EDIT 2009/12/11: Microsoft Provides a tool to do this for you – Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. See the Microsoft Store Help on the ISO-Tool (http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool).
It surprised me to find that there are very few dead-simple guides to creating a bootable USB thumb/pen/flash drive for a Vista and/or Windows 7 installation. I cobbled together the following from VistaPCGuy and another source I don’t remember right now.
This will walk through the steps to create a bootable USB flash drive for the purpose of installing a Vista or Windows 7 OS. These instructions assume that you have a computer with Windows Vista installed on it.
Required:
- USB Flash Drive (4GB+)
- Microsoft OS Disk (Vista / Windows 7)
- A computer running Vista / Windows 7
Step 1: Format the Drive
The steps here are to use the command line to format the disk properly using the diskpart utility. [Be warned: this will erase everything on your drive. Be careful.]
- Plug in your USB Flash Drive
- Open a command prompt as administrator (Right click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt and select “Run as administrator”
- Find the drive number of your USB Drive by typing the following into the Command Prompt window:
diskpart
list disk
The number of your USB drive will listed. You’ll need this for the next step. I’ll assume that the USB flash drive is disk 1. - Format the drive by typing the next instructions into the same window. Replace the number “1” with the number of your disk below.
select disk 1
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=NTFS
assign
exit
When that is done you’ll have a formatted USB flash drive ready to be made bootable.
Step 2: Make the Drive Bootable
Next we’ll use the bootsect utility that comes on the Vista or Windows 7 disk to make the flash drive bootable. In the same command window that you were using in Step 1:
- Insert your Windows Vista / 7 DVD into your drive.
- Change directory to the DVD’s boot directory where bootsect lives:
d:
cd d:\boot - Use bootsect to set the USB as a bootable NTFS drive prepared for a Vista/7 image. I’m assuming that your USB flash drive has been labeled disk G:\ by the computer:
bootsect /nt60 g: - You can now close the command prompt window, we’re done here.
Step 3: Copy the installation DVD to the USB drive
The easiest way is to use Windows explorer to copy all of the files on your DVD on to the formatted flash drive. After you’ve copied all of the files the disk you are ready to go.
Step 4: Set your BIOS to boot from USB
This is where you’re on your own since every computer is different. Most BIOS’s allow you to hit a key at boot and select a boot option.
I used these instructions to get my new Dell Mini 9 laptop loaded with Windows 7 (the PDC bits). HTH.
Thanks! That worked as advertised!
Dude, this is brilliant.
Thank you
This guide was awesome! I followed most of the steps though at the end I had to remove my USB then plug it back in for it to be seen properly – probably just me missing an obvious step…
When I did that I used UltraISO as stated by someone else to write it to the USB drive, was simple and painless! Wish I woulda known about this before wasting a whole evening angry at my install that kept giving me driver errors lol
Used these instructions for windows 7 ultimate and it worked like a charm.
Your instructions are a little misleading in step # 4:
I assume you Replace the number "1" ONLY in the 'select disk' command… but partition 1 is assumed to be used no matter what the disk is numbered:
4.Format the drive by typing the next instructions into the same window. Replace the number “1” with the number of your disk below.
select disk 1
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
Correct.
When you use 'create partition primary' it will create a single partition on the SELECTED device utilising the maximum useable space available. That partition will always be partition number 1.
really , you are a genius
many thanks
Awesome thanks.
HeHe, workt grate for me men , Thanks :)
Thank you much!!!!
Quick format:
format fs=NTFS QUICK
Hi,
Please help !!! Here what I have done:
1.Download Windows 7 iso file,which I put it in isoBuster and extracted.
2.Coz I have listen it is better to make clean instalation,I bought new WD external HDD-Passport Studio 500 Gb and put it all information from my PC to HDD (around 90Gb very important data + windows 7 of course)!
3.I run "cmd" and get in DOS
– "diskpart"
– "list disk”
– select disk 1
– clean…
After i wrote "clean",I discconect usb cable,coz I afraid-what does "clean" means!!??
For god sake-i have all informations from last 6 years on my external hard disk…
Now,my WD doesn`t work,everything is ok in "drive manager",when i conecct usb cable there is the external usb hard drive showed up on the Safely Remove Hardware list right down,but I can not enter into the disk-inside and I am so affraid and desperate and don`t know what to do…
How you can see,I am bigginer,but please tell me what is the best solution for me to do now and to don`t lose my data on WD (if i already didn`t lost :(
Please,please help-with days I don`t know what to do….
