Can USB be reused after install

cb2367

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I have a 16GB USB flash drive that I will plan to format and download the Windows ISO file to. I wondered if I would be able to reuse the flash drive after installing Windows? Would I be able to add other files to the drive or does it have to remain strictly a Windows install flash drive? In the event that I needed to, would I be able to download Windows again just as long as I keep the product key?
 

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Yes, you can reuse it and yes you can add other files to it but to keep it clean, create a folder and put your personal files in it.
For example, I created a folder called Software and put all the third party applications in it so after Windows Installation, I can install the rest.
 

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Good to know I can do that. I was thinking that I could use the remaining space for driver updates that I might need after I get the system up and running.
 

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One thing to consider is the format type.
I format all my usb drives as NTFS & not Fat 32.

If you format as Fat 32, the file sizes will be limited to 4 GBs each.

With NTFS the file sizes are in the Exabyte range. :)

[FONT=open_sansbold]File Size Matters[/FONT]
[FONT=open_sansregular]FAT32 file size support tops out at 4GB and volume size tops out at 2TB. This means that you're limited to 2TB FAT32 partitions if you want to use a 4TB drive. It also means that you are limited to 4GB files. This is a concern with uncompressed high-definition movie files, where 30GB files are not unheard of. Theoretically, NTFS is limited by design to 16EB (Exabytes). One Exabyte is the equivalent of one billion Gigabytes, so we're quite a ways away from maxing out NTFS. In practice, 2 to 4TB volumes are the limit at this time. Larger volumes will require a 64-bit OS and compatible hardware.[/FONT]
 

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As you can see in the picture, there is 1, 20.2 GB file.

The usb is formatted as NTFS.
If it was Fat 32 it would have 5, 4 GB files & 1, .2 GB file.
6 total.

screenshot_130.jpg
 

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Sorry for getting in :),
So EACH FILE size is limited to 4GB in Fat32 ?

Can i use Rufus to format to ntfs, or is there any other?

For windows iso to work, I've heard sometimes FAT32 only works, is that correct?
 

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Sorry for getting in :),
So EACH FILE size is limited to 4GB in Fat32 ?

Can i use Rufus to format to ntfs, or is there any other?

For windows iso to work, I've heard sometimes FAT32 only works, is that correct?

I don't know anything about ISOs.

To format a usb to ntfs, insert it & open it to view files & right click it & set the format to ntfs---

screenshot_130.jpg

4 GBs---
[FONT=open_sansregular]It also means that you are limited to 4GB files.[/FONT]
 

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Hi there

If you create separate partitions on the USB stick you can create a FAT32 and a NTFS partition if you need to -- create say 4GB for Windows ISO and 8 GB for your other data.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Myself, I have many usb drives.

If I wanted Fat or Fat 32 I would make it so.
or ntfs if I wanted that.

I didn't mind spending the money buying them.
If you take care of them they last years & years.

I keep mine in pill bottles with labels.
 

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Ok :)

David,

Allocation unit size is default 4096 bytes? It's same for both fat32 & ntfs?

The flash drives I have usually goes through the hands of many of my friends for copying files, ISOs etc. & finally come to me after some time, so I consider it as rough use :(

@Jimbo
so for ISO - fat32 works usually is it? How can I partition USB, just like HDD?
 

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Ok :)

David,

Allocation unit size is default 4096 bytes? It's same for both fat32 & ntfs?

The flash drives I have usually goes through the hands of many of my friends for copying files, ISOs etc. & finally come to me after some time, so I consider it as rough use :(

@Jimbo
so for ISO - fat32 works usually is it? How can I partition USB, just like HDD?

I'll use a 32 GB usb & format it as Fat 32 & create a system image on it to show you the difference.
My computer is 1.4 GHz.{maybe 2 hours}--- I'll be back.

edit--- the default for Fat 32 is 8192.

screenshot_130.jpg

EDIT---- I am wrong !!! :(

See topgun's post further on.....

He explains it very well. :)
 
Last edited:

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Hi there

To create multiple partitions on a USB drive / stick

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK NN (NN is the USB HDD)
CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

Now EXIT - don't Format the partition.

Then either use Windows Disk management or something like GPARTED to re-size the partition and create new one(s) (just like a standard HDD) and format it whether NTFS or FAT 32.

Here's an 8GB USB stick I've got with 3 Partitions on it -- a small GRUB2 boot partition, Linux kernel partition (a / partition) and a Linux user partition (/HOME) - OK this is Linux but you can create Windows partitions if you want -- I use this USB stick as a "Rescue" system with a load of programs / data in the /home partition. The Linux kernel - especially from a Live CD system can be around 1GB - this is plenty for this type of system - that's all that's needed !!-- WINDOWS : Please note !!!!.



