How to make an ISO of a bootable USB flash drive?

antares

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Hi all, I'd like to make an ISO image of a bootable USB flash drive so I can later use it to burn to another USB flash drive that would act as a clone of the 1st one. I tried PowerISO and UltraISO without success. Any ideas? Thanks
 

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I think one good safe way to duplicate USB sticks are to "clone" them; however, let's see what others may say.
 

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So how do you clone them?
 

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Macrium Reflect probably can clone USB stick A onto USB stick B; I use Acronis True Image myself, and it can clone from A to B.
Addendum: Later poster is correct -- ATIH cannot/will not clone to USB sticks.
 
Last edited:

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    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
Yes, I use Acronis True Image too, but I always thought it can only clone hard drives and SSD's, not USB flash drives. Will give it a try.
UPDATE: I can confirm that Acronis True Image 2015 cannot clone USB flash drives, only SSD's and HD'.s.
 

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I assume you have windows 8.1 and you need certain files in your windows\system32 folder that are not present on your current system..

oscdimg is a MS tool for creating ISO's > https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824847.aspx

And the Command Line is >
Oscdimg -bootdata:2#p0,e,bEtfsboot.com#pEF,e,bEfisys.bin -h -m -o -u1 -udfver102 S:\ T:\name.iso

The last two entires
S:\ = the source directory and/or folder for the iso files
T:\Name.iso = the Target directory and file name and iso extension for the New ISO
 

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What am I missing here?
Wouldn't it be easier to connect the old USB drive and the new one and copy the drive?
 

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I assume you have windows 8.1 and you need certain files in your windows\system32 folder that are not present on your current system..

oscdimg is a MS tool for creating ISO's > https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh824847.aspx

And the Command Line is >
Oscdimg -bootdata:2#p0,e,bEtfsboot.com#pEF,e,bEfisys.bin -h -m -o -u1 -udfver102 S:\ T:\name.iso

The last two entires
S:\ = the source directory and/or folder for the iso files
T:\Name.iso = the Target directory and file name and iso extension for the New ISO
Thanks KYH, I'll test it!

How about something like this: Download ImageUSB - MajorGeeks
That looks promising, I'll have to test it, thanks.

What am I missing here?
Wouldn't it be easier to connect the old USB drive and the new one and copy the drive?
You mean a copy/paste operation? No, that won't do it, you can't copy the boot sector this way, so the new drive will not be bootable.
 

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    Windows 8.1x64 Pro
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    Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4 2400MHz
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    Samsung 256GB 830 Series SSD main+HGST 4TB 7200RPM as 2nd internal
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    Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 850W TPG-850M
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 650DW-1 Midtower
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    Logitech K800
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    NIS2014
I think if you save a sector-by-sector image backup with Acronis it should work. That's how I backup my bootable flash drives and I have restored them successfully.

You have to be sure that you are saving and restoring the MBR, that's where the ISO boot code resides.

Also, make sure the flash is exFAT or Fat32, not NTFS.
 

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To answer what you intend to do. The easiest way to make an ISO from the USB stick:
  1. Download: PortableAppZ: UltraISO 9.6.2.3059 Multilingual
  2. Run Ultra ISO and open the USB stick with file explorer, select all, drag and drop into Ultra ISO then File->Save as ISO.

1.png

NOTE: If you can not use drag & Drop, then click on Actions->Add Directory then select the USB
 

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To answer what you intend to do. The easiest way to make an ISO from the USB stick:
  1. Download: PortableAppZ: UltraISO 9.6.2.3059 Multilingual
  2. Run Ultra ISO and open the USB stick with file explorer, select all, drag and drop into Ultra ISO then File->Save as ISO.
If the ISO created using the procedure you describe is "burned" back to a USB flash drive (using UltraISO, Rufus, or any other app), will that USB flash drive be bootable? Will it be a clone of the original flash drive?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1x64 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    self made
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Z170-A
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4 2400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 530
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 23EA53 23" LED IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 32bit
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 256GB 830 Series SSD main+HGST 4TB 7200RPM as 2nd internal
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 850W TPG-850M
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 650DW-1 Midtower
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    Noctua NH-D14
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    Logitech K800
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Iso burned back should be exactly same as it was before making it. Exact copy bit by bit, bootable if it was before.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    Home made
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    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
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    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
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    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Iso burned back should be exactly same as it was before making it. Exact copy bit by bit, bootable if it was before.
Reason I asked is that many times when you create an ISO of a bootable media, and depending on the app used, you need to go into Advanced Options and specify to include the boot sector files, otherwise the ISO created will not be bootable, just a copy of the files.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1x64 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    self made
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Z170-A
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR4 2400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 530
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 23EA53 23" LED IPS
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 32bit
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 256GB 830 Series SSD main+HGST 4TB 7200RPM as 2nd internal
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 850W TPG-850M
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 650DW-1 Midtower
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech K800
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Antivirus
    NIS2014
Program I gave you link to, makes exact copy of whole content of the USB, together with BOOT sector but in .BIN format although it can burn .ISI and .IMG format. There is an option to mage only BOOT sector but I haven't tried that. Another good program is PowerISO but I don't think it's free.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
To answer what you intend to do. The easiest way to make an ISO from the USB stick:
  1. Download: PortableAppZ: UltraISO 9.6.2.3059 Multilingual
  2. Run Ultra ISO and open the USB stick with file explorer, select all, drag and drop into Ultra ISO then File->Save as ISO.
If the ISO created using the procedure you describe is "burned" back to a USB flash drive (using UltraISO, Rufus, or any other app), will that USB flash drive be bootable? Will it be a clone of the original flash drive?
No problem with that. You can even use Winzip/Winrar to unzip it to the USB drive and it'll boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
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