How to use the command 'woeusb' (with examples)

This article provides examples of how to use the ‘woeusb’ command, which is a Windows media creation tool. It allows users to create a bootable Windows installation drive or copy Windows files to an existing partition of a USB storage device without erasing the current data.

Use case 1: Format a USB then create a bootable Windows installation drive

Code:

woeusb --device path/to/windows.iso /dev/sdX

Motivation:

This use case is useful when you need to format a USB and create a bootable drive for installing Windows. It simplifies the process by automatically handling the necessary steps.

Explanation:

• woeusb: This is the command used to invoke the Windows media creation tool.
• --device path/to/windows.iso: This argument specifies the path to the Windows ISO file that will be used to create the bootable drive. Replace ‘path/to/windows.iso’ with the actual path to the ISO file.
• /dev/sdX: This argument specifies the path to the USB device that will be used for creating the bootable drive. Replace ‘sdX’ with the appropriate device identifier.

Example output:

Installation drive created successfully.

Use case 2: Copy Windows files to an existing partition of a USB storage device and make it bootable, without erasing the current data

Code:

woeusb --partition path/to/windows.iso /dev/sdXN

Motivation:

This use case is useful when you want to make an existing partition of a USB storage device bootable without erasing the current data. It allows you to add the necessary Windows files to the partition and make it ready for booting.

Explanation:

• woeusb: This is the command used to invoke the Windows media creation tool.
• --partition path/to/windows.iso: This argument specifies the path to the Windows ISO file that will be used to copy the Windows files to the existing partition. Replace ‘path/to/windows.iso’ with the actual path to the ISO file.
• /dev/sdXN: This argument specifies the path to the USB storage device and the existing partition that will be made bootable. Replace ‘sdXN’ with the appropriate device identifier and partition number.

Example output:

Windows files copied to the existing partition successfully.

Conclusion:

The ‘woeusb’ command is a handy tool for formatting USB devices and creating bootable Windows installation drives. It also allows users to copy Windows files to an existing partition of a USB storage device and make it bootable without erasing the current data. By providing these examples, this article demonstrates how to use the ‘woeusb’ command effectively to accomplish these tasks.