Windows 7 - Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB device

baarod · 04-26-2009

How to Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB Device

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Click here to read the entire tutorial

alonan100 · 09-09-2010

I tried to install Vista this way but it didn`t boot corrently because of missing Storage Drivers

barfield2256 · 09-17-2010

I'm getting average install times of 37 minutes from a 16 GB PNY flash drive on multiple makes of laptops.

If I booted from a flash drive into Windows PE (v3.0) and then ran a batch file with the steps posted above, is it reasonable to think install time would be even shorter? I would have the batch file and 'install.wim' in the root of the flash drive - not inside the boot.wim of WinPE.

I found this page while looking for a way to install Windows 7 from an 'install.win' that was already 'expanded'. It does seem that the 'Expanding files...' stage of Win 7 install is the most time consuming.

Thanks for the article!
-Drew

Neophile · 03-10-2011

This is very a interesting tutorial.

I would like to know what will happen if instead of installing install.wim on a new partition it is done on top of an existing installation of the same version.

dynamind · 04-05-2011

If it's right, you helped me install windows7 on an exFAT STRIPE (RAID0)
partition!

thanks for your awesome guide

I'll soon reboot and tell you if it works : )

update: does not work, I guess bcd or winload is not able to boot from exFAT

Project 2501 · 10-08-2011

Hi people, nice tut'.

Just wanted to say couple of words to guys that could not made Easy BCD to work in Xp.

As I understand Easy BCD in process of executing checks for necessary small set of boot environment files, that bcdboot.exe copies from Windows Image, which also makes BCD store on system partition with new boot entry so we could boot into apllied Windows Image.
So before step from tut' that requires you to boot from win 7 dvd and run bcdboot command, ofcourse make partition active (and reports with succes), I was not able to start Easy BCD in XP. Just rebooting afther that and will work like charm.

Hope this can be useful info. Cheers.

Black Water · 12-03-2011

thanks bro.

but the first part(code) , we can use the graphical User interface to shrink and extend HDD and not need to use Dos window and type so many words we could forget anytime , what is the advantage of this part ?

already ,, I did all your first steps that i typed comment about , But I failed in the second part

and every time I type the code in cmd , I see this message "The system cannot find the path specified."

what is the problem ? and how to fix it

thank again

Brink · 12-03-2011

Hello Black Water,

The first part was just his preference, but you could just as easily do it in Disk Management as well like you did.

In the second part below, did substitute your actual paths with the example ones in the command below?

D:\Mike\Desktop\work = path to imagex.exe file

e:\sources\install.wim = path to mounted install.wim file from extracted Windows 7 ISO file

h = drive letter that you want Windows 7 to install to

Code:

D:\Mike\Desktop\work>imagex /apply e:\sources\install.wim 5 h:\
 
ImageX Tool for Windows
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved.
 
[ 100% ] Applying progress
 
Successfully applied image.
 
Total elapsed time: 7 min 8 sec
 
 
D:\Mike\Desktop\work>h:\windows\system32\bcdboot h:\windows
 
Boot files successfully created.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

signedin · 12-27-2011

I want to install windows 7 on my PC. I am running on vista now. I don't want a dual boot or whatsoever. I want windows 7 as if I ran it from a bootable DVD. Can I still use this method? What additional steps must I include?

BrutalElite · 01-13-2012

I know this fourm is a little old but i still hope i get a reply soon. i make it to the last steps of useing the install.wim but everytime i enter in the directory it says wim information then tells me the different commands. i just want to install this 64bit over my 32 bc 32 is only using 3.2gigs of my 12gigs of ram and im a HC gamer battlefeild 3 to be on point. please help me!!

zigzag3143 · 01-13-2012

Quote: Originally Posted by BrutalElite

I know this fourm is a little old but i still hope i get a reply soon. i make it to the last steps of useing the install.wim but everytime i enter in the directory it says wim information then tells me the different commands. i just want to install this 64bit over my 32 bc 32 is only using 3.2gigs of my 12gigs of ram and im a HC gamer battlefeild 3 to be on point. please help me!!

You cant install 64 bit "over" 32. It has to be a clean install.

Which of course means you have to re-install all your games/apps.

Windows 7 - Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB device

Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB device problems?