Booting from a USB key

By bob21
in Hardware Hangout

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bob21

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Im having a weird problem here with a new USB key i bought today , Im trying to set the partition to active so i can boot from it but i cant select the partition

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7100]

Copyright © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7100

Copyright © 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.

On computer: HPHDX

DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt

-------- ------------- ------- ------- --- ---

Disk 0 Online 149 GB 0 B

Disk 1 Online 149 GB 0 B

Disk 2 Online 7876 MB 0 B

DISKPART> select disk 2

Disk 2 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> list partition

Partition ### Type Size Offset

------------- ---------------- ------- -------

* Partition 1 Primary 7876 MB 0 B

DISKPART> select partition 1

There is no partition selected.

Ive tried windows disk management , Partition and pargon Partition manager with no luck . Can anyone suggest what might be the problem ?

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lars77

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Posted
DISKPART> list partition

Partition ### Type Size Offset

------------- ---------------- ------- -------

* Partition 1 Primary 7876 MB 0 B

I thought if the partition has a * to the left of it that means it's already selected. What happens if you issue the "active" command to make it active, rather than attempting to re-select partition 1?

In vista attempting to re-select a selected partition would result in it saying "Partition 1 is now the selected partition.", maybe the message you're seeing is specific to Windows 7? I'm not using Windows 7 here so I couldn't tell you offhand.

BTW, for what it's worth, if diskpart doesn't work for you I know for sure that GParted can do this easily.

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gregrocker

Posted
Posted

I just use UltraISO (trial) load ISO and select Bootable>Write Disk Image. It will format and create a bootable USB flash from scratch. You can even load all kinds of other apps and files on there afterward as long as you don't mess with the ISO files which must remain in the root.

However if you want to add other ISO's to make bootable on the same flash you need a boot manager which is hyper complicated. Anyone know an easier way?

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