How to Install Windows 7 from USB Pen Drive/External Hard Disk Using Grub4Dos

   Note

**(Update: 19th January 2011)**
The below tutorial was written base on MultiBootISO.exe version 1.4.8 which is not the lastest version. If you like this version(V1.4.8), you may get it here: MultiBootISOs-v1.4.8.exe
Latest version of MultiBootISO.exe is different than the version descripted in this tutorial.
**End of update: 19th January 2011)**

**(Update: 5th August 2010)**
Here, in this quote, are some of the updated informations to this tutorial.
Recently, in the early of July 2010, Windows 7 Installation boot entry has been added into MultiBootISO.exe. We don't have to do it manually as described below.
All you need to do is:
Step 1: Download MultiBootISO, run and install it into your USB Pendrive/External Hard Disk
Step 2: As for fresh install, you only need to copy the following 3 file/directorys into the root directory of your USB(thanks for climbing for this info):

bootmgr (file)
boot (directory)
sources (directory)

Thats it. Reboot your computer from USB. From the boot menu, choose Operating System Installers > Install Windows Vista/7
This Installation process of Windows 7/Vista will start. Good Luck.
**End of Update 5th August 2010**

Requirements:

1. MultibootISO > Install Grub4Dos easily into USB Flash Drive/External Hard Disk
Get it here: Boot Multiple ISO from USB (MultiBoot USB) | USB Pen Drive Linux
or here: YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux
2. Windows 7 DVD, ISO or Source Files
3. Notepad++ > To edit menu.lst
Get it here:Notepad++ | Download Notepad++ software for free at SourceForge.net
or here: Download Notepad++ 5.6.8 - FileHippo.com



Lets Start

Step 1: Run MultibootISO, install MultibootISO into your USB Storage Device(ie.pendrive, External Hard Disk). This will install Grub4dos in pendrive.

Step 2: Copy everything in Windows 7 Installation DVD into your USB storage.

Step 3: Look for the file menu.lst in your pendrive/External Hard Disk, edit it with Notepad++.

Step 4: You'll be able to see the first 9 rows as below in menu.lst

Code:

# This Menu Created by Lance http://www.pendrivelinux.com
# Ongoing Suggested Menu Entries and the Suggestor are noted!
default 0
timeout 30
root=(hd0,0)
color NORMAL HIGHLIGHT HELPTEXT HEADING
splashimage=(hd0,0)/splash.xpm.gz
foreground=FFFFFF
background=0066FF

Add in the below command lines after the above code:

Code:

title Install Windows 7
root (hd0,0)
chainloader (hd0,0)/bootmgr

Done. The pendrive is ready to boot and install Windows 7.

If you are confused and don't know how to edit menu.lst, then, open it with Notepad++, delete all the command lines and replace by the following command lines. Save the file and exit.

Code:

# This Menu Created by Lance http://www.pendrivelinux.com
# Ongoing Suggested Menu Entries and the Suggestor are noted!
default 0
timeout 30
root=(hd0,0)
color NORMAL HIGHLIGHT HELPTEXT HEADING
splashimage=(hd0,0)/splash.xpm.gz
foreground=FFFFFF
background=0066FF
 
title Install Windows 7
root (hd0,0)
chainloader (hd0,0)/bootmgr

The steps mentioned in this tutorial work with Windows Vista too.


Install from Pendrive
Restart the computer. Configure BIOS to boot from Pendrive/External Hard Disk.
A boot menu will appear. You will be able to see the boot option Install Windows 7.
Use arrow key on keyboard to select Install Windows 7 and press enter.
This will enter Windows Boot Manager, choose Windows Setup [EMS Enable] and the installation will start.

   Note

If you install MultiBootISO(Grub4Dos) in 2nd or 3rd partition of your external hard disk, you need to change all the (hd0,0) in menu.lst to (hd0,1) or (hd0,2).

(hd0,0) means 1st hard disk, 1st partition
(hd0,1) means 1st hard disk, 2nd partition
(hd0,2) means 1st hard disk, 3rd partition

Grub4Dos will treat your Pendrive/USB Hard Disk as 1st hard disk, but you have to define the path to 2nd or 3rd partition.

For example:
Install MultiBootISO(Grub4Dos) in 2nd partition=

Code:

title Install Windows 7
root (hd0,1)
chainloader (hd0,1)/bootmgr

Install MultiBootISO(Grub4Dos) in 3rd partition

Code:

title Install Windows 7
root (hd0,2)
chainloader (hd0,2)/bootmgr

About Menu.lst
Menu.lst is a boot menu of Grub4Dos. After install MultibootISO into pendrive/External Hard Disk, it support for booting many OS or programs. There are many entries ready made by default after installing MultibootISO. You may delete any of the entries if you don't need them.

For more info about MultiBootISO, please visit: Boot Multiple ISO from USB (MultiBoot USB) | USB Pen Drive Linux


Advantages of Using Pendrive to Install Windows 7
DVD will take 30 minutes to install Windows 7
but, Pendrive will take 15 minutes to install Windows 7. (for USB 2.0 & above)


Advantages of using Grub4Dos
There are many several ways to install Windows 7 from USB Pendrive.
Microsoft has officially released a software which can transfer Windows 7 DVD into pendrive.
WintoFlash is another software will do the same thing.
However, these 2 software will only allow 1 OS at a time.

But, by using Grub4Dos, many other bootable OS or Softwares (ie, Linux, Ubuntu, Ultimate Boot CD, Partition Wizard...) are supported in one single pendrive/External Hard Disk. To view the list of supported software, you may refer the official site of MultiBootISO. If the bootable software you owned is not listed, doesn't mean it is not supported.

Besides installing Windows 7, you can make your USB become a Super System Maintenace & Emergency Rescue Tools. (i.e, recover/copy files when Windows cannot startup/lost partition/formated partition, reset or recover system/windows password, testing tools)

Below are some of the highly recommended bootable software for System Maintenance & Emergency Rescue Tools:

1. Partition Wizard - Site - Download
2. Hiren's Boot CD - Site1 - Site2 - Download
3. Ultimate Boot CD - Site - Download
4. Windows 7 System Repair Disc - How to boot Windows 7 Repair Disc from USB using Grub4Dos
5. AntiVirus Rescue Disk (ie, AVG, Bitdefender, Avira)

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key
• How to Make a MS-DOS Bootable Flash Drive
• How to Create a Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc
• How to Do a Upgrade Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7