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This guide explains <strong>how to create a Windows bootable USB drive</strong> for the following Windows versions: <strong>Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1</strong>, <strong>Windows 10</strong>, and <strong>Windows 11</strong>.

Creating a bootable USB drive will <strong>allow you to install Windows from the USB drive</strong> directly.

To be able to install Windows from a USB, you need have one of the following:
<ul>
 	<li>the ISO image of the Windows version</li>
 	<li>or the original installation disc of the Windows version</li>
</ul>

If you don't have either, you can instead <a href="/EasyRE/">download an EasyRE ISO image</a> that can be made into a bootable USB or CD to restore your PC.
[toc]
<h2>Prerequisites</h2>
Before you start creating a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10), you need to make sure that:
<ul>
 	<li>The USB drive is empty and properly formatted</li>
 	<li>The USB drive is bootable</li>
 	<li>Your BIOS/UEFI is properly configured to boot from the USB flash drive first</li>
 	<li>You have the ISO image of Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 or 8.1. If you have the original Windows installation disc, you can use that instead of the ISO image.</li>
 	<li>Software needed to write the ISO image to the USB drive or alternatives, such as Easy USB Creator 2.0 by NeoSmart or the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool by Microsoft.</li>
</ul>
<h3>USB Drive</h3>
The USB drive you want to make bootable should have at least 4 GB in available size.
<h3>BIOS/UEFI configuration</h3>
To make sure that your BIOS/UEFI is configured to boot from a USB drive, follow our <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/boot-usb-drive/">Boot from USB drive guide</a>. You need to make sure that:

If a Boot Device menu doesn't appear on your screen where the USB drive is plugged-in, check the BIOS/UEFI settings. A Boot Device menu can look like this, depending on your computer model and Windows version:

If you are using a new computer with UEFI/EFI, make sure that the Boot Legacy option is enabled:

If you're using a computer with Fast Boot option, make sure that Fast Boot is disabled.

If your BIOS menu doesn't list a USB item in the BIOS settings, it may mean that it can't boot from a USB drive. You can try with the USB drive plugged-in and then boot into BIOS directly.

If the item doesn't appear, you need to use the original Windows installation CD or DVD to install Windows or access the repair tools.

If you need to use the repair tools of an original Windows installation CD/DVD, you can also use <strong>Easy Recovery Essentials</strong> (<a href="/EasyRE/">download link</a>) and run <strong>Automated Repair</strong> to automatically find and fix boot errors.

<a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Download Easy Recovery Essentials</a>
<h3>ISO image</h3>
If you don't have the ISO image to create the bootable USB drive, you can download an official image from Microsoft's website.

<strong>You need to have the product (or license) key.</strong>
<h2>Create a Windows XP bootable USB</h2>
You can create a bootable USB drive with Windows XP by following these instructions.
<h3>Using Easy USB Creator 2.0</h3>
Easy USB Creator can quickly convert the ISO images into bootable USB drives, <strong>with just a single click</strong>:

<strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download Easy USB Creator 2.0</a></strong>

To burn Windows XP to a USB drive using Easy USB Creator 2.0, simply follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download USB Creator 2.0</a></li>
 	<li>Install Easy USB Creator 2.0</li>
 	<li>Browse the Windows XP ISO Image to load at the <em>ISO File</em> field</li>
 	<li>Select the destination of your USB Drive at the <em>Destination Drive</em> field</li>
 	<li>Start</li>
</ol>
Easy USB Creator 2.0 supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

It's compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 plus the Windows Server editions (2003, 2008, 2012). You must have .NET Framework 2.0 or higher in order to use Easy USB Creator 2.0
<h3>If you have the installation disc (CD)</h3>
If you have the original Microsoft Windows XP Professional installation CD, you can use the CD to create a bootable USB using <a href="http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/">PE Builder</a>.

