Convert Fixed USB to Removable

[Tuero]

So from what I understand, USB's manufactures are making USB's show up as a fixed drive, meaning they show up as a local hard disk. Has anyone been able to convert a Fixed USB into a Removable one? I am trying to use my USB drive to make a bootable drive using the Microsoft "Install Windows" tool for windows 8. When you select the option to install windows to the USB, it will only accept removable devices, and since the USB is detected as a fixed local hard drive, it won't be recognized. 

[Sors]

Is it possible that something is wrong with your USB stick?   Because the tool worked fine for me, and I didn't do anything to my USB memory.

[Tuero]

In windows explorer, is your usb shown under the removable disks, or under your local hard drives (with your C and other drives)?

[royvr]

I also have this exact same issue. In the middle of researching solutions and will post the fix when I find it. 

 

Edit: found a solution. So it seems that there is no easy way to simply force a usb firmware to tell the os it is a removable drive and not a fixed/internal one. So you won't be able to use most applications that require storage to be removable, like the windows media creation tool. So you will need to use the media tool to download the ISO and use a third party application that will allow you to convert fixed drives into bootable ones. Like the ZOTAC WinUSB Maker. 

 

http://joshcellsoftwares.com/products/zotacwinusbmaker/

 

Not as elegant and forces you to take up a load of space on your computer but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Hope is helps. 

Edited March 1, 2017 by royvr
Found Solution

[DnFx91]

50 minutes ago, royvr said:

I also have this exact same issue. In the middle of researching solutions and will post the fix when I find it. 

 

Edit: found a solution. So it seems that there is no easy way to simply force a usb firmware to tell the os it is a removable drive and not a fixed/internal one. So you won't be able to use most applications that require storage to be removable, like the windows media creation tool. So you will need to use the media tool to download the ISO and use a third party application that will allow you to convert fixed drives into bootable ones. Like the ZOTAC WinUSB Maker. 

 

http://joshcellsoftwares.com/products/zotacwinusbmaker/

 

Not as elegant and forces you to take up a load of space on your computer but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Hope is helps. 

rufus does not care in the slightest about whether a USB drive is fixed or removable, it'll DD any image onto anything connected to USB