Hi,
i want to install Windows 7 64 bit on a Usb pen. I have already read the previous thread about this argument, but all of them point to Windows 7 32 bit and old version of it, like build 7000.
So there is anyone that can help me to install Windows 7 RTM 64 bit updated to the last version of it on an usb pen?
Thank you in advance.
I used the DVD download tool (Method 1) to install Home Premium x64 on this PC a couple of days ago. I took it one step further. I made an ISO image of my DVD and deleted the ei.cfg file from the sources folder. Then I pointed the DVD download tool to that image file. Instead of being locked into home premium I can install starter, home premium, professional, or ultimate. My product code will only work on home premium, but at some point I may have more than one PC with windows 7 on it and it may have a different version on it. I can use the one thumb drive to install on different PC's. All I have to do is match the product code to the sticker on the box during the install.
I believe the OP wants to install to a USB flash stick rather than using the stick to install:
MS of course tries to make this impossible, because otherwise users would carry Win7 around in their pocket to any machine.
For a long while, the only Google results showing success at this was for XP and it is one of the most difficult tutorials on the net.
Whenever this debate comes up, someone insists they have done it but usually admits that it runs so slowly it is not worth the trouble.
Last edited by gregrocker; 27 May 2010 at 13:19.
Well, I came across one guide. Basically, create a primary partition on the stick, make the stick bootable, copy the dvd files to stick, then set your machine to boot from usb. Heres the link if anyone is interested.
Create Bootable Windows 7 USB Drive
But I agree, it would run very slow. One thing that bothers me, how would you associate the device drivers? And if you stick it into another computer, you'll probably get some unmountable error. I mean when you change mobos, you mostly reinstall windows, dont you? You cant run it like fedora or like Knoppix off a live cd.
The hurdle for running the WIn7 OS from stick is the USB controller.
The same drive attached via SATA/IDE cable would swap out all drivers and likely run at the speeds allowed by the stick, much the same as when a HD is moved to another machine for install then returned to problem machine.
But once one gets past the USB controller, it still limits the speed without remedy.
So with a large enough size and say USB 3.0 operational, things should get better? Why cant usb drives be as fast as platter hard drives? And what about ssd?
I thnk they can be. Kingston told me my Data Traveler was slow compared to their better models, but I'm happy with it for my toolbox for now.
The hurdle as I understand it is the USB controller and its effect on the seek speed for reading and executing OS files.
OK, I missed the "ON" part of the first post by the OP. I've seen tutorials on how to install to an external USB hard drive, like you said though I think it was for XP. I also saw comments of it being slow even when it worked. I'll just say that installing 7 from a flash drive was a lot faster than from my external USB DVD drive. A lot faster, especially the uncompressing files part. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the write speeds dramatically slower than the read speeds for a flash drive? I wouldn't think a flash drive, I'm not talking SSD here, would be very suitable for running an OS from. I would also think it would cause premature failure of the thumb drive or flash card. I have to admit though that I'm not really up speed on some of this stuff so I may be basing some of what I said on old news.
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Install Windows 7 64 bit ON usb pen