My e-mail is via_makedonia yahoo dot com
What I have tried:
coneccting my WD with 3 dieferent cables-usb and firewire in dieferent ports.
installing drivers from wd site
When I check Device Manager it shows that the device is installed and working properly but it will not show in "my computer" and I can't access it.
before the problem,my HDD appeard as drive H:
I wouldn't be half as frustrated if it hadn't been working properly before this.Plus-ALL data is on my HDD,and I don`t even know if it is still there :(
I do it this:
2 Step Solution for XP users:
Part 1:
Go to
Control panel -> Performance and Maintenance (cannot be in classic view to see this link) -> Administrator Tools -> Services -> Universal Plug and Play
If Universal Plug and Play is set to manual switch to automatic.
Part 2
Double Click Safely Remove icon on the bottom right-> Select device->click Properties -> click Volumes -> click Populate -> hit OK -> if nothing shows it may need to be formatted
Also i was in DISK MANAGEMENT,but except formating disk,I don`t see solution :(
And formating will erase all data on the disk,isn`t it?! (if i have it,of course).
again nothing :( :(
Thanks in advance !!!!!!
You may have zapped your WD HD. That is, deleted the partition, which is why the drive is listed but you cannot go to it.
This may be because you may not have changed the '1' in 'select disk 1' to that of your USB key, as stated in the instructions.
Isn't there still the ORIGINAL of your data on the internal drive in your computer as you have NOT installed anything as yet?
As you are a beginner, I would STOP TRYING to do anything about it yourself and take the drive to a DATA RECOVERY SHOP. It may possible to recover the contents as the data may all be still there but the partition markers have been deleted.
Unfortunatly NO :
I put it all information from my PC to HDD (around 90Gb very important data),because I want to do clean installation from XP to windows 7 :(
I DON`T CARE ABOUT PC-IT IS EMPTY NOW,AND I DON`T CARE ABOUT XP,OR WINDOWS 7,JUST DATA ON MY WD IS IMPORTANT NOW AND HOW TO OPEN THAT DATA AND IS DATA THERE ON IT?!
It will be everything ok if I re-install Windows xp ?!(I have bootable XP disk)
Or if I repair Windows XP through installation process?
Do I have problem with MBR ?
Should I format my WD ?
Common,I am sure that there must be way to solve the problem with my external disk to open my data or if the disk is empty to return/recover the data somehow!
Thanks in advance again and also thanks for the advice you gave me in second post !!!!!!
Just to be double sure: You deleted the data in your computer after copying it to the WD?
If so, I will not mince my words here!
If the data is really that important to you, DO NOT risk it any more by trying advice out. You may put it more at risk.
It may be costly to get data recovery professional to do it, but they will have the opportunity to check the current status of the data using specialised equipment and software and advise you of the chances of recovery. Something that you or we cannot really do now. No more playing around, pay the money and learn from your mistake.
As a beginner, you should:
– NOT attempt such processes as you are working at a very low level where mistakes can be costly. If you do not understand the consequences of each step, do NOT do them.
– Read instructions CAREFULLY – again, if you do not understand, do NOT even start to do them.
– If doing any such critical activities, keep a COPY of all your data on a drive that is DISCONNECTED from your computer at that time.
– Follow the rule:
Data is not safe unless it is on two different devices, preferably three with one elsewhere.
Once the internal drive was reformatted, you would have had only ONE copy of your DATA anyway – this is not safe for critical data.
Downloaded Windows 7 .iso off the net and want to install from USB key on old laptop (previously/still running XP) that has no CD/DVD drive. Here's what I've got so far:
* Read the instructions in this post: http://kmwoley.com/blog/?p=345 , which were quite straight forward and clear.
* Properly formatted USB key with another laptop (this one running vista), also with no DVD drive
* wasn't sure how to make the USB bootable, since my .iso was downloaded and I have no DVD drive.
Any help would be much appreciated!!
Thanks,
Travis
If you followed the instructions properly, the USB will be bootable, but you need to extract the files from the .iso file to the USB to use it to install from.
Undisker is supposedly a utility that can do it.
However, if you know someone that has Win 7 and a DVD burner, get them to Open the .iso file and select the burn disk option. You will at least have a Install disk for the future.
does anybody know how to make a bootable pen drive for server 2003. if yes can u kindly mail me the details at anirban17aug@gmail.com
From what I have learned, you need Vista Ultimate to do the diskpart thing properly (Home Premium won’t cut it), and do it from the same type of OS, i.e. 32bit for creating a 32bit bootable drive and 64bit for creating a 64bit bootable drive.
thanks man….. support Open Source!!!!
what should I do over this error message?
