How To Set Up A Flash Drive

1. How To Set Up A Flash Drive For Windows 10
2. Installing Flash Drive To Computer
3. Flash Drive Tutorial For Seniors

Connect the USB flash drive to a new PC. Turn on the PC and press the key that opens the boot-device selection menu for the computer, such as the Esc/F10/F12 keys. Select the option that boots the PC from the USB flash drive. I need to be able to work off a flash drive when at work or traveling, and I want to sync that (only the changes) with a folder on my home PC. I need it to sync both ways so that if changes are made in the home C folder it is transferred to the USB drive (once it is inserted), and vice versa.

This is how I configure USB flash drives so that I can install Windows from USB (WAY faster than using a disk).

11 Steps total

Step 1: Insert the USB drive into the computer, and make sure you can see it in Explorer.

Step 2: Launch a Command Prompt

All typing from this point will be done in this same window.

Step 3: Type: DISKPART {ENTER}

This will start DISKPART.exe, which we will use to get this drive formatted and bootable.

Step 4: Type: list disk {ENTER}

All typing from this point will be done in this same window.

Step 3: Type: DISKPART {ENTER}

This will start DISKPART.exe, which we will use to get this drive formatted and bootable.

Step 4: Type: list disk {ENTER}

This will give you a list of installed disks, but they are labeled using the disk's number, not the name or drive letter (though it does show the size). If you are not sure which disk you want, open Disk Management, they are listed by all three identifiers there.

Attached is a pic of what this looks like on a Windows 7 machine.

WARNING:
If you select the wrong disk here, you will lose data, and possible overwrite your OS. Be sure you have the right disk selected.

Step 5: Type: select disk x {ENTER}

Where x = the disk number you want to format.

In the case of the example image it would be Disk 3, so to select the disk, type: select disk 3 {ENTER}

Remember to substitute the correct number for the disk you want to select. How to reset my usb flash drive.

Step 6: Type: clean {ENTER}

This will wipe the disk.

Step 7: Type: create partition primary {ENTER}

This will create a new partition on the drive.

Step 8: Type: select partition 1 {ENTER}

This will select the partition you just created.

Step 9: Type: active {ENTER}

This will set the partition to active (this is what allows a computer to boot from a drive).

Step 10: Type: FORMAT FS=FAT32 {ENTER}

How to download adobe photoshop cs6 full version. Wait for it to get to 100% complete, this will format the drive using the Fat32 file system.

Step 11: Type ASSIGN {ENTER}

This will assign a drive letter to the drive in Explorer.

Now you should have a USB disk ready for the OS source files (you can either extract them directly from an ISO file, or just copy them from an install disk).

Using this, I was able to install Windows 7 x64 on an HP Elite 7000 in just under 7 minutes from first boot to desktop.

How To Set Up A Flash Drive For Windows 10

21 Comments

• Datil
  Panda (w bold) Mar 10, 2010 at 07:03pm

  Good how-to, nice and easy to understand.

• Serrano
  Ian Nolan Mar 11, 2010 at 03:58am

  Great how to thanks for taking the time to write it up

• Pure Capsaicin
  Justin.Davison Mar 11, 2010 at 08:16am

  Thanks for sharing, concisely written and easy to follow. Great Job.

• Tabasco
  ITMikeNJ Mar 16, 2010 at 09:34am

  Thanks for the write-up. Makes the whole process simple and it is a valuable tool.

• Jalapeno
  GadJeff Mar 19, 2010 at 08:30am

  Looks alot like this this one:
  http://sbs.seandaniel.com/2009/10/how-to-make-usb-thumb-drive-bootable.html

  Not sure why Sean chooses NTFS in step #10 instead of FAT32.

• Habanero
  Thereal_Joe Mar 19, 2010 at 01:19pm

  This is a really common way to do this, it's much easier than using the HP drive prep tool, and cheaper (free) than some other tools). Just out of curiosity I ran a search for this, and there are numerous tutorials out there on how to do this (and most of them are very similar).

  I can't think of a good reason to use NTFS for this, if anything it would limit the usefulness of the tool.

• Cayenne
  Mark1950 Apr 13, 2010 at 03:21pm

  Good info!!

• Thai Pepper
  Jim H Apr 13, 2010 at 04:04pm

  I spent 4 hours last Friday searching the internet and trying different ways to do this. I guess I'll learn to search SpiceWorks first!! Thanks Joe.

• Thai Pepper
  manclncjj Apr 13, 2010 at 04:09pm

  FAT32 has File and disk size limitations that can cause issues so I use NTFS.

