Microsoft Delays Releasing Open Source Win 7 Tool

Two weeks ago, Microsoft pulled its Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool off its Microsoft Store as the piece of software violated the GNU General Public License.

As the name suggests, the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool creates a bootable USB stick from a Windows 7 install DVD for use with systems that do not contain an optical drive.

At the time of the pull, Microsoft said in a statement, "Microsoft is looking into this issue and is taking down the (Windows 7 updating) tool from the Microsoft Store site until its review is complete. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience."

Microsoft eventually decided that the best course of action is to release its software tool under the GPL as well, but likely for reasons that point to the company not wanting to share its proprietary code, those waiting for the tool will have to wait a little longer.

As spotted by Ars Technica, Microsoft posted on its Port 25 open source blog, "While we worked extremely hard to try and get the code ready for release by today, we still need to test and localize it. Our goal is now to release the tool in all languages on the same day in the next few weeks.

"We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make the Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool available once again."

Are you still sitting around, anxiously waiting for the tool's release so that you can put Windows 7 on your netbook or notebook? Let us know in the comments below!

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • Abrahm
    Couldn't this already be done without their tool? I remember installing Windows 7 Beta on an older Dell I had, it wouldn't boot from DVD so I had to put it on a USB to install it. I think HP has a free tool that helps you do this already.
    Reply
  • gtvr
    I'd like to have this - going to install 7 soon, I have an iso. I assume there's a way to mount the iso and copy it to a USB stick, or maybe the tool copies it directly from an iso to USB?
    Reply
  • sunflier
    gtvrI assume there's a way to mount the iso and copy it to a USB stick...
    Yes. I used UltraISO its newer (more advanced) version of MagicISO. I burned (mounted, whichever) the Freebie Win7 from MS on an 8GB usb drive.

    Works perfectly. I'm sure there are others but thats what I used.
    Reply
  • michaelahess
    My flash drive already does this, why do I need a tool? Takes about 5 minutes to setup any flash drive to install any os. I've personally done it with various flavors of linux, mac os x, win xp, vista, and 7, server 2k3 and 2k8.
    Reply
  • rpmrush
    I actually used the original tool to make a bootable dvd and a bootable usb drive from a Win 7 download. Worked fine.
    Reply
  • jhansonxi
    "We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make the Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool available once again."

    Since when is Microsoft being late on a software release news?
    Reply
  • how about just using a ubuntu live cd and the bootable usb drive creator that comes with it, all GNU
    Reply
  • ossie
    So, that is setting the record straight: m$ did use GPLed code illegally, without respecting the licenses, and providing due credit.
    Where are all those wintarded micro$uxx fankiddies whining that their god was wrongly accused?
    Reply
  • neiroatopelcc
    just put the win 7 wim into your wds server at work and pxe it :p
    Reply