How can I make a bootable flash drive and data partition for windows 7

[bigboi972]

I currently have a disc copy of windows 7 and I am currently running it as my main OS as well. I was wondering just in case my computer decides to have a few issues is there anyway I can make a data partition to store windows 7 or put it on a flash drive so that in the incident of a hardware failure I would be able to go into my bios and boot the recovery partition or boot it from a flash drive allowing me to reinstall the OS.

 

[Ztruker]

What do you mean "disc copy"? Do you mean you have Windows 7 install DVD or ...? If you mean you have only the Windows 7 that came with the computer, on the hard drive, then you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River.

Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

For techies or folks who work on computers: Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.
This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

 

[gregrocker]

For repairs make a System Repair Disc - Create

If this if for your HP which has the worst load of bloatware in the industry, make your Factory Recovery disks to serve as a backup to running HP System Recovery from it's partition. There is even a Minimized Recovery choice on new HP's which is nearly as clean as a Clean Reinstall

However most tech enthusiasts will not run the bloated factory preinstall but prefer the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - the link provides everything you need to reinstall Win7 without the bloatware.

For a Clean Reinstall the best method for recovery is to create a Win7 backup image stored on external or another internal HD so that in case Win7 becomes irreparable you can re-image the HD or its replacement in 20 minutes and you're back up and running: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery

 

[D3LL]

You have to download the Windows 7 USB Tool. Download here: http://images2.store.microsoft.com/prod/clustera/framework/w7udt/1.0/en-us/Windows7-USB-DVD-tool.exe

Simply run the .exe and follow the on screen instructions.

Simple