• Datil
  John2851 Apr 13, 2010 at 06:04pm

  Fantastic Directions! One minor issue is that with Win XP diskpart will not see most removable disks so a Vista/Win 7 PC is needed. I know, minor but wanted to leave that comment for others before they spend too much time - honestly like I did when I first used diskpart - on trying WIn XP with this.

• Anaheim
  Don_OB Apr 15, 2010 at 02:39pm

  Has anyone had an issue with this working? I can see the USB drive, but it will not show up in DISKPART. I see the Disk # in Disk Management, but it's not showing up in DOS.

  Is this only a Win7 thing?

  Thoughts?

• Habanero
  Thereal_Joe Apr 15, 2010 at 03:35pm

  I've not seen this in Win7 (and I've done this very thing several times on Win7 machines). Has this drive been used to boot Linux in the past perhaps? Can you read/write to the drive in the OS outside of the command prompt? Can you address the drive from within the command prompt, but not using the diskpart utility (basically can you list the contents of the drive in a command prompt)?

  The only time I've ever had an issue where diskpart didn't see a flash drive, it was a drive that I had used previously to boot Knoppix.

• Anaheim
  Suhoy Apr 19, 2010 at 04:22pm

  After you did all instructions above, do following in order to make USB bootable:
  Insert your Windows 7 DVD in the optical drive
  Go back to command prompt and execute the following commands:

  D: and hit enter. Where 'D' is your DVD drive letter.
  CD BOOT and hit enter.
  BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 H: and hit enter. (Where 'H' is your USB drive letter)
  Copy Windows 7 DVD contents (including hidden) files to USB.

  I was able to boot and install Windows 7 from USB, it was much faster than from original DVD.

• Sonora
  CEV May 4, 2010 at 09:07am

  What is the minimum size flash drive that should be used when doing this? Can it be done on a 2GB drive?

• Pimiento
  Sennan Jun 24, 2010 at 08:55pm

  @CEV Minimum is 4gb USB stick to fit the contents of the Win7 DVD.

  Another thing to note is that you cannot make a bootable Win7 64 installer USB with a 32 bit operating system.

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Summary: If you don't want to remember and type your Windows or Mac password to log in, you can use your USB flash drive to store and enter your password automatically. It is secure, automatic and fast.
Log-on user name and password are automatically entered as soon as you plug in the USB drive, and when you pull it out, the computer is locked.

Here you will learn how to make a USB drive into an access token and how it affects your computer security.

To Set up USB flash drive for Windows login

1. Download and install Rohos Logon software.
   Download Mac version.
2. Start program (Click Start -> Programs -> Rohos)
3. Plug in your USB flash drive
4. Click Setup USB Key link
   • Next you should type your Windows password
   • If you don't use a password you should create one using Change password dialog

Installing Flash Drive To Computer

When you press Setup USB Key button Rohos Logon will turn this USB drive into a hardware key to access your computer (USB Key¹).

By default, Rohos Logon creates your login-profile (a file) on the USB flash drive memory. This profile contains User name, computer name and AES encryption key to generate your password in the login moment (but not a password in a plain form).

Rohos Logon program uses NIST² approved encryption algorithm and securely handles your password using NIST recommended principles. How 2 take screenshot.

Using 2-factor login

You can protect your USB Key using PIN code. This will prevent anyone else using it to log into your PC. PIN code allows you to use well known 2-factor authentication principle:

1. Something that you have in your hand – USB Key
2. A password that you have in you mind – PIN codeUnique feature: Rohos program offers a user-friendly PIN entry keypad to let you enter the code with your mouse, or by keyboard. This eliminates any danger posed by hidden key logging software. Visual PIN keypad allows to better memorize PIN code.

How PIN code works:

• You need to enter it every time you log in using USB Key or unlock computer
• If an invalid PIN is entered more than 3 times, the USB Key is blocked (cannot be used for login).

Most users think that PIN code is the same as password, but this is incorrect. For example Windows and Ma� OS allows unlimited number of attempts to enter user password. In this case password should be more or less strong to prevent brute force attack. But PIN code has limited attempts to enter. So there is no chance that anyone can guess it by entering a lot of variants.

Using big and secure Windows password

If you are using USB stick for Windows logon you can change your password into big one and more secure using Rohos Password generator dialog

Protect your computer by USB Key

Flash Drive Tutorial For Seniors

You can set up Rohos Logon Key to strongly require USB Key to access your computer.
Open options dialog box and check Allow to log in only using USB Key flag.

Emergency Logon

It helps you to access Windows in emergency case: USB Key lost or damaged, you forgot PIN code, USB port is broken