🔐 Introduction

Creating a bootable USB drive is essential when you want to install or repair an operating system like Windows 10 or Windows 11.

While tools like Rufus are popular, you can also create a bootable USB drive without any third-party software using Command Prompt (CMD).

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make a bootable pen drive using CMD step by step.

🧠 Requirements

Before starting, make sure you have:

• USB drive (minimum 8GB)

• Windows ISO file

• Administrator access on your PC

🛠️ Step-by-Step: Create Bootable USB Using CMD

✅ Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

• Click Start

• Search for cmd

• Right-click → Run as Administrator

✅ Step 2: Open DiskPart Tool

Type the following command and press Enter:

diskpart

👉 This will open the Disk Partition tool.

✅ Step 3: List All Disks

list disk

👉 Identify your USB drive (based on size)

⚠️ Important:

Be very careful while selecting disk—wrong selection can erase your system data.

✅ Step 4: Select USB Disk

select disk X

👉 Replace X with your USB disk number

✅ Step 5: Clean the USB Drive

clean

👉 This will delete all data from the USB

✅ Step 6: Create Primary Partition

create partition primary

✅ Step 7: Select the Partition

select partition 1

✅ Step 8: Format the USB Drive

format fs=fat32 quick

👉 Use:

• FAT32 (recommended for compatibility)

• NTFS (for large files)

✅ Step 9: Assign Drive Letter

assign

👉 This will assign a drive letter automatically

✅ Step 10: Exit DiskPart

exit

📂 Step 11: Copy Windows Files

• Mount your ISO file

• Copy all files from ISO

• Paste into USB drive

👉 Your bootable USB is ready 🎉

🚀 Alternative: Why People Use Rufus

Tools like Rufus automate the process and are easier for beginners.

But CMD method is:

• More flexible

• Useful for troubleshooting

• Preferred by IT professionals

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Selecting wrong disk
❌ Not formatting properly
❌ Missing ISO file copy step
❌ Using wrong file system

💡 Pro Tip (From Real Experience)

If you are working in IT or networking:

👉 Always keep a bootable USB ready for:

• OS installation

• System recovery

• Troubleshooting

✅ Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB drive without Rufus is simple if you follow the correct steps. Using CMD gives you more control and is a valuable skill for IT professionals.