How to Make Bootable Flash Drive

By Daniel Ketchum, eHow Contributor

updated: August 22, 2009
I want to do this!

A bootable flash drive is a flash drive that boots up when you start your system. Having a bootable
flash drive comes in very handy if you ever want to install an operating system on your flash drive.
While the process for making your flash drive bootable is complex, it is doable if you carefully follow
a few steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions
1. 1

Make a separate copy of all the contents of the flash drive you want to keep. Insert
the flash drive into a USB port on your computer.

2. 2

Go to "Start," type in "cmd" and click "Enter." This will bring up the "Command
Prompt." Type in "diskpart" and hit "Enter." The "diskpart" window will open.

3. 3

Type in "list disk" and hit "Enter." In the listed disk drives, find the flash drive. You
will be able to recognize it by its listed size. For the purpose of this article, let's say
that it is listed as "disk 1," although it could be some other number. Type in "select
disk 1" and click "Enter."

4. 4

Type in "clean" and hit "Enter." This will remove everything on the drive. Now create
a partition. Type in "create partition primary" and click "Enter." Then type in "select
partition 1" and hit "Enter." Now type in "active" and hit "Enter."

5. 5

Type in "format fs=fat32 quick" and hit "Enter." This will format the drive. Then, type
in "assign" and hit "Enter." This will assign a letter to the flash drive, such as "G."
Finally, type in "exit", hit Enter and you are done.
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