It's important to have the following before you start:
<ul>
 	<li>The Windows Server 2003 SP1 archive. If not, download from Microsoft now: <a href="https://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-Windows-Server-2003-Service-Pack-1-32-bit/3000-18513_4-75450870.html">Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (32 bit)</a></li>
 	<li>The PE Builder software (BartPE). If not, <a href="http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/">download BartPE</a></li>
 	<li>The original CD of Windows XP Professional, not a Windows XP Home CD.
<p class="warning">A Windows XP Home CD will not work.</p>
</li>
</ul>
To create the bootable drive with Windows XP, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot into the system</li>
 	<li>Download the PE Builder software from <a href="http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/">http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/</a></li>
 	<li>Install the PE Builder to <code>C:\</code>. The final path should be <code>C:\PEBuilder</code> to make the next steps easier.</li>
</ol>
Inside the PEBuilder folder, create a new folder named <code>SRSP1</code>. This folder's path should be <code>C:\PEBuilder\SRSP1</code>.
<ul>
 	<li>Download the Windows Server 2003 SP1 archive from <a href="https://download.cnet.com/Microsoft-Windows-Server-2003-Service-Pack-1-32-bit/3000-18513_4-75450870.html">http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11435</a></li>
 	<li>Rename the archive downloaded from Microsoft to <code>MS-WS-SP1.exe</code></li>
 	<li>Open <strong>Command Prompt</strong>. You can also open it by typing <code>cmd</code> in the <strong>Run</strong> dialog box and pressing <kbd>Enter</kbd> afterwards.</li>
 	<li>Type the <code>cd</code> command to go to the folder where the MS-WS-SP1.exe file exists:
<pre>cd c:\downloads</pre>
Don't type MS-WS-SP1.exe in the path above. You only need to go to the folder where the file exists.

Replace <code>c:\downloads</code> with the letter of the drive and the directory where the MS-WP-SP1.exe file exists.</li>
 	<li>Type <code>MS-WS-SP1.exe -x</code> to begin the extraction process, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Choose to extract the files to the same folder, e.g. <code>c:\downloads</code>:

[caption id="attachment_2525" align="alignnone" width="221"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2525" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/pebuilder-extract-files.jpg" alt="PEBuilder: Extract Files" width="221" height="80" /> PEBuilder: Extract Files[/caption]</li>
 	<li>In Command Prompt, you now need to go to the extract folder at the <strong>i386</strong> sub-folder.To do so, type the same <code>cd</code> command, if you're still at the c:\downloads folder in Command Prompt and you haven't created a new folder for the extracted files:
<pre>cd i386</pre>
If you created a new folder for the extract files, say Extract, in c:\downloads, update the cd command to go to that folder:
<pre>cd c:\downloads\Extract</pre>
Then, type <code>cd i386</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Once inside the i386 folder via Command Prompt, type:
<pre>copy setupldr.bin c:\PEBuilder\SRSP1</pre>
Replace <code>c:\PEBuilder\</code> with the path where the PE Builder software is installed, if this was changed in previous steps.</li>
 	<li>While still in Command Prompt, expand the ramdisk.sys file with this command:
<pre>expand -r ramdisk.sy_ c:\PEBuilder\SRSP1</pre>
Replace <code>c:\PEBuilder\</code> with the path where the PE Builder software is installed, if this was changed in previous steps.</li>
 	<li>Go to <strong>My Computer</strong></li>
 	<li>Go to <strong>PEBuilder folder</strong></li>
 	<li>Go to <strong>SRSP1</strong> folder</li>
 	<li>Check that you have the 2 files listed there: setupldr.bin and ramdisk.sys

[caption id="attachment_2526" align="alignnone" width="141"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2526" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/pebuilder-check-files.jpg" alt="PEBuilder: Check that you have the files copied" width="141" height="98" /> PEBuilder: Check that you have the files copied[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Insert the Windows XP Professional CD in the disk tray</li>
 	<li>Launch PE Builder</li>
 	<li>Make the following changes before you click Build:

