Question about creating a bootable USB flash drive

mibaup

New Member
Messages
81
Hello,

I wanted to create a bootable USB flash drive, and I saw that some flash drive aren't bootbale, like the one that I have, a SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0. (I saw in the reviews on Amazon so I didn't even try).
Is there a list of bootable flash drives I can use to create an installation media for my Windows 8.1?
(Btw, how come a USB flash drive isn't bootable? what's causing it? just wondering how it works :))

Thanks

**Edit: I decided to create a list for everyone to see what's working and what's not,
feel free to contribute :D :

Success
Transcend USB 3.0 16Gb
Team Group F108 64G
PNY Turbo 3.0 - 32GB
Lexar Jumpdrive M10 Secure 64GB USB 3.0
Patriot Rage 3.0 32GB
Sandisk Cruzer Edge 8GB


Failure

Kingston DataTraveler 100 G3 32 GB
Kingston DT R3.0 USB 3.0 32Gb
ADATA Pro s102 - 32GB USB 3.0
Sandisk Extreme 3.0 32GB
Sandisk Cruzer Blade USB 2.0 Flash Drive 32GB
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    i5-4210m
    Memory
    4GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 m230 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Switchable Graphics)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
Basically stay away from those that say "Windows 8 Compatible", they tend to be treated like a hard disk flash drive.

This is a list of what I have found.

Success

Transcend USB 3.0 16Gb
Team Group F108 64G
PNY Turbo 3.0 - 32GB
Lexar Jumpdrive M10 Secure 64GB USB 3.0
Patriot Rage 3.0 32GB

Failure

Kingston DataTraveler 100 G3 32 GB
Kingston DT R3.0 USB 3.0 32Gb
ADATA Pro s102 - 32GB USB 3.0
Sandisk Extreme 3.0 32GB
Sandisk Cruzer Blade USB 2.0 Flash Drive 32GB
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 Update 1 Pro 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pavillion H8-1202
    CPU
    I7-2600 @ 3.4 GHz
    Motherboard
    PEGATRON
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NIVDIA GeForce GT 520
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC656GR CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster S22B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080 32 bit color
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500GB
    Keyboard
    Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
Thanks!
Btw, why is it not bootable? And, is there a way to make my SanDisk extreme bootable?

Anyone else feel free to add to the list, I can edit main post so that everyone will see :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    i5-4210m
    Memory
    4GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 m230 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Switchable Graphics)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
It is bootable but booting up is not the problem. With the Sandisk USB 3.0, just the windows setup won't work. It will initialize, start the setup, get to the disk partitioning step and then it simply won't be able to create any partition (or even use the existing Correct one) to install windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 Update 1 Pro 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pavillion H8-1202
    CPU
    I7-2600 @ 3.4 GHz
    Motherboard
    PEGATRON
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NIVDIA GeForce GT 520
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC656GR CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster S22B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080 32 bit color
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500GB
    Keyboard
    Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
It's how you prepare the drive that makes it bootable not who makes it. Also, Windows To Go certified drives show up as fixed disks where your normal USB flash drives show up as removable media. I have some Sandisk thumb drives that also show up as fixed disks. I can still make them bootable if I want though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
What I have found is that at least with SanDisk, it they won't boot. I'll delete the partition completely =Clean, then create a primary fat 32 partition. Then they will boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
Sandisk Cruzer Edge 8GB working as a bootable drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire E1-571
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer Type-2
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Sound Card
    High Definiton Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256GB
    PSU
    Generic
    Keyboard
    QWERTY
    Mouse
    ELANTECH Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    12.68Mbps
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Basically stay away from those that say "Windows 8 Compatible", they tend to be treated like a hard disk flash drive.

This is a list of what I have found.

Success

Transcend USB 3.0 16Gb
Maybe you have the exact model name of the Transcend? there are a few, thanks :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    i5-4210m
    Memory
    4GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 m230 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Switchable Graphics)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
I believe all 4 models work OK
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 Update 1 Pro 64bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pavillion H8-1202
    CPU
    I7-2600 @ 3.4 GHz
    Motherboard
    PEGATRON
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NIVDIA GeForce GT 520
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC656GR CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster S22B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080 32 bit color
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO SSD 500GB
    Keyboard
    Razer Blackwidow Ultimate 2013
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
@ alphanumeric,
Would you share your prep procedure? I have a Lexar 2GB 2.0 that I'm wanting to boot Slax off of. It works with my Mushkin and my Silicon Power. I've re-partitioned with Windows and GParted. I've used the .bat files in the Linux distros. I've used Bootice, Rufus, Unetbootin and some others that I can't recall. I've never used disk-part because I didn't think it would help with booting Linux. I have flipped the removable bit both ways, tried Ultraiso's HDD and Zip Drive and everything in my BIOS. It used to boot, I just don't remember the particulars. So, will you enlighten me to your prep routine?

thanks,
michael clyde
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    yes thanks
    CPU
    3po
    Motherboard
    yes
    Memory
    plenty
    Graphics Card(s)
    yes, thanks
    Browser
    apparently
    Antivirus
    again, yes
I use diskpart to make my bootable Windows install thumb drives. Option two here, http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html Then I mount my Windows 10 ISO and copy its contents to my thumb drive. Works for UEFI and Legacy installs. The tutorial is for Windows 8.1 but works the same way for Windows 10. I've tried rufus but find diskpart easier and faster. For me it is, as I have all the commands memorized now. And diskpat is already there waiting to be used.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    yes thanks
    CPU
    3po
    Motherboard
    yes
    Memory
    plenty
    Graphics Card(s)
    yes, thanks
    Browser
    apparently
    Antivirus
    again, yes
i can get an correct model of Transcend USB 3.0 16Gb ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    linux&windows&mac_osx
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Probook
    CPU
    i7
    Motherboard
    hp
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    430
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Eset nod 32
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