NOTE: This method is compatible with all recent versions of the Windows operating system, including the latest Windows 10.
We here at Into Windows love installing Windows operating system from USB flash drive. Over the last couple of years, we have posted a number of articles covering methods and free tools out there to create bootable USB drive and install Windows from the USB drive or external hard drive.
Even though there are plenty of tools out there to prepare bootable USB without having to open the Command Prompt, all these tools have one downside in common. When you are preparing bootable USB with the help of one of these tools, you’ll lose all data on the USB flash drive. That is, your USB drive will be erased before beginning to transfer setup files on to your connected USB drive. In simple words, these tools don’t let you create bootable Windows USB drive without formatting it.
Popular tools, including Rufus and Microsoft’s own Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool need to format the drive first to make it bootable. While we can always backup data from USB drive to a location on the hard drive, users who have tens of GBs of data on the USB drive and don’t have enough free space on the hard drive might want to know how to prepare a bootable Windows USB drive without having to format the selected USB drive.
Luckily, there is a free (free for personal use only) tool out there to help you create a bootable Windows 7/8/8.1 USB drive without destroying the data on the USB. The tool you need is the very popular EasyBCD, it’s the same tool that we use to edit boot menu and change various boot settings. I know, most users aren’t aware of the fact that EasyBCD can be used to create bootable USB as well.
In this guide, we will show you how you can use EasyBCD software to prepare a bootable USB without formatting it.
IMPORTANT: This guide might not work if your USB drive is in the NTFS file system. During our test, we noticed that the USB drive must be formatted in the FAT32 file system. If the file system is NTFS, you might get an error while booting from USB.
Creating bootable Windows USB drive without formatting the drive
Step 1: Copy all files from your Windows 10/8.1/7 DVD or extract the contents of the ISO file to the root of the USB drive. Be sure to copy all files to the root of the USB drive and you shouldn’t copy setup files into a folder.
Step 2: Download EasyBCD (it’s just 1.54 MB) and install the same on the PC on which you’re preparing the bootable USB.
Step 3: Fire up EasyBCD program. Click Yes button when you see the UAC dialog box.
Step 4: Once EasyBCD is running, click BCD Deployment button (located in the left side).
Step 5: Now, on the right side, under Create external bootable media section, select the USB drive that you would like to make bootable without formatting and then click Install BCD button.
Click Yes button when you see the following dialog.
That’s it! Your USB drive is bootable now. Once done, you can check if your USB drive is really bootable by following our how to test if a Windows USB drive is bootable guide. The recently reviewed Win Toolkit also lets you make your USB bootable without formatting it.
Hope this helps!
ifzal says
we fellow these steps but our usb is not chang into bootable usb .
plz guid us
biboy says
it will not erased or destroy my data ?
Anthony says
This Easy BCD program ** did ** format my flash drive! It formatted my flash drive with FAT 32 and ** erased everything ** that was on my drive!
Thankfully I had backed up everything before I tried Easy BCD.
Lukong says
Good question though cause I used my USB Drive (64GB) to back my the stuff -not a lot due to limit of SSD- from SS Drive –120GB = 96GB after Reset, 75GB = 24GB is Steam, 22GB is PS2, 14GB From System & 13GB Windows.Old in which I just found out is used for Rollback, but I can’t use it…THEN WHY THE HELL DID MICROSOFT LEAVE IT THERE–
Forget it I found out the Answer, I was going to ask if exFAT can be used for Boot OS Window 7 (I hear it can’t), but Microsoft can only format FAT32 on a 32GB space so I have to turn to Third Party Apps for my 64GB USB stick (But now I have to move/backup everything off my USB Stick again…happy this isn’t a heavy couch and a feng shui moment).
Microsoft completely crush the dream of an all-in-one technology…The only reason I have a Flash Drive is Android USB Drivers have to be installed otherwise I would upgrade to a 128GB MicroSD and partition, etc.
Lukong says
I’m happy EasyBCD saw that this needed to happen, because the problem I have is I only keep 1 USB Drive (64GB) and the only other storage I would have besides my SS Drive is my MicroSD Cards (32GB and 2GB).
And I do remember using that program for Dual Booting (Though I had to sign up for a better Version), but its hilarious that it is helping out again…Its like one those all-in-one apps that avoid the hassle of having multiple programs just for a few things.
admin says
@ WikiForce
I guess, I doesn’t work with XP.
WikiForce says
Does it work with Windows XP as well?
admin says
Yes, should work with Windows 10 as well.
Koste says
Does this method suitable for WINDOWS 10 ? Anyone tried this out with win 10 maybe?
john says
STEP 6:
Add New Entry on EasyBCD Toolbox -> WinPE on Portable/External Media -> Path “x\sources\boot.wim” -> Add Entry
Egenius says
THX !!
Finally, i was sure i can create an usb bootable without STUPIDLY erase everything !!!
chakibovic says
sorry it’s useless
admin says
Jose, sorry, I am not sure.
Jose says
Does it also work with a linux distribution insted of Windows?
DEBANSHU ROUT says
I want to dual boot my laptop. I have Windows 8.1 currently installed and want to also have LINUX OS.
Please help.