partial install of Win7 Pro OEM - How can I clean it out?

That's only to set the tool up to write to stick. Go ahead and install it it then open it from All Programs, follow the prompts.

Trying to create the bootable flash drive....can you think of any reason an 8GB NTFS-formatted usb flash drive would be considered incompatible? I haven't been able to find anything in the online help.

If the problem is the Windows tool, then what always works for me when the others don't is to install UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive.

Exactly what error messages do you get then, at what step, and when doing what?

There's no error popup, it's just the dialogue in the Windows7 USB/DVD Download Tool. At step3 (after selecting the ISO & then the device) it says No compatible removable usb devices were detected. Please connect a USB device that is at least 4GB, & press "Refresh."
And then in the dropdown, it says No compatible USB devices detected.
I'll give the UltraISO a shot.

It worked. Thanks a million. (Didn't try the rufus or wintobootic)

But there's something weird going on. I have an HDMI cable connecting the computer to the tv....when I plugged the HDMI cable back in, everything (the recycle bin & taskbar) disappeared from the desktop. When I unplugged it, they came back....

Does that monitor have its driver in Device Manager? Try updating it.

Enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) to run all Important and Optional Windows Updates, with reboots, until no more are offered when you Check for Updates.

When you installed Microsoft Security Essentials did you update and run the offered scan, and was your data already imported. To be sure I would run a Malwarebytes full scan.