How to Run Hiren’s BootCD From a USB Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive)

How to Run Hiren’s BootCD From a USB Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive)

Introduction
If you're looking for a way to run Hiren’s BootCD from a USB flash drive, you’ve come to the right place. This method allows you to boot essential system recovery tools directly from your USB drive—no need for a CD! Follow this simple step-by-step guide to get your USB drive set up and ready to go.

Step 1: Connect a USB Pen Drive (1GB or More)

Begin by selecting a USB flash drive with at least 1GB of storage. Make sure it's formatted and ready to use.

Step 2: Download and Run USB Disk Storage Format

Download the USB Disk Storage Format utility (USBFormat.zip, 34KB).
Extract and run it to format your USB drive properly.

Step 3: Download grubinst_gui and Run as Administrator

Download grub4dos (grub4dos.zip, 179KB), which includes the grubinst_gui tool.
Run grubinst_gui as Administrator to prepare the USB drive for booting.

Step 4: Copy Hiren’s BootCD to the USB Drive

Insert your Hiren’s BootCD (version 10.3 or newer) into your CD drive.
Copy all files from the CD to the USB flash drive.

Step 5: Copy grldr and menu.lst to the USB Drive

From grub4dos.zip (or the HBCD folder), copy grldr and menu.lst to your USB drive—these files are essential for booting.

Step 6: Test Your USB Drive

Before finalising the setup, test your USB drive to ensure everything is working correctly.

Important Notes: Setting Up Your BIOS for Booting

To boot from the USB flash drive, restart your computer and enter BIOS setup by pressing the designated key during startup (commonly Del, F1, F2, Insert, or F10).

In AMI BIOS:

• Enable USB Function Support, USB Function for DOS, and ThumbDrive for DOS.
• Set 1st Boot Device to USB RMD-FDD.

In PHOENIX/AWARD BIOS:

• Set 1st Boot Device to USB-ZIP.

Save your settings and exit BIOS. Your computer should now boot from the USB stick.

Troubleshooting Tips

• If you face a "cannot run background program" error when installing GRUB4DOS, try Syslinux as an alternative.
• Ensure your BIOS is correctly set to allow booting from a USB device.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully boot Hiren’s BootCD directly from your USB flash drive—an ideal portable solution for system troubleshooting and repairs. Try it out and keep your essential tools handy wherever you go!