Most advanced computer users use USB pen drive to boot instead of using the hard-drive in some cases. this can be for running an antivirus program to scan hard disk without actually loading the operating system or to install new operating system. Also, if your Windows fails to load at startup and the F8 options won’t help then floppy, CD or USB is the only option left.

Some USB drives like HP have their program to make the drive bootable, can also be used on kinsgston and some other drives(not quite sure). Now you don’t have to google  looking for pages and post in forums on how to make a bootable pen drive as a tiny freeware called MakeBootable can do this for you in couple of minutes.

Before you go making your pendrive bootable make sure that your CMOS and Motherboard has the USB boot support.

MakeBootable is a freeware which can make the pen drive bootable without erasing the data in it. Currently it works on only devices using Phison’s chip solution and FAT file system.

By default most USB drives have the FAT file system, if not you can simply right click the drive click FORMAT…, select FAT as the file system and FORMAT.

Now, Download and Run the MAKEBOOTABLE program , select the drive and click the “Make Bootable” button.

Download MakeBootable : Click here (465Kb)

If it gives an error then you have to try the

HP USB Format Utility and HP USB Boot utility

as i mentioned earlier, it works for most brands of USB drives. Still not able to make your drive bootable then the only option left with you is using the "FlashBoot" which is unfortunately not a freeware, you can use the demo version anyways.

(click to enlarge)

If you wish to make it bootable manually there are various methods discussed here http://www.bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

In most machines the boot process goes like this, Floppy as the first boot device, then CD/DVD and Third boot device is the HDD. To make USB as the first boot device  you have make the following changes in your BIOS settings.

1. Connect your USB drive and restart your PC.

2. Enter the CMOS setup (Advanced BIOS features) and set USB as the First Boot Device.

3. Select the USB Type, Save and Exit Setup. On restart you will be able to boot from USB.

source :www.megaleecher.net

If you have any questions feel free to contact me.