📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses issues with using Win32DiskImager to create bootable Windows USB drives. Both users initially encountered unreadable USBs after flashing, despite successful appearances when mounting ISO files. The original poster resolves part of the confusion by noting that directly outputting to the USB via MediaCreationTool produces a readable image, whereas Win32DiskImager's process may not result in a usable bootable USB.
RodBarnes

RodBarnes

Extraordinary Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
71
Thread Author #1
I've used Win32DiskImager in the past to create bootable Windows media on a USB. I am almost certain that, after completing the flash, I was able to insert the USB into an operating Windows10 system and the folders and files appear and look just like what I see if I mount the ISO directly in Windows (see attached image). But, this time, if I insert the USB into an operating Windows10 system, it requests to format it and thinks it is unreadable.

NOTE1: I've tried this with multiple known-good USB flash drives of various sizes, all large enough to contain the image. In all cases, it has resulted in the USB being unreadable. I can go ahead and format the USB drive to make it usable again.

NOTE2: I tried this with a new ISO image of Windows10 21H2 I just created with the MediaCreationTool21H2.exe. Then I tried it with an existing ISO of Windows10 20H2 which I know I've used previously to create a working Windows10 system.

What am I missing here?
 

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  • Mounted ISO.webp
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Varadharajan K

Varadharajan K

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 22, 2020
Messages
46
#2
RodBarnes said:
I've used Win32DiskImager in the past to create bootable Windows media on a USB. I am almost certain that, after completing the flash, I was able to insert the USB into an operating Windows10 system and the folders and files appear and look just like what I see if I mount the ISO directly in Windows (see attached image). But, this time, if I insert the USB into an operating Windows10 system, it requests to format it and thinks it is unreadable.

NOTE1: I've tried this with multiple known-good USB flash drives of various sizes, all large enough to contain the image. In all cases, it has resulted in the USB being unreadable. I can go ahead and format the USB drive to make it usable again.

NOTE2: I tried this with a new ISO image of Windows10 21H2 I just created with the MediaCreationTool21H2.exe. Then I tried it with an existing ISO of Windows10 20H2 which I know I've used previously to create a working Windows10 system.

What am I missing here?
Click to expand...
Could you please record the video ( full process )through a mobile phone and then upload into the google drive, then paste shared link.
 

RodBarnes

RodBarnes

Extraordinary Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Messages
71
Thread Author #3
Well, maybe I was confused... I used the MediaCreationTool21H2 again and this time, rather than have it generate an ISO, I had it output directly to the USB. That resulted in a USB image that is readable and matches what I see when I mount the ISO.

It isn't clear to me why Win32DiskImager would not be able to use this ISO to successfully flash the image to the USB.
 

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