How to Make a USB Bootable

1. 1
   Insert your USB into your computer. When your computer finally recognizes it, open the command prompt. There are a couple of different ways of doing it depending on your operating system.
   • This does not work on Windows XP.
   • Vista/Windows 7:
     • Start > (type in the search bar) cmd , Right click on cmd and run as administrator.
       
       
       

       
2. 2
   Once inside the command prompt, type in: diskpart , then press Enter.
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   • After that, a new window, diskpart, will appear.
     
     
     

     
3. 3
   Once inside this new window, type in: list disk . All active drives will be displayed to the command prompt.
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   • After that is done, you will want to select your USB. Typically, it's always the smallest one in size, so you will always be able to tell which one it is. Type in: select disk 1 .
     
     
     

     
     
     
     
   • Clean your USB. Be sure to back up all data stored on the USB you are using, because you will lose all your data in this step. Type in: clean .
     
     
     

     
4. 4
   Now you will create a partition for the USB. Type in: create partition primary .
   
   
   

   
5. 5
   Type in: select partition 1 . This will select the partition you have just created.
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   • Now type in: active . This will make the partition active on the USB.
     
     
     

     
6. 6
   Format your USB. This could take awhile depending on the size of the drive and the processing power of your computer. It could take anywhere from a few seconds to 45 minutes. Type in: format fs=ntfs .
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   • Once completed, type in: assign .
     
     
     

     
7. 7
   Congratulations, you now have a bootable USB.Type "exit" in command prompt
8. 8
   Now.Insert your Windows DVD in the optical drive and note down the drive letter of the optical drive and USB media. Here I use “D” as my optical (DVD) drive letter and “H” as my USB drive letter.
   • Go back to command prompt and execute the following commands:
   • D: CD BOOT and hit enter. Where “D” is your DVD drive letter.
   • CD BOOT and hit enter.
   • After that type BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 H: and hit enter. (Where “H” is your USB drive letter).
   • OR IF USING WINDOWS XP WITH NTLDR AND NOT BOOTMGR USE BOOTSEC.EXE/NT52 H:
     
     
     

      USB Drive
9. 9
   Once you have done that,Open the DVD from windows explorer(My computer). You might have to right-click, then click on "Open". select all that you see and transfer to your USB.
   
   
   

   
10. 10
    Install your operating system. You will have to go into your BIOS, which can only be accessed when your computer first turns on. You have the option, when the computer boots, to press F2 key and access your BIOS. When you enter your BIOS, make sure your USB is plugged in and go to boot options and then boot device priority and make sure your USB is the first one on the list. That way when your computer reboots, it will load from the USB, thus enabling you to install your Operating System.