DD for Windows

DD for Windows is a native port of the classic Unix dd utility for Microsoft Windows. It allows you to read and write raw data to and from block devices such as USB drives, hard disks, SSDs, and disk image files. Unlike typical backup tools that operate at the filesystem level, dd works at the block level, giving you full low-level control for cloning, imaging, wiping, and forensic acquisition.

This Windows build provides the familiar dd syntax in a portable dd.exe binary. It is especially useful for power users, system administrators, and incident responders who need a precise, scriptable way to copy disks, create byte-for-byte images, or perform secure erasure directly from the command line.

Because DD for Windows bypasses the filesystem and talks directly to \\.\PhysicalDriveN devices, it can handle any partition layout, bootloader, or operating system installed on the drive — including Windows, Linux, BSD, and macOS partitions. That makes it an excellent complement to tools like Clonezilla, Rescuezilla, and TestDisk & PhotoRec for more advanced workflows.

Typical Use Cases

• Writing ISO/IMG images directly to USB drives, SD cards, or external disks
• Creating full disk images for backup, migration, or offline analysis
• Bit-for-bit cloning of one physical drive to another
• Securely wiping disks by overwriting with zeros or random data
• Forensic acquisition of storage media for investigations
• Low-level recovery workflows together with TestDisk/PhotoRec

In many scenarios, dd is the “last resort” tool: when GUI wizards fail, raw I/O still works. That is why it remains popular among data recovery labs and security professionals.

Technical Overview

DD for Windows exposes physical and logical devices through the Windows \\.\ namespace. You specify an input file (if=) and output file (of=) and optionally control the block size (bs=), count of blocks (count=), offsets (skip=, seek=), and data conversion flags (conv=).

• Input sources: physical disks (\\.\PhysicalDrive0), partitions (\\.\X:), image files (.iso, .img, .raw)
• Output targets: other physical drives, partitions, or image files
• Block size: configurable via bs= (for example bs=1M) to tune performance
• Partial copying: skip= and seek= allow copying only sections of a disk
• Conversion options: noerror, sync, and other flags influence how errors are handled

Because dd operates at the block level, it does not care which filesystem (NTFS, FAT32, ext4, APFS, etc.) is on the disk. This makes it universal but also dangerous if you choose the wrong target device.

Safety Considerations

Important: dd does not ask for confirmation and does not “undelete” writes. If you point of= to the wrong disk, all existing data on that device can be destroyed instantly.

• Always run dd --list first to identify the correct PhysicalDrive number.
• Disconnect all external disks that you do not intend to touch.
• Use read-only operations (if=\\.\PhysicalDriveN of=image.img) when examining unknown drives.
• For secure erasure tasks consider bootable tools like ShredOS, which are designed specifically for wiping.

DD for Windows is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is intended for advanced users who understand the risks of low-level disk access.

Example Commands

# List available devices
dd --list

# Write ISO image to USB drive (make it bootable)
dd if=C:\path\to\image.iso of=\\.\PhysicalDrive1 bs=1M --progress

# Create a full disk backup image
dd if=\\.\PhysicalDrive0 of=C:\backups\disk_backup.img bs=4M --progress

# Clone one disk to another (same or larger size)
dd if=\\.\PhysicalDrive0 of=\\.\PhysicalDrive1 bs=4M --progress

# Wipe a disk with zeros
dd if=\\.\zero of=\\.\PhysicalDrive2 bs=1M --progress
  

⚠ Replace PhysicalDriveX with the correct device number. You can list devices with dd --list or via Windows Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc).

How to Use DD for Windows (Step by Step)

1. Download one of the portable archives from the table below and extract it, for example to C:\Tools\dd.
2. Open an elevated Command Prompt (Run as administrator).
3. Change directory to the folder containing dd.exe:
   cd C:\Tools\dd
4. Run dd --list to see all available devices and note the correct \\.\PhysicalDriveN for your USB or disk.
5. Prepare your command (for example writing an ISO to USB) and double-check:
   dd if=C:\ISO\linux.iso of=\\.\PhysicalDrive1 bs=1M --progress
6. Press Enter and wait until dd finishes. Do not remove the drive while the operation is running.
7. Safely eject the drive and test booting from it on the target machine.

Comparison with Other Imaging and USB Tools

DD for Windows is often used together with or compared to other tools available on RebootTools:

Rufus, Ventoy, and Balena Etcher
• Provide graphical interfaces for creating bootable USB drives
• Safer for everyday users due to built-in checks and drive labels
• Better for installing Windows, Linux distributions, and rescue tools

Win32 Disk Imager and UNetbootin
• Focused on writing images to removable media
• GUI-based, easier to use but less flexible than dd
• Limited scripting and automation capabilities

Clonezilla and Rescuezilla
• Full-featured imaging suites for multi-partition backups and restores
• Better for system-wide backup strategies and mass deployment
• Use dd-style raw mode only when needed; otherwise operate at filesystem level

Conclusion: DD for Windows is the most flexible and low-level option. It is the right choice when you need exact byte-for-byte copies, scriptable automation, or forensic control. For typical OS installations and everyday bootable USB creation, graphical tools like Rufus, Ventoy, or Balena Etcher are usually more convenient.

FAQ

Download Options

Useful Links

• Official Website
• License: GPL

💡 Tip: For everyday bootable USB creation and OS installation media, start with GUI tools like Rufus or Ventoy, and keep DD for Windows in your toolbox when you need full raw control over the disk.