Q.E.D !!!!

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Ok ,

David, will you be able to make system image (usually >4gigs ) in a FAT32 partitioned USB?

Jimbo, thanks for that :)
 

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I had read in a tutorial that one of the first steps was to format the flash drive into FAT32. Sounds like NTFS is the better option.
 

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Ok ,

David, will you be able to make system image (usually >4gigs ) in a FAT32 partitioned USB?

Jimbo, thanks for that :)

I'm back.

Just made one.

Here is ntfs format---{1 main file}

screenshot_130.jpg

Here is the same thing as Fat 32---{6 main files}

screenshot_132.jpg
 

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I had read in a tutorial that one of the first steps was to format the flash drive into FAT32. Sounds like NTFS is the better option.

The Fat 32 image is awkward to use for me so I use ntfs. Much better, I think.
My ntfs images work good.No problems. :)
 

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    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
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    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
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    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
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Hi there

To create multiple partitions on a USB drive / stick

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK NN (NN is the USB HDD)
CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

Now EXIT - don't Format the partition.

Then either use Windows Disk management or something like GPARTED to re-size the partition and create new one(s) (just like a standard HDD) and format it whether NTFS or FAT 32.

Here's an 8GB USB stick I've got with 3 Partitions on it -- a small GRUB2 boot partition, Linux kernel partition (a / partition) and a Linux user partition (/HOME) - OK this is Linux but you can create Windows partitions if you want -- I use this USB stick as a "Rescue" system with a load of programs / data in the /home partition. The Linux kernel - especially from a Live CD system can be around 1GB - this is plenty for this type of system - that's all that's needed !!-- WINDOWS : Please note !!!!.



Q.E.D !!!!

Cheers
jimbo
Note on a 'removable' drive (like most USB Flash drives), Windows will only recognise the first raw or Windows-formatted primary partition in the partition table.

Therefore for Windows you will have to do as topgundcp said and put your extra stuff in another folder. That is also what I do as it is useful to have a boot disk. The extra folder is ignored by the installer should you run install from it again.

And no, you can't save a system image on FAT32 - it has to be NTFS. This is not just due to size limitations but also 'security' apparently.

Source: Why does local backup 'require' NTFS when network backup - Microsoft Community
 

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    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
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    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
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Hi there

To create multiple partitions on a USB drive / stick

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK NN (NN is the USB HDD)
CLEAN

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

Now EXIT - don't Format the partition.

Then either use Windows Disk management or something like GPARTED to re-size the partition and create new one(s) (just like a standard HDD) and format it whether NTFS or FAT 32.

Here's an 8GB USB stick I've got with 3 Partitions on it -- a small GRUB2 boot partition, Linux kernel partition (a / partition) and a Linux user partition (/HOME) - OK this is Linux but you can create Windows partitions if you want -- I use this USB stick as a "Rescue" system with a load of programs / data in the /home partition. The Linux kernel - especially from a Live CD system can be around 1GB - this is plenty for this type of system - that's all that's needed !!-- WINDOWS : Please note !!!!.



Q.E.D !!!!

Cheers
jimbo
Note on a 'removable' drive (like most USB Flash drives), Windows will only recognise the first raw or Windows-formatted primary partition in the partition table.

Therefore for Windows you will have to do as topgundcp said and put your extra stuff in another folder. That is also what I do as it is useful to have a boot disk. The extra folder is ignored by the installer should you run install from it again.

And no, you can't save a system image on FAT32 - it has to be NTFS. This is not just due to size limitations but also 'security' apparently.

Source: Why does local backup 'require' NTFS when network backup - Microsoft Community



Hi there

It works fine on Linux with two NTFS partitions created by GPARTED - however on Windows though I agree only the ist one is accessible !!!

I usually work with Linux these days so when the device was mounted read / write with NTFS partitions (/dev/sdb1 and /dev/sdb2) I assume Windows would see them too. !!

Obviously I was wrong - although conversely Windows CAN access both /dev/sdb1 and /dev/sdb2 when the device is stored on the Linux system !!!!!.

So we do make mistakes !!! happens to everybody. Still can't understand why Windows just doesn't treat the USB drive as a "Disk" though -.


Cheers
jimbo
 

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Keep in mind that if your installing Windows in UEFI mode, some PC's require the thumb drive to be formatted in FAT for it to work. If you format the thumb drive in NTFS you may not get the UEFI install option in the boot menu and won't be able to do a UEFI install. I prefer NTFS over FAT or FAT32, especially for large capacity thumb drives.
 

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