Step-by-Step Guide: Creating a Bootable USB from an ISO Image using PowerShell

Jun 24 2023 June 24, 2023 July 10, 2023 No Comment by blog of solvia.ch

Embarking on the journey to create a Windows bootable USB installer can often seem daunting, particularly when the convenience of an Internet connection is absent to download the necessary software for creating bootable media. However, there’s a silver lining – PowerShell. Bundled with the most recent iterations of Windows, PowerShell is a powerful tool that is capable of accomplishing this task without requiring any extra software installations. It serves as an efficient, built-in solution for your bootable USB creation needs.

Essential Components for Crafting a Windows Bootable USB: What You Need

1. A Minimum of 8GB USB Flash Drive: Ensure sufficient space for the Windows ISO files with a flash drive of at least 8GB.

2. The Latest Windows ISO File: Keep your system up-to-date by using the most recent Windows ISO file.

3. A Windows OS with PowerShell 4 or Above: Compatibility is key – make sure your Windows version comes equipped with PowerShell 4 or higher to facilitate this process.

Getting Your USB Ready: Steps to Follow

After successfully meeting the prerequisites outlined above, it’s time to proceed to the next stage. Begin by plugging in your USB flash drive into your computer. Following that, execute the below command to fetch the drive number as well as other pertinent details relating to your flash drive.

				
					Get-Disk | where BusType -eq 'USB'

Important Reminder Ensure that your USB flash drive is correctly listed and take note of your specific USB Flash drive number. This information will play a crucial role in the upcoming commands. In our demonstration, the USB drive number is designated as '1'. However, based on your system setup, your USB drive number might be identical or different. Always double-check for accuracy to avoid any mishaps."

Up Next: Clearing the USB Flash Drive

Moving forward, our next step involves executing a command to clear the contents of your USB Flash drive. This process ensures that your flash drive is primed and ready for the upcoming bootable media creation. Please follow along with the command given below.

				
					Clear-Disk -Number 1 -RemoveData -Confirm:$false -PassThru

Setting the Stage: Formatting Your USB Flash Drive

Having successfully cleared your USB, the subsequent action involves establishing a partition and formatting it utilizing the NTFS file system. This process can be accomplished by executing the command outlined below in your PowerShell console. Remember, every step brings you closer to creating a fully functional bootable USB from your ISO.

				
					New-Partition -DiskNumber 1 -UseMaximumSize -AssignDriveLetter | Format-Volume -FileSystem NTFS

Important Point to Remember Upon completion of the format process, it's crucial to jot down the Drive Letter assigned to the newly created partition. Additionally, confirm that the new File System is indeed set to NTFS. These details are significant in the smooth progression of creating your bootable USB.

Information In my case, as you can see on the screenshot, 'D' was the Drive Letter assigned to my USB Flash Drive. Your assigned Drive Letter may differ depending on your system's configuration, and it's essential to use the correct letter in your own process.

Progressing Forward: Mounting the Windows ISO File

Having successfully formatted your USB Flash Drive using the NTFS file system, it’s now time to mount the Windows ISO file. This crucial step can be accomplished by executing the subsequent command. Following the steps accurately will ensure the creation of your bootable USB without any hitches.

Note for Clarity For the purpose of this demonstration, we're mounting a Windows 10 ISO file. But don't let that restrict you. This procedure is versatile and applicable to a wide variety of Windows Operating Systems. Whether you're dealing with Windows 10, 11, 12 or even various editions of Windows Server like 2012, 2016, 2019, or 2022, the steps involved in creating a bootable USB from an ISO image using PowerShell remain consistent.

				
					Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath "c:\win10.iso"

Moving Ahead: Determining the Drive Letter for Your Windows ISO File

Our subsequent step involves identifying the Drive Letter that has been assigned to your Windows ISO file. This can be achieved by running the command below. Understanding the correct Drive Letter is crucial to the successful creation of your bootable USB.

				
					Get-CimInstance Win32_LogicalDisk | ?{ $_.DriveType -eq 5} | select DeviceID

Key Point to Remember Be sure to jot down the DeviceId, which is the Drive Letter assigned to your Windows ISO file. This detail is vital for the upcoming command and will ensure a smooth continuation of your bootable USB creation process.

Transferring Data: Copying from ISO to USB

As we progress, our next step involves running the ‘xcopy’ command. This command allows us to copy all content from the mounted Windows ISO file to our USB drive. Performing this action accurately is a critical component of creating a successful bootable USB.

Key Details The 'xcopy' function primarily requires two inputs - the source and the destination. In the upcoming command, the source is our mounted ISO file, designated by the Drive Letter 'G', while the destination is our USB Flash Drive, assigned with the Drive Letter 'E'. The final parameter in the command, '/e', signals to the 'xcopy' function that our aim is to transfer everything from the source to the destination. Understanding these elements will enable a smooth data transfer during the creation of your bootable USB.

				
					xcopy E:\ D:\ /e

Patience is Key: Await the Copying Process

With the command executed, the copying process is now underway. Transferring all the files to your USB flash drive might take some time depending on your system and the file size. So, sit back, relax, and let PowerShell do the heavy lifting for you as it creates your bootable USB.

Congratulations! Your Bootable USB is Ready for Use

Well done! Your patience and careful execution have paid off. You now have a fully functional, bootable USB drive that can be utilized to install Windows. Whether you’re setting up a new system or updating an existing one, this handy tool is ready to serve your needs.

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