No Third Party Software Bootable windows 10/11 pendrive

Create a Bootable USB Drive for Windows 10/11 Using CMD

Creating a bootable USB drive for Windows 11 using the Command Prompt (CMD) is an efficient and straightforward method. Unlike third-party tools, using CMD ensures full control over the process and reduces the risk of errors. This guide will walk you through each step in detail, ensuring you have a fully functional bootable USB drive for installing Windows 11 on any compatible PC.


Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have the following:

  • A USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage (16GB or more recommended for smoother performance).
  • A Windows 11 ISO file, which you can download from Microsoft's official website.
  • Administrator access to your Windows PC.
  • A stable power supply to avoid interruptions during the process.

Why Use CMD Instead of Third-Party Tools?

Many users prefer third-party software, but CMD is an inbuilt tool in windows which provides more control and is useful when third-party tools are not an option. It ensures a clean, error-free, zero-charges installation process and is especially beneficial for IT professionals or users troubleshooting complex installations.

 

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Insert the USB Drive

Plug your USB flash drive into an available USB port on your computer. Ensure no important data is stored on it, as the process will erase all existing files.

Step 2: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

  1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.
  2. A User Account Control (UAC) prompt may appear—click Yes to proceed.

Step 3: Use Diskpart to Prepare the USB Drive

Type the following commands in the Command Prompt one by one, pressing Enter after each:

  1. Start Disk Partition Tool:

diskpart

  1. List Available Disks:

list disk

Identify your USB drive (e.g., Disk 1) based on its size.

  1. Select the USB Drive:

select disk X

(Replace X with the number corresponding to your USB drive.)

  1. Clean the USB Drive:

clean

  1. Create a New Partition:

create partition primary

  1. Format the USB Drive as NTFS or FAT32:

format fs=ntfs quick

(If NTFS fails to boot, use format fs=fat32 quick if your system requires FAT32 )

  1. Assign a Drive Letter:

assign

  1. Exit Diskpart:

exit

Step 4: Make the USB Bootable

  1. Navigate to the folder where the Windows 11 ISO file is located.
  2. Mount the ISO by double-clicking it. Note the assigned drive letter (e.g., D:).
  3. Use the following command to copy the Windows installation files to the USB drive:

xcopy D:\*.* /s/e/f E:\

(Replace D: with the ISO drive letter and E: with the USB drive letter.)

Step 5: Set the USB Drive as Bootable

  1. Navigate to the USB drive:

cd /d E:\boot

(Replace E: with your USB drive letter.)

  1. Run the following command:

bootsect /nt60 E:

This command ensures that the USB drive is bootable on both legacy BIOS and UEFI-based systems.

 

Step 6: Finalizing and Booting from USB

  • Safely eject the USB drive to avoid data corruption.
  • Insert it into the target computer.
  • Restart the computer and enter BIOS/UEFI (usually by pressing F2, F12, DEL, or ESC during startup).
  • Navigate to the Boot Options and set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
  • Save changes and exit BIOS/UEFI.
  • The Windows 11 installation process should begin. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  • USB Drive Not Recognized: Try inserting it into a different USB port or using a different USB drive.
  • Bootable USB Not Detected: Ensure the USB drive is properly formatted and set as the primary boot device in BIOS.
  • Error During File Transfer: Make sure the Windows 11 ISO is not corrupted. Re-download it from Microsoft's official website if needed.
  • Secure Boot Restrictions: Some modern systems may require you to disable Secure Boot in BIOS before booting from a USB.

 

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