How to restore a USB boot disk to a normal USB disk
In daily use, we often need to make a U disk into a boot disk to install the system or perform system maintenance. But after the task is completed, how to restore the USB flash drive to an ordinary storage device? This article will introduce several common methods in detail, with operating steps and precautions.
Directory:

1. Why should we restore USB flash drive?
2. Common recovery methods
3. Detailed steps
4. Precautions
5. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why should we restore USB flash drive?
U disks made into bootable disks usually have the following restrictions:
| Restrictions | Description |
|---|---|
| storage space | Part of the space is occupied by system files |
| file system | May be changed to specific formats such as FAT32 |
| Usage | Cannot be used directly as an ordinary storage device |
2. Common recovery methods
| method | Applicable scenarios | difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Disk management tools | Comes with Windows system | simple |
| Diskpart command | advanced user | medium |
| Third party tools | various complex situations | simple |
3. Detailed steps
Method 1: Use Windows Disk Management Tool
1. Right-click "This PC" and select "Manage"
2. Select "Disk Management" in the left menu
3. Find your USB flash drive, right-click and select "Delete Volume"
4. Right-click on the unallocated space and select "New Simple Volume"
5. Follow the wizard to complete the formatting
Method 2: Use Diskpart command
1. Press Win+R and enter "cmd" to open the command prompt
2. Type "diskpart" and press Enter
3. Enter "list disk" to view the disk list
4. Enter "select disk X" (X is your USB disk number)
5. Enter "clean" to clear the partition
6. Enter "create partition primary" to create a primary partition
7. Enter "format fs=ntfs quick" for quick formatting
Method 3: Use third-party tools
1. Download and install tools such as Rufus, DiskGenius, etc.
2. Run the tool and select your USB flash drive
3. Select the "Recover" or "Format" function
4. Follow the prompts to complete the operation
4. Precautions
| Things to note | Description |
|---|---|
| Back up data | The recovery process will erase all data |
| Choose the correct disk | Avoid accidentally operating other disks |
| Format options | Choose a file system based on your needs |
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What should I do if the USB disk capacity becomes smaller after recovery?
A: There may be a hidden partition, which can be completely cleared using Diskpart's "clean" command.
Q: What should I do if it prompts for write protection during the recovery process?
A: Check whether the USB flash drive has a physical write protection switch, or try to use the Diskpart command to remove the write protection.
Q: What should I do if the USB flash drive cannot be recognized after recovery?
A: Try using it on other computers, or use the tools provided by the manufacturer to perform low-level formatting.
Through the above method, you can easily restore the startup disk to a normal USB disk. Choose the method that works best for you based on your skill level and specific situation. If you encounter problems during operation, it is recommended to read more information or seek professional help.
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