Installing Windows with USB Flash Drive

[xxgamxx]

Ok so I'm building a new pc and I'm trying to save as much money as I can. So I'm wondering can I skip buying an optical drive to install my Windows 7 and just use a USB Flash Drive to install windows 7 on a NEW COMPUTER with nothing on it(no OS).

 

[The_Prophecy]

You can, but you would need to use another system to prep the flash drive.

 

[aford10]

Optical drives are used for so many other things besides loading windows. Are you sure you want to cut ~$25, and have no optical drive? Of all the hardware in a PC, this seems like an odd area to try and cut.

 

[xxgamxx]

You can, but you would need to use another system to prep the flash drive.

Of couse that goes without saying

Optical drives are used for so many other things besides loading windows. Are you sure you want to cut ~$25, and have no optical drive? Of all the hardware in a PC, this seems like an odd area to try and cut.

To be honest, I don't think I ever used my drive for any other thing besides burning and I have other computers for that atm.
Can you name some of these tasks?

 

[aford10]

Optical drives are used for loading software, games, movies, music, burning, backups, windows repairs....etc. If you don't use the optical drive, then that's your choice, no problems. To me, it just seems an odd choice to try and cut cost.

 

[The_Prophecy]

Any data that comes on optical media cannot be loaded if you don't have the drive (games come to mind here). Unless you have another computer with an optical drive and want to then transfer the data over your network, I would spend the $25.

 

[xxgamxx]

Any data that comes on optical media cannot be loaded if you don't have the drive (games come to mind here). Unless you have another computer with an optical drive and want to then transfer the data over your network, I would spend the $25.

I'm a Steam boy and online free fps gamer, I dont use CD media much.

 

[aford10]

If you list your specs, we can probably find some comparable hardware or deals that will cut the $25, and allow you to add an optical drive, with no or little additional cost in your build.

It's really up to you though. I don't want to encourage you to buy something you don't need/want.

 

[xxgamxx]

Ill give it a go i guess

keeping this under 600 is priority. I've already purchased the cpu fyi.

 

[aford10]

Going with this OCZ 550w PSU will save you ~$30. It's plenty of power for any single video card setup. It actually has more amps on the 12v rails, and is modular.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022&Tpk=ocz%20550

 

[xxgamxx]

Going with this OCZ 550w PSU will save you ~$30. It's plenty of power for any single video card setup. It actually has more amps on the 12v rails, and is modular.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022&Tpk=ocz%20550

Intresting find, I'll give it a go i guess

 

[xxgamxx]

I just want to make sure. I can do what I said in my first post right?

 

[aford10]

Yep.

 

[xxgamxx]

Best answer selected by xxgamxx.

 

[kokokebda]

You can, but you would need to use another system to prep the flash drive.

Sorry for pimping it up 6 months later but I am really in a hella bad situation , sufferring the same problem maybe worse , I already made the bootable usb device but the new pc says that "NTLDR is missing" , What can i do ? Please Answer as soon as you can

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

kokokebda
Start a new thread,i'm closing this one,it's over a year old!