You can put other files on the bootable flash stick, just don't touch the seven Win7 files in the root. I carry all my tools this way, back up files.
You can try manually creating the stick following Option Two in USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums then copy the files over from the larger stick, though I would keep them in case this fails.
Thank you Greg I was looking at that tutorial earlier today
Someone had issues with the process simply installing win-7 ultimate with the flash media he manually entered following option 2
I was wanting to use the larger flash drive as a Linux emergency flash
Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS
Might be best to leave it alone and just buy another one for Linux ?
It's a 30 gig flash voyager drive though with only 3 gigs on it :/
That was only to install and you could delay that till later,
Microsoft wants it up front now and won't let a upgrade key to be used for the download
Nope. you could always download the iso without a key.
This is a recent change, but still no big deal if you have your key.
You might still be able to get a replacement disk from MS.
They document this for OEM, but don't mention Upgrade keys.
Might be worth trying ???
Source: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, Official Disk Images from Digital River
What about OEM
OEM and SB customers can't get their software through the recovery centre. This does not mean that your product key becomes worthless if you have no more matching Windows 7 disk. It just gets more complicated for you. Microsoft might not give you access to the disk downloads, but will send you a replacement disk instead. This will happen at a small processing fee, and also requires you to enter the product key of course.
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