[caption id="attachment_2527" align="alignnone" width="336"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2527" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/bartpe-windows-xp-usb.jpg" alt="BartPE: Configuration for Windows XP USB" width="336" height="215" /> BartPE: Configuration for Windows XP USB[/caption]
<ul>
 	<li>At the <strong>Source</strong> field, type the letter of the drive for the Windows XP CD, e.g. e:\</li>
 	<li>At the <strong>Output</strong> field, type BartPE</li>
 	<li>Leave the <strong>Custom</strong> field blank</li>
 	<li><strong>Media output</strong> should be None</li>
</ul>
</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Build</strong></li>
 	<li>When the build process is complete, click <strong>Close</strong></li>
 	<li>Go to Command Prompt and then go to the PEBuilder folder by typing the <code>cd</code> command:
<pre>cd c:\PEBuilder</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Type this command (make sure the USB flash drive is not removed) and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>pe2usb -f d:</pre>
Replace <code>d:</code> with the letter of the drive where your USB flash drive is loaded.</li>
 	<li>Type <code>YES</code>, when prompted to begin the process. Press <kbd>Enter</kbd> after typing YES.</li>
 	<li>Press any key to exit the pe2usb process, after the process is complete</li>
 	<li>Safely remove the USB flash drive from the port</li>
 	<li>Remove the Windows XP CD from the disk try</li>
 	<li>Reboot the system to check if the USB flash drive is now bootable with Windows XP Professional</li>
</ul>

If your computer doesn't boot into the USB drive directly, go to <a href="#BIOSUEFI_configuration">Prerequisites &gt; BIOS/UEFI configuration</a> or read <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/boot-usb-drive/">the Boot from USB drive</a> guide to configure your BIOS menu to boot from a USB device first.
<h2>Create a Windows Vista bootable USB</h2>
Depending if you have the ISO image of Windows Vista or the original DVD, you can use Easy USB Creator 2.0 or the diskpart utility to create the bootable USB.
<h3>If you have the ISO image</h3>
<h4>Using Easy USB Creator 2.0</h4>
Easy USB Creator can quickly convert the ISO images into bootable USB drives, <strong>with just a single click</strong>:

<strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download Easy USB Creator 2.0</a></strong>

To burn Windows Vista to a USB drive using Easy USB Creator 2.0, simply follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download USB Creator 2.0</a></li>
 	<li>Install Easy USB Creator 2.0</li>
 	<li>Browse the Windows Vista ISO Image to load at the <em>ISO File</em> field</li>
 	<li>Select the destination of your USB Drive at the <em>Destination Drive</em> field</li>
 	<li>Start</li>
</ol>
Easy USB Creator 2.0 supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

<h3>If you have the installation disc (DVD)</h3>
To create a bootable USB with Windows Vista and install the operating system from that USB drive, follow the steps.

You'll be using the <strong>diskpart</strong> utility, available in Windows Vista, to make the USB drive bootable. You'll copy the files from the installation disc (DVD) to the USB drive after the diskpart utility process is finished.

The instructions are:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot your computer</li>
 	<li>Open <strong>Command Prompt</strong> and run it as Administrator.You can go at Start &gt; All Programs Accessories &gt; Command Prompt or type <code>cmd</code> in the search field.To run Command Prompt as Administrator, right-click on the Command Prompt item and select Run as Administrator.</li>
 	<li>When Command Prompt opens, type this command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>cd c:\windows\system32</pre>
Replace <code>c:\</code> with the letter of the driver where your Windows Vista is installed: C:\, D:\ etc.</li>
 	<li>Insert the USB flash drive in the USB port</li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>diskpart</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type:
<pre>list disk</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>After you press Enter for the list disk command, Command Prompt will list the drives that are connected to your computer. Find the USB drive and its corresponding number.

[caption id="attachment_2530" align="alignnone" width="564"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2530" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/cmd-list-disk.jpg" alt="Command Prompt: list disk" width="564" height="74" /> Command Prompt: list disk[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Then, type this command:
<pre>select disk X</pre>
Where <code>X</code> is the number of the USB flash drive listed by Command Prompt.

