I have done all of my test installs from 7k beta onwards by mounting the image in vista using daemon tools then run it as a virtual disk and using custom install point to the spare formatted partition
the only limitation it seems is that the new install inherits the partition letters from the operating system it's installed from which means vista insists on being the C drive , but hey a minor problem
Any custom install while booted in Windows would see that to begin with. The first install of the 7000 build while booted in Vista saw that end up being the J drive then. The second install saw the Vista drive unplugged while setting up the XP/7 dual boot on the second drive with both ending up being C. XP was first boot sector until mounted to become D while in 7.
For maintaining each installation to see itself as C you would install without cohersion from Windows in order to prevent the drive letter offset whether off a dvd, flash drive, external without any version loaded. If you lack any of those in case of either a laptop or desktop seeing only a cd or cd-rw drive then you have to mount an image for the custom install in Windows.
One thing not to expect is trying to run the installer while booted in any present 7 or expect to see the incompatibility message appear being the same version even the build is 3 times newer.
Well I got one for ya. This is easily the fastest way to install 7. Does it in 8 minutes on my box. ImageX install.wim onto an activated partition and reboot. That's it.
1) Make a primary partition. The easiest way it to use diskmgmt.msc to shrink an existing partition.
2) Use diskpart.exe create primary partion, quick format ntfs, and activate
3) Mount Windows 7 ISO using Virtual Clone Drive and run ImageX /apply v:\sources\install.wim 5 d:\ where v is the VCD mount and d is the new partition.
4) d:\windows\system32\bcdboot.exe d:\windows to configure system files
5) Reboot and it will install the right drivers and finish setting up.
Done. No goofy drive assignments, no messing with booting from removable media, no touching existing Windows install -- it can even be XP/Vista. Boot back into your previous OS by activating it's partition using diskpart.
This is based on the method that big IT shops and OEMs like Dell use.
EDIT: almost forgot -- you can download the entire 1.5GB WAIK or this imagex.zip
Last edited by baarod; 14 Apr 2009 at 22:58.
Gee I will have to try that on one of these so called newer builds sometime on the test for bogus builds partition set up for that!
I'm looking at the time saving factor in order to see a fast install, good lookover, and ready to trash if fake in a relatively short amount of time. That would also help alert the over anxious that any new build rushed on isn't always what it's crocked up to be!
I wonder if that work as well off of a usb flash drive? naaa.... internal drives are still faster there!
VMs are good for this too, yanno :P - with an added advantage that your running as a guest of a host that has antivirus and antimalware software built in - so that you're in less chance of getting an infected build that starts going willy nilly all over your HD....
ummm, I thought it was to spot a fake or not....
If it is not fake, then you install it for real - if it is you don't have to play around with partitions...
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