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:

  1. Plug your USB storage device. and run Command Prompt and execute the following commands one by one.
  2. 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

  3. Now copy all setup files to USB storage device… and that’s All.
  4. 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”

  1. Jimmy Dee Avatar
    Jimmy Dee

    Is it possible to have Windows 7 and vista on a usb and choose which one to install from a menu?

  2. nitin tandon Avatar
    nitin tandon

    this info is rally thankful

  3. Ansh Jack Avatar
    Ansh Jack

    Thanks for your excellent information. It worked well with windows 7
    Thank you

  4. Mindawry Avatar
    Mindawry

    I almost never post replies on sites. This was a very well explained article and the screenshot is awesome. Thank you for saving me a lot of time. Much appreciated.

  5. Dwight Stegall Avatar
    Dwight Stegall

    Thanks for the great tutorial. It worked just like you said except I had to select drive 2. I have it on a Memorex 4 GB USB 2.0 and the files load 3 times faster than they ever did off of the CD Installation Disk.

  6. aleemsyed Avatar
    aleemsyed

    I simply admire unsung genius. heroes like you. Thank you so much, I wish a big offer from Microsoft comes your way.

    aleemsyed

  7. leofelix Avatar
    leofelix

    Excellent tutorial as usual

    Regards

  8. Max Avatar
    Max

    I can’t believe i just did it .
    It was looking hard but it was’nt , it was easy !

  9. Raz Avatar
    Raz

    Hi,
    One small comment, if the original source is large, like in AIO disks (over 4gb), then you better format fs=NTFS to allow larger than 4gb files.

    1. Author Avatar
      Author

      Absolutely right Raz ! Thank you for pointing this issue.

  10. Vijay Avatar
    Vijay

    Well eXplained Article..!!

    Cheers’
    Vj

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