Clean
Flush your existing all USB drive’s partitions.

Create partition primary
Creates a partition as primary partition.

Active
Set the partition as active to hold bootmgr.

Format FS=NTFS QUICK
Perform a quick format on the USB Flash drive

Assign
Assign a drive letter to the partition

Exit
To quit Diskpart utility

Now copy all setup files to USB storage device… and that’s All.
Re-boot your PC with it, you will be able to boot and install Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 using USB Stick.

Note: If you face any trouble to boot with it or unable to boot, try this FIX.

I:\Boot\Bootsect.exe /NT60 I:
Where I: is the drive letter of USB Stick

25 responses to “How to create bootable Windows 8 USB Stick using DISKPART”

Andrew E. Komlos

2013-03-22

Here is a very ezway to setting up a USB device to install an operating system.

1.) install gburner (PURCHASE REQUIRED).
2.) after install and software is registered, click the “COPY” button and then browse for the ISO image file.
3.) click on the “WRITE USB”, (IF FOR SOME REASON THE PROGRAM DOES NOT SEE YOUR USB DEVICE,, REINSTALL GBURNER AND THEN RERUN.
4.) once the program see’s your USB device, it will need to be formatted, (LET IT DO THIS).
5.) once formatted it will start writing files to the USB device, let it finish, now you have a bootable USB device with either XP, Vista, 7 or 8.

Reply
PommieMJ

2012-06-14

awesome! thanks for the clear and easy steps to follow

Reply
brainy

2012-01-05

its because its already active :)

Reply
Philory

2011-10-07

I tried this several and it doesn’t work because I can’t set the USB drive to Active. That option is grayed out. So how do you guys do it?

Reply
K.A.

2011-09-15

there is only 1 disk listed in cmd..and is necessary to the operation of the computer.what do i do?

Reply
Levent

2011-06-11

This is very easy for everybody.

Also you may this from your Windows Control Panel.

Administrative Tools
Computer Management
Storage
Disk Management

Select your USB disk and Format (quick)
Right click on the USB Disk
Set as Active

Copy your files from DVD directly,
or
Copy your files from an ISO file by WinRar or IsoBuster or Daemon Tools or similar programs…

Reply
baroque_obama

2011-04-30

I tried a number of other disc-less vista installation options, including flashboot, and this was the only one that worked. Thanks a lot!

Reply
mostafa

2010-11-29

WHAT IS MEANT BY UPDATED FAT32 FILESYSTEM BOOTCODE. THE UPDATE MAY BE UNRELIABLE SINE THE VOLUME COULD NOT BE LOCKED DURING THE UPDATE:
ACCESS IS DENIED.

Reply
war6000

2010-11-04

you can do it on the command promt.
-just click start and type cmd (windows vista/7)
-once u r on the black screen just change the letter “I” for whatever your usb drive letter is.

Reply
L

2010-09-01

Umm, where can you start the FIX?

Reply