How can I make a bootable DVD?

[sivakumar]

Hi

this is santosh
How can i make a windows 7 bootable dvd.

 

[mac0sX]

I have tried to burn win7 from drive d:\ to dvd - r. But, as I added the files to be burned, there was a prompt message that states that the file "install.wmi" can't be burned because its size is greater than 2GB. And it also suggested that I have to use a file system called UDF. Could somebody help me figure out the problem? Thanks a lot...

 

[theog]

Does the file look like this?

 

[SIW2]

Are you trying to burn the seaparate files to dvd?

Usually you make a bootable .iso in UDF format and burn that to dvd as an image.

 

[bobkn]

I have tried to burn win7 from drive d:\ to dvd - r. But, as I added the files to be burned, there was a prompt message that states that the file "install.wmi" can't be burned because its size is greater than 2GB. And it also suggested that I have to use a file system called UDF. Could somebody help me figure out the problem? Thanks a lot...

You probably should have started a new thread for this, rather than appending your post to one that's two years old.

The normal way to make a bootable DVD is from an .iso file, which is a software image of a DVD. I use Nero to create the DVD from the .iso. There are other utilities that'll do that, including ImageBurn (free version).

As you mention install.wmi, you appear to have the installation files on a hard drive, rather than an .iso. I hope that the way those files got there didn't involve piracy, discussion of which is forbidden here.

 

[mac0sX]

Well, I just want to create a back up for my windows 7 installer. Ok, therefore, what i need is the .iso file of an installer when i am going to create a bootable dvd. Is this method applicable when creating a bootable dvd for operating system?

 

[gregrocker]

The best way to back up your Win7 installer is to extract the ISO with ImgBurn and back it up to your Downloads folder or Storage partition. If needed burn it to DVD using ImgBurn or write to flash stick using this tool with Win7 in dropdown menu: Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3

This is for your Win 7 installation DVD. Another method is to back up an image of your existing installation which can be reimaged to the HD or its replacement using the DVD/Repair CD and the stored image: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

If you have factory preinstalled Win7, you should also make your Recovery Disk set so you can restore your computer to factory condition if ever needed. But this method includes all the preinstalled bloatware so is inferior to using a Win7 installer or your own image.

 

[mac0sX]

Ok then. I will try the method that you have suggested and I will give you a feedback if it really works. Thank you.

 

[mjf]

The best way to back up your Win7 installer is to extract the ISO with ImgBurn and back it up to your Downloads folder or Storage partition.

As Greg says backing up your installation DVDs should be that straightforward.
I back my 3rd party installation disks that way. The activation keys provide piracy protection.

 

[gregrocker]

Ok then. I will try the method that you have suggested and I will give you a feedback if it really works. Thank you.

You can mount the ISO with PowerISO to see if it runs from within Win7.

 

[bobkn]

Well, I just want to create a back up for my windows 7 installer. Ok, therefore, what i need is the .iso file of an installer when i am going to create a bootable dvd. Is this method applicable when creating a bootable dvd for operating system?

I'm confused as to what you have in hand.

If you have a Microsoft OS installation DVD, it's copyable.

If you wish to save a copy of a DVD to a hard drive, perhaps the best way is to use a utility to save an .iso of it. The .iso is an image of the DVD, preserving all of its contents in a single file.

If you have a pre-installed version of Win7, the PC manufacturer probably included a utility to make system restore disks. In my opinion, that's much less useful than having a Microsoft installation DVD, but it's better than nothing.

Windows 7 includes drive imaging software. You could back up your current installation with that. (You'd need a separate partiton on the hard drive, another internal hard drive, or an external drive.)

It may be possible to reconstitute an install disk from a running Windows 7 installation, but I can't recall reading of anyone having done that.

 

[Sonic98]

I know exactly what he's talking about. I used to do the same with Windows XP. I had my Windows XP disc backed up as folder not an ISO. I soon realized I was not burning bootable copies. I used to use Nero to burn by Disc. Nero had an option to burn a bootable disc, but you had to also have a boot file downloaded for it as well. I'm guessing there is not simple way to do this with the built in utility with Windows 7. You'll have to use one of the applications previously mentioned.

