How to Boot from a USB Drive: A Step-by-Step Guide

Need to boot up USB stick in Windows 8/10/11

Installing Windows 8/10/11: Creating a Windows 8/10/11 bootable USB drive via CMD and boot your computer from it, then you can install Windows 8 from the USB easily.

Using the same Windows 8/10/11 environment everywhere: Making a Windows 8/10/11 To Go boot disk with a USB drive. You’ll get Windows 8/10/11 portable workspace. On any compatible device, you can boot from the USB for working under a familiar personalized Windows 8 OS.

Repair corrupted OS: Create a Windows 8 repair boot USB drive. Make your unbootable OS to boot Windows from the USB drive, and then you can repair boot failure through rebuilding MBR and so on.

Format/delete system partition: It’s not allowed to delete or format the partition that hold OS within Windows. Thus, you can run your PC from created bootable USB and then get rid of system partition.

Create a boot up USB stick with AOMEI Partition Assistant

A more straightforward method for making a working USB drive is to use AOMEI Partition Assistant. "Windows To Go Creator" and "Make Bootable Media" are the two features it offers. Formatter can make a portable system on a flash drive, and latter can make a Win PE device. It is a tool for Windows systems that is easy to use. During these two steps, the pendrive will be formatted straight, making it easy to make a bootable drive. You can try out this test version to see how it works.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

Download Freeware
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

Step 2. In the main interface, click “Tools” on the top toolbar. Then choose “Windows To Go Creator” from the drop-down menu.

Step 3. In the next screen, choose “Create Window To Go for personal computer” and click “Next”.

✍Note: If your computer is Mac, you should choose “Create Windows ToGo for Mac computer” to boot Windows mac from USB external drive.

Step 4. Then choose “Create Windows ToGo with system disc/ISO” and select the installation file, and click “Next”.

Step 5. In this window, the program will detect the pendrive. If it doesn’t, click the refresh button. And the USB will be formatted, please back up the data in advance. And click “Proceed”.

You get a portable system when you use AOMEI Partition Assistant to make a pendrive usable. You can take it anywhere to start a computer, even a brand-new one. Also, make sure the bootable USB drive is the first object that is inserted when you turn it on.

What’s more, AOMEI Partition Assistant also provides a feature “Make Bootable Media” that you can create Windows PE bootable pendrive to start your computer for repairing boot issues caused by corrupted Master Boot Record, bad sectors on the main hard drive.

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB stick for Windows 8/10/11 is essential for various tasks, such as installing a new OS, carrying a portable workspace, repairing a corrupted OS, or formatting/deleting system partitions. AOMEI Partition Assistant simplifies this process with its "Windows To Go Creator" and "Make Bootable Media" features, providing a user-friendly method to create bootable USB drives. This tool ensures you can easily start your computer from a USB drive, making it a valuable asset for both everyday use and emergency situations.

FAQs

1. Why should I create a bootable USB stick for Windows 8/10/11? A bootable USB stick is useful for installing the OS, having a portable workspace, repairing a corrupted OS, and formatting or deleting system partitions.

2. How can I create a bootable USB drive using CMD for Windows 8/10/11? Using CMD, you can create a bootable USB drive by formatting the USB, copying the Windows installation files, and setting the partition as active. Detailed steps can be found in various online guides.

3. What are the benefits of using AOMEI Partition Assistant for creating a bootable USB drive? AOMEI Partition Assistant offers an easy-to-use interface, supports creating both portable Windows environments and Windows PE bootable media, and ensures data safety during the process.

4. Can I use a bootable USB drive on any computer? Yes, as long as the computer meets the necessary hardware requirements and supports booting from a USB drive, you can use the bootable USB to start or install Windows on it.

5. What should I do if my USB drive is not detected during the bootable USB creation process? If your USB drive is not detected, click the refresh button in the AOMEI Partition Assistant. Ensure the USB is properly connected and, if necessary, try using a different USB port or drive.