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
- Press
Win + R, type cmd, and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open Command
Prompt with administrative privileges.
- 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:
- Start
Disk Partition Tool:
diskpart
- List
Available Disks:
list disk
Identify your USB drive (e.g., Disk 1) based on its size.
- Select
the USB Drive:
select disk X
(Replace X with the number corresponding to your USB drive.)
- Clean
the USB Drive:
clean
- Create
a New Partition:
create partition primary
- 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 )
- Assign
a Drive Letter:
assign
- Exit
Diskpart:
exit
Step 4: Make the USB Bootable
- Navigate
to the folder where the Windows 11 ISO file is located.
- Mount
the ISO by double-clicking it. Note the assigned drive letter (e.g., D:).
- 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
- Navigate
to the USB drive:
cd /d E:\boot
(Replace E: with your USB drive letter.)
- 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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