Windows 7: link to instructions for creating an installer on a USB2.0 flash drive

I have a Windows 7 installer DVD, but I would like to transfer the files to a USB 2.0 flash stick to install from there instead of a DVD. Can someone post a link to instructions for this and the software I need to put the files on the flash and make it bootable. There seem to be a number of applications that do this, but I would like to know that I am using something that is safe and proven to work well.

LMHmedchem

Easiest method is to install UltraISO trial version, on File tab Open DVD, on BOotable tab select Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB, Removable or HD's.

Thanks, I tried the instructions here,
USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

but method one failed because for some reason the windows tool could not make the USB bootable, even though it copied the files. I can't use method two because I am working on a 32-bit system right now.

The method you suggested was much better because it didn't require me to install .net and other windows utilities. Do you like UltraISO? I have ImageBurn and some others, but I don't mind paying a bit for useful software. $30 is a bit steep for something like this, but I usually buy or donate if I end up using an app more than a couple of times. I think it's a good thing for folks who write useful software to get paid for it so they will keep it up.

The image wrote and verified. I will post back after I try installing with it.

LMHmedchem

Should be no problems using 32 bit Vista or Windows 7.

No need to buy UltraISO unless you needs its specific features. You can always use the trial version to write ISO on a DVD to stick, and if you already have the ISO then this tool is easier still: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
/nuff said.

I don't know if MS improved the Windows 7 Download tool since release but it previously rejected many ISO's.

The download tool rejected the iso created by image burn, but not the one by ISOdisk. It was able to write the files from ISOdisk to the USB, but not able to make the usb bootable. It also required me to install .net and also the image mastering API v2. So for the official windows tool, I had to install 6 different applications, validate my copy of windows, and it still doesn't work. On the other hand, a free piece of software works just fine on the first try without needing anything else installed. I guess we shouldn't wonder why MS isn't growing anymore.

I was able to boot with the USB drive, but I haven't done the installation yet.

LMHmedchem

OK, keep us posted.

You can adapt these steps to get a perfect install of Windows 7 based on hundreds done here.

The install went fine with one caveat. On this Asus board, a USB stick is considered a "hard drive", so to get it to boot, I set the USB stick as the first "hard drive" in the boot order. It was necessary to do this because there was already an old windows install on the drive, so it would have booted from that if I didn't change the order. There didn't appear to be a way to set it to look for a flask stick first, then a hard drive.

After this first part of the install, the system re-started and the booted from the usb stick again, starting the installer again instead of finishing the install. I had to quit the installer and re-set the boot order. It did seem to finish, but it took a while and I am not sure that things went quite kosher. Everything seems fine, but I may reinstall anyway. I think it would have been better to leave the boot order alone, meaning to leave the HDD as the first boot device, and instead key f8 after POST to get the boot menu to come up. That way I could have told it to boot from the flash when I wanted to install, but then it would have booted from the HDD durring the install re-starts. There was no "press any key to boot from the USD drive" prompt like there is when it tires to boot from a DVD, so I guess that part of the process is missing at this point.

Is this a common issue when installing from a USB stick?

I will read through the link in your last post before I re-install, thanks for the tips.

LMHmedchem