How to Make a USB Flash Drive Appear As a HDD

Converting your USB flash drive from removable media to HDD (fixed hard drive) is particularly useful if you want to add extra partitions to the drive or if you want to make the drive bootable. To force a computer to recognize your USB flash drive as a fixed hard drive, you must flip the USB device's removable media bit. To flip the removable bit on your USB flash drive, you must use a special USB configuration software that will alter the USB's firmware.

1. korak

Download and extract Lexar BootIt. Lexar BootIt is a USB configuration software designed to create bootable USB drives.

2. korak

Insert your USB flash drive into a free USB slot. If necessary, connect a USB hub if you need additional USB slots.

3. korak

Run Lexar BootIt. Click the "Active" button next to "Partition," then click "Flip Removable Bit" to convert your USB drive into an HDD.

4. korak

Right-click "Start," then click "Explore." Remove your USB drive from your computer once the process is complete, then reinsert it. Your USB drive will appear in the list of drives.

5. korak

Right-click your USB drive, then click "Properties." Next to "Type," the USB drive should now read "Fixed Disk" or "Local Disk," rather than "Removable Disk."

Nasvet

Lexar BootIt is designed for Lexar USB drives, so it may not work with all USB drives. If your USB drive still reads "Removable Disk" after flipping the bit, your drive is likely not compatible.

Back up all of the data on the drive before flipping the removable media bit.