Tom's Hardware > Forum > Windows 7 > Creating a Windows 7 [Vista or XP] bootable USB drive the easy way

Creating a Windows 7 [Vista or XP] bootable USB drive the easy way

Forum Windows 7 : Creating a Windows 7 [Vista or XP] bootable USB drive the easy way

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ibnsina   09-15-2009 at 07:17:00 PM

Creating a Windows 7 / Vista bootable USB drive in a few easy steps. (XP guide at the bottom)

 

.............................................................................................................
Requirements:
Windows 7 ,or Vista ISO
4GB+ USB Pen drive (for windows 7 or vista)
UNetbootin tool, Download here http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ [...] latest.exe and save it. (is free software)

 

.............................................................................................................
(backup any data on the USB, as it will be formatted)

 

Step 1: Insert USB pen drive into the USB port

 

Step 2: From the Start menu, go to My computer, right click on the USB drive, then select Format. In format windows, under File System choose NTFS. then click Start.Once complete close the window.

 

http://www.geckoandfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/format_usb_thumbdrive_flash_fat_ntfs_how_tutorial3.jpg

 

Step 3: Open the UNetbootin tool (from the location you saved it in), when the the program opens up, 'Diskimage' [in the middle] should be selected . Now click on 3 dots [...] to browse
for your Windows 7or Vista ISO image file.

 

http://techbird.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/unetbootin_shot.jpg
Step 4: At the bottom of the Unetbootin windows , the setting should be

 

Type: USB Drive
Drive: for this, you choose your correct usb drive letter

 

Step 5: Start the process by clicking OK

 

Wait as the ISO is extracted to your USB drive; once is done, you will have a bootable Windows 7/Vista USB drive .

 

Your USB drive is ready to boot and install Windows. Simple hay?
.............................................................................................................

 

You need to change the boot priorty in the Bios, change it to USB (from HDD or CD ROM/DVD drive). Remember when windows 7 installations Restarts for the -first- time, switch the setting back to HDD as 1st boot (else it will loop)

 

If you down't have Windows ISO, you can download Windows 7 Enterprise 90 days trial from here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb [...] ID=wtcfeed

 

.............................................................................................................
(Updated 09-29-2009)

 

To creat Windows XP bootable USB drive

 

Try WinToFlash.

 

http://wintoflash.com/overview/en/#

 

WinToFlash guide
http://komku.blogspot.com/2009/09/ [...] ws-xp.html
..........................................................................................................
Feed back is welcome.


Message edited by ibnsina on 09-29-2009 at 10:54:56 PM
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jimishtar   09-16-2009 at 01:28:46 AM
- 0 +

nice nice, time to update my xp usb

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to jimishtar
ibnsina   09-16-2009 at 11:44:15 PM
- 0 +

jimishtar wrote :

nice nice, time to update my xp usb



Dont forget, Step 2, you must select NTFS when formating the USB flash.

Reply to ibnsina
ragsters   09-17-2009 at 03:52:11 PM
- 0 +

I have an XP disk with SP3 that I slipstreamed using nlite. Where is the iso file?

Reply to ragsters
ragsters   09-19-2009 at 12:42:55 AM
- 0 +

Ignor the last post.
Do you guys know if the speed of the flash drive make the installation faster or slower? What I mean is should I invest in a high speed flash drive or will any old 2GB-4GB drive do?

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to ragsters
reconviperone1   09-19-2009 at 01:12:57 AM
- 0 +

that should come in handy

Reply to reconviperone1
ibnsina   09-22-2009 at 06:19:12 PM
- 0 +

I got Kingston 4GB Flash Drive Model DT101N) the speed is al-right. $11.49. 5 years limited Warranty. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134711

 

I recommend you go for the 8 GB version, is more future proof. Kingston 8GB Flash Drive ( Model DT101C Retail). $16.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820134709

 

Or

 

Water- and shock-resistant types.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820220251
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820220252

 

.............................................................................................................
In the future I will post results of Windows XP/ Vista/Windows 7 installations times for Kingston 8GB Flash Drive Model DT101C.


Message edited by ibnsina on 09-29-2009 at 09:46:34 PM
Reply to ibnsina
Anonymous   09-22-2009 at 06:53:51 PM
- 0 +

I have used the steps to format my drive with NTFS, as well as using Unetbootin to put my .ISO on the drive and make it bootable, but after changin the boot option to boot from the drive it goes to a black screen and does not boot properly. any thoughts?