The confirmation message should be:
<pre>Disk 1 is now the selected disk.</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>clean</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>create partition primary</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>select partition 1</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>active</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type this command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> afterwards:
<pre>format fs=ntfs</pre>
It may take a few minutes to format the entire USB flash drive, depending on its size. However, you can use the quick parameter to format the drive more quickly:
<pre>format fs=ntfs quick</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Type <code>assign</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>exit</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Insert the Windows Vista DVD in the optical drive</li>
 	<li>Go to <strong>My Computer</strong></li>
 	<li>Note the letter of the drive where the Windows Vista DVD is loaded, e.g. D:\, E:\</li>
 	<li>Go back to Command Prompt and check if the USB flash drive has been formatted</li>
 	<li>When the format process is complete, type this command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>d: cd boot</pre>
Replace <code>D:</code> with the letter of the drive where the Windows Vista DVD is loaded</li>
 	<li>Then type <code>cd boot</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type this command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>bootsect.exe /nt60 f:</pre>
Where <code>f:</code> is the letter of the drive where your USB flash drive is loaded</li>
 	<li>Copy all files from the Windows Vista DVD on the USB flash drive.To open the contents of the DVD (and not load the splash screen of the Windows Vista DVD), right-click on the drive and click Open.</li>
</ol>
If you followed the above instructions correctly, the USB flash drive should now be bootable with Windows Vista.

You can check this by plugging the USB and rebooting the system. To make sure that your computer boots from a USB drive first, and not from the hard disk, go to <a href="#BIOSUEFI_configuration">BIOS/UEFI configuration</a>.
<h2>Create a Windows 7 bootable USB</h2>
You can create the bootable USB drive with Windows 7, if:
<ul>
 	<li>you have the ISO image of Windows 7</li>
 	<li>or you have the original installation DVD of Windows 7</li>
</ul>
<h3>If you have the ISO image</h3>
<h4>Using Easy USB Creator 2.0</h4>
Easy USB Creator can quickly convert the ISO images into bootable USB drives, <strong>with just a single click</strong>:

<strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download Easy USB Creator 2.0</a></strong>

To burn Windows 7 to a USB drive using Easy USB Creator 2.0, simply follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download USB Creator 2.0</a></li>
 	<li>Install Easy USB Creator 2.0</li>
 	<li>Browse the Windows 7 ISO Image to load at the <em>ISO File</em> field</li>
 	<li>Select the destination of your USB Drive at the <em>Destination Drive</em> field</li>
 	<li>Start</li>
</ol>
Easy USB Creator 2.0 supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

Before you continue with these instructions, please make sure that:
<ul>
 	<li>You have the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool downloaded. If not, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210718224228/https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=wudt">download Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</a> now.</li>
 	<li>You have the Windows 7 ISO Image ready</li>
</ul>
The instructions are:
<ol>
 	<li>Download Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210718224228/https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=wudt">http://wudt.codeplex.com/</a> and launch it</li>
 	<li>At the <em>Source File</em> field, click <strong>Browse</strong> and find the Windows 7 ISO image on your computer and load it

[caption id="attachment_2524" align="alignnone" width="554"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2524" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool-source-file.png" alt="Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Source File" width="554" height="233" /> Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Source File[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>USB Device</strong></li>
 	<li>Select the USB flash drive from the drop down menu</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Begin copying</strong></li>
 	<li>Exit the application, when the process is complete</li>
</ol>
<h3>If you have the installation disc (DVD)</h3>
You can use a USB flash drive (see <a href="#Prerequisites">Prerequisites</a> for more information) to install Windows 7 from.

To do so, you need to make the USB flash drive bootable first and then use the original Windows 7 installation disc (DVD) to copy the contents of the DVD to the USB drive.

The diskpart utility, part of Windows 7, will be used.

