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imageUSB's .bin File Format: imageUSB's .bin files have a 512-byte header added to the beginning of the raw image. Header Format:
Offset | Size (bytes) | Description
--- | --- | ---
0 | 32 | Program name string "imageUSB" (wchar + null terminator)
32 | 4 | Program version major integer
36 | 4 | Program version minor integer
40 | 4 | Program version build integer
44 | 4 | Program version revision integer
48 | 8 | Image length in bytes (excluding header, unsigned long long)
56 | 8 | Image checksum value* (deprecated, unsigned long long, kept for compatibility)
64 | 66 | MD5 checksum* (wchar + null terminator)
130 | 82 | SHA1 checksum* (wchar + null terminator)
212 | 300 | Not used - reserved for future use
*The checksum values stored in the header are excluding the header and only of the raw image. Starting with Version 1.1.1003, the checksum method was updated to use MD5 and SHA1. Any previous images created with prior versions of imageUSB, will be verified using the old checksum method. Log Output: A log is kept at the bottom of the program, it will display status messages, errors, and any other relevant information. Starting imageUSB with the "-l" command line argument will save a log. The filename for the logfile is "imageUSB.log" and can be found in the same directory as the executable. Debug information (useful to the developers to debug problems) can also be logged by starting imageUSB with the "-d" command line argument. It will save to the same logfile, "imageUSB.log". Writing to USB Flash Drive (UFD): Before Starting: Backup the USB Flash Drive contents to a hard disk drive. This process will overwrite the USB drive selected, so remove any other removable drives on the system to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. "Write to UFD" supports writing a single image file to multiple drives at the same time. Setting Up: Step 1: imageUSB will display a list of available USB drives. Selecting the corresponding check box next to each drive letter will select the drive to be acted on. Step 2: Select "Write to UFD" to write an image (.bin/.iso) file specified in Step 3 to the selected drives in Step 1. Step 3: Select the image (.bin) file to be written to the selected USB drives in Step 1. Step 4: When ready, click the "Write" button. (NOTE: Be very careful that the drives you selected are the ones to write to, any contents originally on those drive will be destroyed.) Available Options:
• | "Post Image Verification" will perform verification of the contents on the UFD afterwards. Image verification may double the normal imaging time.
• | "Extend Partition" - If destination drive is larger than the source image, imageUSB will will try to extend the last partition to fill the remaining space on the drive. This is only supported if image to be written to the USB drive contains a single partition with an NTFS filesystem.
During imaging: While imaging is taking place, the progress bar will display the overall progress. The progress bar takes into account both the write and verify process of writing the UFD. Individual drive status can be seen under the "Status" column for each drive. Aborting: After imaging has started, the "Write to UFD" button will be relabeled "Abort". We recommend that you NOT use the "Abort" button. Aborting will stop the imaging process and any drives that are not completed will be rendered unreadable. To fix the unreadable drives, you will need to reformat them (e.g. in Windows, right-click the drive and choose "Format..." from the menu. ). Create from USB Flash Drive (UFD): Before Starting: imageUSB (starting with 1.1.1003) supports the simultaneous creation of images of multiple drives. If more than one drive is selected, the naming will be based on the base name given in Step 3. The images will be named with "_nnn" added to the base name and before the extension, starting with "_000" (i.e. test.bin will be become test_000.bin, test_001.bin, test_002.bin, ..., test_00n.bin for up to n drives). CAUTION: If the directory where the image is to be written to already contains a file with the same filename, it will be OVERWRITTEN. It is best to save images to an empty directory. Setting Up: Step 1: imageUSB will display a list of available USB drives. Check the corresponding check box next to each drive letter will select the drive to be acted on. Step 2: Select "Create from UFD" to create an image (.bin) file specified in Step 3 from the selected drive in Step 1. Check the "Post Image Verification" box for verification of the contents of the image afterwards. Image verification may double the normal imaging time. Step 3: Enter in the filename and location where the image (.bin) file will be written to. See "Before Starting" above for naming convention used. Step 4: When ready, click the "Create to UFD" button. During imaging: While imaging is taking place, the progress bar will display the overall progress. A status for the drive is also shown under the "Status" column in the list in Step 1. Aborting: After imaging has started, the "Create" button will be relabeled "Abort". We recommend that you not use the "Abort" button. Aborting will stop the imaging process and the image file will be incomplete. After imaging: Each drive imaged will also have an accompanying log created in the same directory. The name of the log will be the same as the image but with ".log" appended to the filename. Zero USB Flash Drive (UFD): Before Starting: Backup the USB Flash Drive contents to a hard disk drive. This process will overwrite the USB drive selected, so remove any other removable drives on the system to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. Zeroing is the act of writing all byte 0 to the contents of the drive. Setting Up: Step 1: imageUSB will display a list of available USB drives. Selecting the corresponding check box next to each drive letter will select the drive to be acted on. Step 2: Select "Zero USB drive" to wipe the contents of the USB drives selected in Step 1. Step 3: Skip. Step 4: When ready, click the "Zero" button. (NOTE: Be very careful that the drives you selected are the ones to zero, any contents originally on those drive will be destroyed.) Available Options:
• | "Boot Sector Only" will only wipe the Master Boot Record and GUID partition table (GPT) entries on the drive. This will reduce the time necessary to wipe drive.
During Zeroing: While Zeroing is taking place, the progress bar will display the overall progress. A status for the drive is also shown under the "Status" column in the list in Step 1. Aborting: After imaging has started, the "Zero" button will be relabeled "Abort". We recommend that you not use the "Abort" button. Aborting will stop the imaging process and the drive may be left unresponsive. After Zeroing: You may need to re-insert the flash drive for Windows to recognize drive and prompt to format. Reformat USB Flash Drive (UFD): Before Starting: Backup the USB Flash Drive contents to a hard disk drive. This process will zero the boot sector of the USB drive selected and try to reformat it, so remove any other removable drives on the system to reduce the likelihood of mistakes. Supported only on systems with Windows Vista or Later. Setting Up: Step 1: imageUSB will display a list of available USB drives. Selecting the corresponding check box next to each drive letter will select the drive to be acted on. Step 2: Select "Reformat USB drive" to wipe the contents of the USB drives selected in Step 1. Step 3: Skip. Step 4: When ready, click the "Reformat" button. (NOTE: Be very careful that the drives you selected are the ones to zero, any contents originally on those drive will be destroyed.) During Reformatting: While Reformatting is taking place, a status for the drive is also shown under the "Status" column in the list in Step 1. Aborting: After imaging has started, the "Reformat" button will be relabeled "Abort". The Abort action however is not allowed. After imaging: If successful, the drive will reclaim any unused drive space and formatted with NTFS filesystem.