Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Installing from USB drive in Windows- UPDATED

    Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    8
    14
    41.6k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • T
      tommyboy180
      last edited by

      Using a guide at ubuntu.com

      Windows 7

      • Download the desired memstick .img file such as pfSense-memstick-2.0-RELEASE-i386.img.gz

      • Decompress memstick .img.gz file to .img file (7-Zip can achieve this)

      • Download Disk Imager from https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer/+download

      • Insert your flash media

      • Note the drive letter assigned to your flash media

      • Start Disk Imager as Administrator

      • Select the downloaded file and target device, and click "Write"

      • Remove your flash media when the operation is complete

      If you need command line, Linux, or any other platform please visit the link above and don't bother burning another disk ever again.

      memstick.jpg
      memstick.jpg_thumb

      -Tom Schaefer
      SuperMicro 1U 2X Intel pro/1000 Dual Core Intel 2.2 Ghz - 2 Gig RAM

      Please support pfBlocker | File Browser | Strikeback

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • A
        AllGamer
        last edited by

        Thanks!

        confirmed working

        this is by far the easiest and cleanest method :D

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          slth
          last edited by

          Working like a charm here as well with pfSense-memstick-2.0-RC3-i386-20110621-1650.img

          I'd prefer to use this method over the CLI physdiskwrite method anytime, thanks!

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • J
            jaredadams
            last edited by

            It works much quicker too!

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • jimpJ
              jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
              last edited by

              You might want to mention that you should decompress the .img.gz first so it's just an .img file - That's one advantage that physdiskwrite has, it can write from a compressed image. Last I tried it, which has been a while, Win32 Disk Imager didn't support that. (But it's superior in just about every other way)

              Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

              Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

              Do not Chat/PM for help!

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • T
                tommyboy180
                last edited by

                Updated! Thank you.

                -Tom Schaefer
                SuperMicro 1U 2X Intel pro/1000 Dual Core Intel 2.2 Ghz - 2 Gig RAM

                Please support pfBlocker | File Browser | Strikeback

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • jimpJ
                  jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                  last edited by

                  7-Zip is small, fast, and Free. No need for WinRAR :-)

                  http://www.7-zip.org/

                  Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                  Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                  Do not Chat/PM for help!

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • J
                    jaredadams
                    last edited by

                    Anyone else notice it bricking their flash drives?  After I'm finished I cant get Windows to reformat it so that I can use it again.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • T
                      tommyboy180
                      last edited by

                      @jaredadams:

                      Anyone else notice it bricking their flash drives?  After I'm finished I cant get Windows to reformat it so that I can use it again.

                      Your flash drive isn't bricked. It just needs to have the partions removed. Unfortunatly, Windows isn't much help in the GUI. You can command line remove the partitions in windows or use parted/Gparted in a linux Distro.

                      -Tom Schaefer
                      SuperMicro 1U 2X Intel pro/1000 Dual Core Intel 2.2 Ghz - 2 Gig RAM

                      Please support pfBlocker | File Browser | Strikeback

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        slth
                        last edited by

                        In case you are wondering how on Windows:

                        cmd -> diskpart -> list disk -> select disk #yourflashdrive -> clean

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • J
                          jaredadams
                          last edited by

                          Thanks, that works.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • G
                            geniuspapak
                            last edited by

                            ;D

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • A
                              acjohnson
                              last edited by

                              This worked using the 2.1 image from jimp also. You can find it here:
                              http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,43238.0.html

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • S
                                shaqan
                                last edited by

                                @slth:

                                In case you are wondering how on Windows:

                                cmd -> diskpart -> list disk -> select disk #yourflashdrive -> clean

                                by GUI
                                Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management->Disk Management..
                                find the USB stick drive listed, usually by the bottom of the list. Click on existing partition, right mouse click and select "delete.." from menu.. then create new partition by right clicking on raw drive volume and selecting "New Simple Volume"..

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • First post
                                  Last post
                                Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.