Follow these steps (similar to <a href="#If_you_have_the_installation_disc_DVD">Create a Windows Vista bootable USB &gt; If you have an installation disc</a>):
<ol>
 	<li>Start the computer</li>
 	<li>Open <strong>Command Prompt</strong> as Administrator. Go at Start &gt; All Programs Accessories &gt; right-click on the Command Prompt item and select Run as Administrator.</li>
 	<li>Enter the password for the Administrator account</li>
 	<li>At Command Prompt, type:
<pre>cd c:\windows\system32</pre>
Replace <code>c:\</code> with the letter of the driver where your Windows 7 is installed: C:\, D:\ etc.</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Insert the USB drive that you want to make bootable in an available port</li>
 	<li>Type <code>diskpart</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>list disk</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>

[caption id="attachment_2530" align="alignnone" width="564"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2530" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/cmd-list-disk.jpg" alt="Command Prompt: list disk" width="564" height="74" /> Command Prompt: list disk[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Find the USB drive and its corresponding number in the list provided by Command Prompt</li>
 	<li>Type this command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>select disk X</pre>
Where <code>X</code> is the number of the USB drive listed by Command Prompt above.

The confirmation message should be:
<pre>Disk 1 is now the selected disk.</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Type <code>clean</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>create partition primary</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>select partition 1</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>active</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>format fs=ntfs</code> and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>.</li>
</ol>
You can use the quick parameter to format the drive more quickly: <code>format fs=ntfs quick</code>
<ul>
 	<li>Insert the Windows 7 DVD and go to My Computer. Note the letter of the drive where the DVD is loaded, e.g. D:\, E:\</li>
 	<li>Type <code>assign</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>exit</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>After the format process is complete, type this command in Command Prompt and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>d: cd boot</pre>
Where <code>d:</code> with the letter of the drive where the Windows 7 DVD is loaded.</li>
 	<li>Type <code>cd boot</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type this command and press Enter:
<pre>bootsect.exe /nt60 f:</pre>
Where <code>f:</code> is the letter of the drive where the USB flash drive is loaded</li>
 	<li>Open the contents of the Windows 7 DVD: right-click on the drive and click <strong>Open</strong></li>
 	<li>Copy all files from the DVD to the USB</li>
</ul>

<h2>Create a Windows 8 / 8.1 bootable USB</h2>
Depending if you have the ISO image of Windows Vista or the original DVD, you can use Easy USB Creator 2.0 to create the USB if you have the ISO image or the diskpart utility to create the bootable USB, if you have the DVD.
<h3>If you have the ISO image</h3>
<h4>Using Easy USB Creator 2.0</h4>
Easy USB Creator can quickly convert the ISO images into bootable USB drives, <strong>with just a single click</strong>:

<strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download Easy USB Creator 2.0</a></strong>

To burn Windows 8 or 8.1 to a USB drive using Easy USB Creator 2.0, simply follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download USB Creator 2.0</a></li>
 	<li>Install Easy USB Creator 2.0</li>
 	<li>Browse the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 ISO Image to load at the <em>ISO File</em> field</li>
 	<li>Select the destination of your USB Drive at the <em>Destination Drive</em> field</li>
 	<li>Start</li>
</ol>
Easy USB Creator 2.0 supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

It's compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 plus the Windows Server editions (2003, 2008, 2012). You must have .NET Framework 2.0 or higher in order to use Easy USB Creator 2.0
<h4>Using Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</h4>
The <a href="https://www.techspot.com/downloads/4911-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html">Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</a> is available to download and you can use it to create a bootable ISO image from the ISO image you purchased and downloaded from Microsoft.
<p class="info">While the name is "Windows 7", you can use this tool on a Windows 8 or 8.1 system too.</p>
Before you continue with these instructions, please make sure that:
<ul>
 	<li>You have the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool downloaded. If not, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210718224228/https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=wudt">download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</a> now.</li>
 	<li>You have the Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO Image ready</li>
</ul>
The instructions are:
<ol>
 	<li>Launch the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</li>
 	<li>At the <em>Source File</em> field, click <strong>Browse</strong> and find the Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO image on your computer

[caption id="attachment_2524" align="alignnone" width="554"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2524" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool-source-file.png" alt="Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Source File" width="554" height="233" /> Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Source File[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Click Next</li>
 	<li>Insert the USB flash drive in an available port on your computer. Make sure it's loaded in My Computer.</li>
 	<li>At Step 2, select <strong>USB Device</strong> to write the ISO image to the USB drive. You can click DVD to write the ISO image to a DVD instead.