Message quoted 2 times
Reply to Anonymous
ibnsina   09-22-2009 at 07:47:07 PM
- 0 +

Which MS Windows version are you using and Which windows ISO you trying to make bootable? (32 or 64 bits on both questions?)

 


..........................................................................................................
USB make/model?

 

(If possible motherboard make/model as well? )


Message edited by ibnsina on 09-29-2009 at 09:39:56 PM
Reply to ibnsina
ragsters   09-24-2009 at 04:06:31 PM
- 0 +

Anonymous wrote :

I have used the steps to format my drive with NTFS, as well as using Unetbootin to put my .ISO on the drive and make it bootable, but after changin the boot option to boot from the drive it goes to a black screen and does not boot properly. any thoughts?



+1. It doesn't work for me either. I tried installing XP 32 bit using the usb drive and it locks up the system.

Reply to ragsters
ibnsina   09-29-2009 at 09:37:42 PM
- 0 +

If you having issues with Windows XP, there’s another program called WinToFlash which you can try. http://wintoflash.com/overview/en/#

 

WinToFlash guide

 

http://komku.blogspot.com/2009/09/ [...] ws-xp.html
.............................................................................................................

 

Using UNetbootin tool.

 

It took 7 minutes to transfer Windows 7 iso to USB Pen drive
[disabling virus program speeds up the process]

 


Windows 7 Installations times:

 

Kingston USB [DT101C-8GB] : 14 Minutes :o

 

8x DVD-ROM: 33 Minutes :lol: .


Message edited by ibnsina on 09-29-2009 at 10:25:59 PM
Reply to ibnsina
ragsters   09-29-2009 at 09:59:00 PM
- 0 +

Should I follow the same method used before?

Reply to ragsters
ragsters   09-29-2009 at 11:41:02 PM
- 0 +

Should I format it to NFTS or will Fat32 be OK?

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to ragsters
ampedal   10-02-2009 at 04:58:45 AM
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Quote :

Should I format it to NFTS or will Fat32 be OK?

------------------------------ AMD Phenom II x4 955 BE | Gigabyte MA790FXT | OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 Platinum EB | Radeon 4870HD | Crucial M225 SSD

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 Reply to ampedal
ibnsina   10-02-2009 at 10:16:03 AM
- 0 +

ragsters wrote :

Should I format it to NFTS or will Fat32 be OK?



For XP, try FAT 32.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by ibnsina on 10-02-2009 at 11:55:16 AM
Reply to ibnsina
ragsters   10-02-2009 at 10:39:08 PM
- 0 +

ibnsina wrote :

For XP, try FAT 32.



Thanks, I will let you know what happens.

Reply to ragsters
ibnsina   10-27-2009 at 07:42:26 PM
- 0 +

Microsoft has also recently released similar tool to create a bootable USB or DVD Windows 7 flash drive is called Windows 7 USB/DVD tool.

Download and guide here http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool


Message quoted 1 times
Reply to ibnsina
jksudheer   11-10-2009 at 09:11:45 PM
- 0 +

In the end you mention that i change the boot from USB to HDD...

Assuming i have XP on my Laptop HDD, and i just installed Win7 on my external USB HDD, if i change the boot from USB to HDD,
which HDD will it boot from? USB HDD's win7 or laptop HDD's Xp?

Reply to jksudheer
ibnsina   11-10-2009 at 10:50:52 PM
- 0 +

I have not installed Windows 7 on external HD. However If you want to boot from the external HD, then you leave first boot as USB (not HDD).

Reply to ibnsina
Anonymous   11-11-2009 at 02:42:37 AM
- 0 +

ibnsina wrote :

Microsoft has also recently released similar tool to create a bootable USB or DVD Windows 7 flash drive is called Windows 7 USB/DVD tool.

Download and guide here http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool





Sorry, the page you are looking for cannot be found.

Reply to Anonymous
ibnsina   11-11-2009 at 12:32:23 PM
- 0 +

Microsoft has halted download from there site (apparently they used open source code licensed under GPLv2 and changed it, which is not allowed)

 

Any ways that’s Microsoft’s problem, you can download it from here:-
http://depositfiles.com/en/files/g6o7vzqsd

 

Or you can use other tools mentioned in this thread.


Message edited by ibnsina on 11-11-2009 at 12:32:50 PM
Reply to ibnsina
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