Make a usb with an iso file on it bootable

errolgreer · 21 Oct 2020

I have a Wndows 7 Pro ISO file on a usb. I need to install Win7 on an old laptop. How do I make this USB bootable?

Please help!

Snick · 21 Oct 2020

Hi errolgreer,

You cannot copy and paste an ISO file to DVD or USB as it will not boot.
I use RUFUS to burn the ISO to USB
Rufus - The Official Website (Download, New Releases)
Video Bootable USB windows 7 Rufus | Create win7 Bootable USB ...

For a DVD, I use ImgBurn
The Official ImgBurn Website
ImgBurn: Burn ISO Images to DVD - YouTube

Snick

Megahertz07 · 21 Oct 2020

You don't need Rufus and it's quite easy to do it.

- Open a CMD window as administrator and type:
diskpart
list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the USB drive number)
select disk n (replace n by the USB drive number obtained with list disk)
clean
convert mbr
create part primary
select part 1
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
active
exit (to exit diskpart)

Now extract all files and folders from the iso file to the root of the USB drive. On Win 7 use 7zip

It will boot and install as Legacy - MBR
To boot and install as UEFI - GPT (64 bits only) you need to add Boot folder (attached) under EFI

Boot folder

Bree · 21 Oct 2020

Snick said:

You cannot copy and paste an ISO file to ... USB as it will not boot...

You can now if you use Ventoy.

Ventoy

This is a remarkably useful Open Source tool that allows you to copy multiple ISOs to your usb and boots to a menu where you choose which one to mount and boot from.

I have a dozen ISOs on my USB including Windows instal media, Macrium recovery disk and Linux Mint Live.

I can boot any of them from just this one USB.

.

Snick · 21 Oct 2020

Bree

Thank you for the information! There are also other similar tools. OP didn't specifically ask about multi-boot programs, among others, & the one you specifically indicated. I'll have to give it a trial run for educational purposes.

The below list has been around for a while, I don't particularly like SARDU, my personal preference. YUMI works for a large number of Linux Distros.

SARDU MultiBoot USB and DVD Creator
MultiBootUSB
MultiSystem
YUMI (Your Universal MultiBoot Installer)
WinSetupFromUSB

The below link has descriptions of each.

5 Apps to Create MultiBoot USB - Linux and Windows ISOs ...

Snick

billmcct · 21 Oct 2020

I will also give Ventoy a big thumbs up. Installs to a hidden partition, updates don't touch the data partition.
Gets updated often.
Release Ventoy 1.0.25 release . ventoy/Ventoy . GitHub

Snick · 22 Oct 2020

billmcct

I agree with you! Thanks again Bree!

billmcct · 22 Oct 2020

If you elect to Watch "Releases" on the GitHub page, you'll get an email when a new release comes out.