[caption id="attachment_2528" align="alignnone" width="554"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2528" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool-step-2.png" alt="Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Choose Media Type" width="554" height="233" /> Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Choose Media Type[/caption]</li>
 	<li>At Step 3, select the USB flash drive from the drop down menu. If the drive isn't loaded yet, you can click on the <strong>Refresh</strong> icon next to the drop down menu.</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Begin copying</strong></li>
 	<li>When done, exit the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

[caption id="attachment_2529" align="alignnone" width="554"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2529" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool-done.png" alt="Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Done" width="554" height="233" /> Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Done[/caption]</li>
</ol>
<h3>If you have the installation disc (DVD)</h3>
If you have the original installation disc (DVD) of Microsoft Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 you can create a bootable USB drive.

To do so, follow the steps below:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot into Windows 8 or 8.1</li>
 	<li>Open <strong>Command Prompt as Administrator</strong>. To do so, press the [winkey] and <kbd>C</kbd> key to search for <code>cmd</code>. From the search results list, right-click on Command Prompt
<img src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-8-search-results-cmd.jpg" /></li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Run as administrator
</strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/11/Windows-10-Command-Prompt-Run-as-Administrator.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-5604 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/11/Windows-10-Command-Prompt-Run-as-Administrator.png" alt="" width="420" height="261" /></a></li>
 	<li>Enter the password, when prompted</li>
 	<li>When Command Prompt opens, type this command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>diskpart</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Insert the USB flash drive in the port</li>
 	<li>Type <code>list disk</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd>

[caption id="attachment_2530" align="alignnone" width="564"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2530" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/cmd-list-disk.jpg" alt="Command Prompt: list disk" width="564" height="74" /> Command Prompt: list disk[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Identify the number next of the USB drive in the list provided by the list disk command</li>
 	<li>Type <code>select disk X</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd>. Replace <code>X</code> with the number of the USB drive listed from above steps.

[caption id="attachment_2531" align="alignnone" width="564"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2531" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/cmd-select-disk-1.jpg" alt="Command Prompt: select disk" width="564" height="101" /> Command Prompt: select disk[/caption]

<strong><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download Easy USB Creator 2.0</a></strong>

To burn Windows 10 to a USB drive using Easy USB Creator 2.0, simply follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/UsbCreator/">Download USB Creator 2.0</a></li>
 	<li>Install Easy USB Creator 2.0</li>
 	<li>Browse the Windows 10 ISO Image to load at the <em>ISO File</em> field</li>
 	<li>Select the destination of your USB Drive at the <em>Destination Drive</em> field</li>
 	<li>Start</li>
</ol>
Easy USB Creator 2.0 supports both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.

It's compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 plus the Windows Server editions (2003, 2008, 2012). You must have .NET Framework 2.0 or higher in order to use Easy USB Creator 2.0
<h4>Using Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</h4>
The <a href="https://www.techspot.com/downloads/4911-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html">Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</a> is available to download and you can use it to create a bootable ISO image from the ISO image you purchased and downloaded from Microsoft.
<p class="info">While the name is "Windows 7", you can use this tool on a Windows 10 system too.</p>
Before you continue with these instructions, please make sure that:
<ul>
 	<li>You have the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool downloaded. If not, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210718224228/https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=wudt">download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</a> now.</li>
 	<li>You have the Windows 10 ISO Image ready</li>
</ul>
The instructions are:
<ol>
 	<li>Launch the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</li>
 	<li>At the <em>Source File</em> field, click <strong>Browse</strong> and find the Windows 10 ISO image on your computer

[caption id="attachment_2524" align="alignnone" width="554"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2524" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool-source-file.png" alt="Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Source File" width="554" height="233" /> Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Source File[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Click Next</li>
 	<li>Insert the USB flash drive in an available port on your computer. Make sure it's loaded in My Computer.</li>
 	<li>At Step 2, select <strong>USB Device</strong> to write the ISO image to the USB drive. You can click DVD to write the ISO image to a DVD instead.

