In today’s digital age, flexibility and convenience often top the list of priorities for many tech enthusiasts. Whether it’s for urgent system recovery, OS installation, or just having a portable version of your preferred Windows operating system, creating a bootable USB drive is a skill worth mastering. The internet is brimming with countless tools and solutions designed to transform your USB flash drive into a Windows bootable device. Some might recall the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool, a reliable option for crafting a bootable USB or DVD directly from an ISO file. AnyBurn, on the other hand, brings a more diversified palette of features, allowing users to not only create bootable USB drives but also burn and craft images across different media types, including CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and even other USB drives. Microsoft hasn’t lagged behind either, offering its official Windows USB/DVD Download Tool for the very purpose.
Yet, amidst this vast landscape of tools, EasyBCD stands out. Esteemed for its versatility, EasyBCD boasts capabilities that extend beyond mere bootable drive creation. It’s a masterclass in managing boot entries, allowing users to add, remove, and modify them with finesse. But, the true brilliance of EasyBCD shines when you realize the simplicity behind its intricate functionalities. Crafting a bootable Windows USB drive is reduced to just a few intuitive clicks.
Of course, purists might gravitate towards native solutions like the command prompt or opt for the widely-acclaimed Rufus to create a bootable flash drive for diverse Windows OS iterations ranging from the nostalgic Windows 7 to the latest Windows 11.
However, this guide aims to demystify the process of using EasyBCD for this purpose. Journey with us as we delve deep into the steps to equip your USB drive with bootable Windows magic using the prowess of EasyBCD.
How to use the EasyBCD tool to create a bootable Windows 11/10/8/7 USB Drive?
Follow these steps to use the EasyBCD tool to create a bootable Windows 11/10/8/7 USB drive:-
Step 1: To begin, download, install, and run the latest version of the EasyBCD utility (The link is at the end of this article).
Step 2: Next, connect the USB flash drive to your computer.
Step 3: Find the Format option by right-clicking on the USB flash drive. We recommend you copy all the data from the USB drive before proceeding with the formatting process.
Step 4: Go to the File System drop-down menu and select exFAT.
Step 5: Click on the Start button.
Step 6: After the completion of the formatting process, run the EasyBCD utility tool.
Step 7: Click the BCD Deployment button.
Step 8: Select the USB drive in the Partition drop-down that you want to make bootable. You will find it under the “Create Bootable External Media” section.
Step 9: Now, click on the Install BCD button and wait for the Bootable Disk Created dialog box to appear.
Step 10: Click on the Yes button and close the EasyBCD tool.
Step 11: Next, you need to copy all installation files from Windows OS DVD or ISO file to a USB flash drive.
Note: You can use WinRAR software to extract the contents of ISO.
Once you copy all the files and folders into the USB flash drive, you can install Windows 11/10/8.1/7 using it.
Once you have created a bootable USB flash drive, you can test it without installation using MobaLiveCD. MobaLiveCD freeware utility is used to test a bootable CD/DVD/USB drive without actually installing it on your computer or laptop.
Download EasyBCD
You can download EasyBCD from here.
Conclusion
Creating a bootable USB drive is an invaluable skill in today’s tech-forward world. Amongst the many tools available, EasyBCD shines with its user-friendly interface and versatility, making the process of crafting a bootable Windows USB a breeze. Follow the detailed steps above and harness the power of EasyBCD to transform your USB drive into a portal for Windows magic.