 

[sigma6]

I don't know if anyone posted this, and I don't know if it counts, but it is worth recording. It is for creating a bootable USB. I found it, tried it and it works great...

I was wondering if something like this can be turned into an .iso and burned onto CD? (let me know if you think this is possible...)

CREATING A BOOTABLE USB

1. Insert USB stick into the system.

2. Open Command Prompt. (usually found in accessories)

3. When the command prompt opens, enter the following commands:
DISKPART and hit enter.
LIST DISK and hit enter.
(Once you enter the LIST DISK command, it will show the number of your USB drive)

4. In this step you need to enter the commands below, one by one and hit enter.
SELECT DISK 1 (Replace your disk number)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT FS=NTFS (Formate process may take few minutes)
ASSIGN
EXIT

Now minimise the command window.


5. Insert Windows DVD into Optical Drive (DVD/CD Burner)
Note Drive letter of Optical Drive and USB media.
Here I am using "D" as Optical Drive and "H" as USB Drive letter.

6. Go back to command prompt, excute the following commands:
D: (Where "D" is your DVD drive letter)
CD BOOT
BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 H: (Where "H" is your USB drive)

7. Copy Windows DVD contents to USB.

You have now completed making a bootable pen drive.

 

[SIW2]

Yes. There is a tutorial pretty much identical on this site.

Thanks for posting.

And no, you can't make an iso like that.

The tools are not natively included in windows.

Plenty of free 3rd party ones will copy a dvd to the HD as an iso image, then burn it.

 

[mjf]

@Sigma6
The sequence of commands to make a USB bootable is standard practice. I'm not sure what your step 6 is attempting to achieve. Certainly your step 7 is correct for a system repair dvd. You end up with a bootable system repair bootable USB.
More generally this can be an easier way to add ISOs to a USB flash drive.
YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux
I personally still use Grub4Dos.

 

[sigma6]

I just want to make sure I am understanding you correctly SIW2, are you saying that it can't be done because Windows doesn't have the tools?
or that you can't use ISO software to create ISO's from bootable USBs...?

ie. Are you saying that ISO image creation software only works on bootable CD/DVDs only?
and won't work copying from a Bootable USB? you have my curiosity now, I have to look into that... (thanks)

 

[sigma6]

@Sigma6
The sequence of commands to make a USB bootable is standard practice. I'm not sure what your step 6 is attempting to achieve. Certainly your step 7 is correct for a system repair dvd. You end up with a bootable system repair bootable USB.
More generally this can be an easier way to add ISOs to a USB flash drive.
YUMI - Multiboot USB Creator (Windows) | USB Pen Drive Linux
I personally still use Grub4Dos.

Step 6 makes the stick bootable I believe, I then copied Win7 files onto it and it worked fine.
I have just started playing around with 'boot' software, want to look at GrubforDOS, thanks for the heads up. What would you suggest for a Master Boot software for a dual boot Windows system. I heard there is a Grub solution for that as well. Is this the same software? (thanks)

 

[mjf]

I always thought Bootsect was related to NTLDR (NT Loader) and required for XP.
Here is my understanding for W7

Clean ------Inserts bootcode in the MBR
Create partition primary------sets adds partition entries in the MBR
active--------sets the active 08 flag in the MBR
format------ sets the format code in the MBR (eg 07 for fs=ntfs) and adds the file system
assign------ allows a non specific letter to be added when the USB is plugged in

That makes the USB bootable from the BIOS's point of view

After that you need something to boot into which you get by copying the system repair DVD contents.
(Works for me)

You would need ntldr if multbooting a drive to include XP.

Maybe other members would care to comment.

 

[SIW2]

bootsect writes the partition boot code , it can be nt52 or nt60 code.

Step 6 not needed if you formatted the partition from diskpart.

 

[gregrocker]

The favored automated methods for writing Win7 installer to stick are:

Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool which is fussy and may only work with an official Win7 ISO.
UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive is about all I use any longer since the others can all fail but this one never does.
Universal USB Installer is Linux-based but also highly preferred. I once linked this exclusively until it caused problems with a stick of mine.