To do so, follow the steps below:
<ol>
 	<li>Boot into Windows 10</li>
 	<li>Open <strong>Command Prompt as Administrator</strong>. To do so, press the [winkey] and <kbd>C</kbd> key to search for <code>cmd</code>. From the search results list, make sure <strong>Command Prompt</strong> is the chosen result than use the "Run as Administrator" option on the side:
<a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/11/Windows-10-Command-Prompt-Run-as-Administrator.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-5604 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/11/Windows-10-Command-Prompt-Run-as-Administrator.png" alt="" width="420" height="261" /></a></li>
 	<li>Enter the password, when prompted</li>
 	<li>When Command Prompt opens, type this command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>diskpart</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Insert the USB flash drive in the port</li>
 	<li>Type <code>list disk</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd>

[caption id="attachment_2530" align="alignnone" width="564"]<img class="wp-image-2530 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/cmd-list-disk.jpg" alt="Command Prompt: list disk" width="564" height="74" /> Command Prompt: list disk[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Identify the number next of the USB drive in the list provided by the list disk command</li>
 	<li>Type <code>select disk X</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd>. Replace <code>X</code> with the number of the USB drive listed from above steps.

The confirmation message should be:
<pre>Disk 1 is now the selected disk.</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Type <code>clean</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>create partition primary</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>select partition 1</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>active</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>format fs=ntfs</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd>. To have the USB drive formatted more quickly, add the quick parameter: <code>format fs=ntfs quick</code></li>
 	<li>Type <code>assign</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Type <code>exit</code>, press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li>
 	<li>Copy the contents of the Windows 10 DVD to the USB flash drive</li>
</ol>
<h2>Troubleshooting</h2>
<h3>Setup cannot find the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA)</h3>
You may receive this error when trying to write a Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1) ISO Image to a USB drive and make it bootable:
<pre>Setup cannot find the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) Setup cannot continue.

To Quit, Press F3</pre>
If so, the ISO image might be corrupted. In this case, you can try:
<ul>
 	<li>download a new ISO image from Microsoft</li>
 	<li>use the original installation disc instead to create the bootable drive (instructions for using the disc instead of the ISO image are available in this guide for all Windows versions)</li>
 	<li>use <a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/">Easy Recovery Essentials</a> if you're looking for accessing repair tools. Run EasyRE's Automated Repair feature to automatically scan and fix various boot errors. <a href="https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/Features/">Other features are available</a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Download Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool</h3>
To download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, go to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210718224228/https://archive.codeplex.com/?p=wudt">http://wudt.codeplex.com/</a>.
<h3>Bootable USB will not boot</h3>
To make sure that the USB drive will boot when starting your computer, make sure that:
<ul>
 	<li>Your BIOS configuration allows USB drives to boot first and then boot from hard disk. Follow the steps from <a href="#BIOSUEFI_configuration">BIOS/UEFI configuration</a> or the <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/boot-usb-drive/">our Boot from USB drive guide</a>.</li>
</ul>
If you created the bootable USB drive using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, new computers with UEFI might not boot from the USB as it's been formatted using NTFS and not FAT32.

To get around this, follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>After the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool successfully created the bootable USB drive, go to <strong>My Computer</strong> and copy all contents from the USB drive to a folder on your <strong>Desktop</strong>

[caption id="attachment_2529" align="alignnone" width="554"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2529" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/09/windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool-done.png" alt="Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Done" width="554" height="233" /> Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool: Done[/caption]</li>
 	<li>Right-click on the USB Drive in My Computer and format it as <strong>FAT32</strong></li>
 	<li>After the format process is complete, copy all files from the folder you created on your Desktop back to the USB drive</li>
</ol>
<h2>More Information</h2>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,vista,7,8,10,11,server2003,server2008,server2012"]