Help me please. Thx.
==================
e:boot>bootsect /nt60 l:
Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible bootcode.
Could not map drive partitions to the associated volume device objects:
Access is denied.
==================
thx to rich, this problem has been solved by running cmd as administrator.
nice information.
to kevin, i never tought ufd can do so far. you're a genius.
Most of it has already been said. The use of 'Clean' in DiskPart just removes the partitioning information, the data is all still there. If you have an older copy of Norton Utilities (Such as version 4.5) you will be able to recover the disk by resetting the partition information values without adversly affecting the data stored.
There are other methods to recover and restore the partition information however this is NOT the same as creating a new partition. If you are not experienced at recovering disks and data the safest plan is to do as suggested and find someone who is. It is a simple matter to correct IF you know what you are doing.
It is vitally important (as I am sure you are now aware) to be 100% certain that you have selected/mounted the right device, the right volume and the right partition before using any of the other available commands in DiskPart.
It does say quite clearly in the instructions: '2.Open a command prompt as administrator'
:|
Simply extraordinary
when i try the command bootsect /nt60 h: it says "program is too big to fit in memory"
i have 2gb 667mhz and have 1.6 gb available when trying this… even with most programs closed, it says the same. Any sugestion ?
Your cmd prompt shit fucked my USB Stick up. Thanks dude!
Once you get past the first part of the installation it will say it needs to restart. Take out your thumbdrive right when it restarts. If you don't take out the thumb drive after this, the computer will boot into the thumb drive again and start the installation all over again. Atleast, this happened to me
Super helpful, worked like a charm. Thanks!
very nice but… i want to use this for a netbook, but i dont have cd rom???? how the hell do i copy the dvd
Good but my 7 install just keeps starting over, after the installation restarts itself it just goes back to the beggining
You might have to remove the USB drive so that it doesn't boot to it again when the installation reboots.
My Windows 7 has not "Start" or "Run as administrator" options
kiing
once it reboots remove the USB as its only needed for the first stage of the setup
mario
it does, the search box is the run box, type cmd and right click on cmd at the top and run as admin…
So, I get BOOTMGR is missing error. I've created the drive twice, same error encountered on multiple computers
hI
i HAVE USED TO FORMAT NEW NOTEBOOKS AND COMPUTERS AND WINDOWS 7 INSTALLED IN 11 MINUTES
THANKS A LOT
SAAD COMPUTERS
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This was a great help! Thanks!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
IT WORKS
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thank you very much, works really well,
the first tutorial which works ,
thanks alot,
keep it up,
HOLY SMOKES!!!!! This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for! THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!
It worked great, but now I can't use my usb drive anymore. Everytime I insert it it tells me to format, when I do, it works. But then when I reinsert the usb drive it tells me to format again.. What should i do?
Computer: Asus EEEPC
Current Situation: Can boot from USB drive, can enter initial Windows 7 instilation
Error BEGIN:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
File: windowssystem32bootwinload.exe
status: 0xc000035a
Info: Attempting to load a 64-bit application, however this CPU is not compatible with 64-bit mode.
ERROR END
I copied the Windows 7 files from the Windows 7 Instilation CD directly to the USB drive.
Any ideas on how to solve this error
Computer: Asus EEEPC
Current Situation: Can boot from USB drive, can enter initial Windows 7 instilation
Error BEGIN:
Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
File: windowssystem32bootwinload.exe
status: 0xc000035a
Info: Attempting to load a 64-bit application, however this CPU is not compatible with 64-bit mode.
ERROR END
I copied the Windows 7 files from the Windows 7 Instilation CD directly to the USB drive.
Any ideas on how to solve this error
Hi guys,
I think you dont need that much effort….as mentioned above
I have Dell Studio15 but the problem was it's DVD writer is not working so there was no option for me to install Windows7 on my laptop the only thing i could do is make copy of Windos7 installation DVD through USB, or LAN (as i dont have a 4gb+ pen drive), So i copied the files to my HDD through LAN.
After That the surprising thing how to do it ,
1. i could simple click on the setup.exe but it will upgrade the current OS or make a copy to a folder and install the new os, so your going to lose around 10GB of spaces.
2. But if you want to install a fresh copy of Windows7 , you wont be able to do it . so here is the trick …
Restart Your PC or Laptop press F8 soon it'll take you to repair screen….after that Wola
you got the cmd screen…..now just type command and go to the Copied Folder(Windows7)…and type setup.exe.
haha…..Rest you know what to do…….
I tried it and its works for me………:)
Can this be done with XP?
oh no bad man smashinn itt lol