Pre-requisites: 7-Zip software (Download it from here: http://7-zip.org/), Windows 2012 (R2) ISO (or Windows 8.1 ISO), 8GB or more USB disk
- Open Command Prompt in elevated mode (Run as Administrator)
- Type diskpart and press Enter
- Type list disk and press Enter. Note the list of existing disks.
- Insert the USB Disk
- Type list disk and press enter again. Note the new disk showed up which is our USB disk. I assume the new disk is 2 for example purpose.
- Type select disk X where X is your USB disk. E.g., select disk 2. Press Enter.
- Type clean and press enter.
- Type create partition primary and press enter to create primary partition 1.
- Type select partition 1 and press enter.
- Type active and press enter to make the partition 1 active
- Type format fs=ntfs and press enter. This will format the partition 1 as NTFS volume.
- Type assign and press enter to assign the USB disk to a drive letter.
- Now right click on Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows 8.1 ISO file, select 7-Zip –> Extract Files…
- Select your USB disk to extract the ISO contents to the USB disk
That’s all. Boot the server or computer using the bootable USB disk.
Did it help you? Leave me a Thanks.
Anand, the Architect 
Thanks! 😉
Great Info, Thanks for posting.
Thank You! You were a great help.
thanks man, it
Thanks a lot! Very usefull
Very straightforward and does what you posted!!!!
Awesome Thanks worked like a chief…Thank You 🙂
thanks lad, or lass, 谢谢。
Thanks you buddy, helped me a lot!!!
Worked for me,thanks mate !!
I can’t believe I wasted this whole afternoon on this CRAP!
Thanks so much for your solution!
Thanks! Works like a champ! 🙂
Works well. You’d think you can format the partition using Disk Manager, but no it appears you usually can’t with removable drives. Format takes forever on 16GB USB sticks, but suppose this should not surprise anybody. Good hunting all.
I think not every BIOS supports NTFS boot, I could not boot my server with the USB Stick.
I could not boot my server with the USB stick either. Did you do anything different?
I end up burning a DVD disk for one of my old servers.
Thanks! Appreciate the simplicity of your instructions!
Thanks!
Thanks
How to do for UEFI
Format the USB as fat32 instead of NTFS.
But where do I get the iso? I am trying to make a backup/restore disk from the current working server?
Ask your Sys Admin, usually we (sysadmins) keep the licensed OS ISOs handy downloaded from Microsoft.
Dell Power edge 2950 – BOOTMNGR missing
may be you have copied the windows server 2012 r2 setup files. I preffer to extract directly in USB stick.
I got the boot manager missing as well. HP proliant.
very simple instructions, nice! Hope it works on my VM. Thanks.
works with sd card -> usb too! ty
Thanks!!! buddy…
Cheers mate!
Thanks. Technology as old was Windows 95 saved me from the idiocy of HPE not-so-Intelligent Provisioning.
Official Microsoft TechNet documentation here:
Install Windows from a USB Flash Drive
Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/library/dn293258.aspx
Thanks, very useful
Thanks, worked for me.
Thanks worked perfectly
pretty straight forward. nice one man. thanks
Thanks worked nicely
In attempting to install Windows Server 2012 R2 to my Gen 10 Intel NUC i7 I formatted as you instructed. No luck—even with Secure Boot disabled. Error message: WINDOWS COULD NOT UPDATE THE COMPUTER’S BOOT CONFIGURATION. INSTALLATION CANNOT PROCEED.
Any ideas? Would I likely have to same problem trying to install Windows Server 2019?
Thanks.