USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive​

   Information

This will show you how to create a USB flash key drive that you can boot from to install Windows 7 with.

   Tip

If the USB flash drive is of sufficient capacity, say 8GB, then after copying the Windows 7 installation DVD onto it, you can create a new folder (ex: Device Drivers) in the USB key and place all of your latest driver installation files in it. This way you will have them handy to manually install the drivers after installing Windows 7 from the USB key.

   Note

If you booted from the USB drive to install Windows 7, then you may need to change the hard drive back to being listed before the USB key in the boot order in BIOS after the computer restarts during installation to prevent the computer from booting right back into the USB key starting the installation process over and over.

   Warning

• The USB key needs to be at least 4 GB in size.
• This will delete everything on the USB key. Be sure to save anything that you do not want to lose on it somewhere else.
• Before installing Windows 7 from the USB key, you will need to:
  • Enable Legacy USB storage detect in the BIOS.
• When ready to install Windows 7 from the USB key:
  • Connect the USB key.
  • Restart the computer, and keep tapping the F key (see screenshot below) responsible to open the Boot Menu screen for the brand and model of your motherboard or computer until it does.
    • 
      
  • Select the USB key to boot from.
  • Start installing Windows 7.

CONTENTS:

• Option One: Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB
• Option Two: Use "Rufus" to Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB
• Option Three: Manually Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

OPTION ONE

Use "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool" to Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB

   Tip

If you do not have a Windows 7 ISO file, then you can either download the latest ISO version at the links below.

:ar: Microsoft Software Recovery

:ar: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

You could also use a free program like ImgBurn or ISODisk to create a ISO from your Windows 7 installation DVD.

1. For how, see the Part 2 section here: Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

OPTION TWO

Use "Rufus" to Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB

1. Download the latest version of Rufus at the link below, and save it's .exe file to your desktop.
:ar: Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

   Note

This is a standalone exe file that doesn't install anything to your PC.

For Rufus FAQs, see: https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/wiki/FAQ

2. Connect your USB flash drive if you have not already.

3. Run the rufus_v###.exe file, and click/tap on Yes if prompted by UAC.
NOTE: ### = latest version number.

4. Set Rufus with the settings below: (see screenshot below step 5)

• [Under Device, select the USB flash drive you want to format and use.
• Under Format Options, check Create a bootable disk using, click/tap on the browse icon to navigate to and select your 64-bit Windows 7 ISO file.
• Under Partition scheme and target system type, select MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI computers.
• Under File system, select NTFS.
• Under Cluster size, select the (Default) (ex: 16 kilobytes or 4096 bytes) it has listed.
• Under Format Options, check Quick format.
• Under Format Options, check Create extended label and icon files.
• Under New volume label, you can enter any name you like for the USB flash drive, or leave the default name.

5. When ready, click/tap on Start. (see screenshot below)

6. Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)

7. Rufus will now start creating the bootable UEFI USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)

8. When Rufus is "DONE", you can close Rufus. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: It could take a little while to finish.

9. You are now ready to installWindows 7 with your bootable USB flash drive.

OPTION THREE

Manually Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

   Warning

Using this method:

• You will only be able to create a 64-bit Windows 7 bootable USB flash drive if your current Windows 7 installation is also 64-bit.
• You will be able to create a 32-bit Windows 7 bootable USB flash drive if your current Windows 7 installation is 32-bit or 64-bit.

64-bit installation + 64-bit ISO = 64-bit flash drive
64-bit installation + 32-bit ISO = 32-bit flash drive
32-bit installation + 32-bit ISO = 32-bit flash drive
32-bit installation + 64-bit ISO = unable to create

1. Plug the USB key in.

2. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of what the drive size is for the USB key for use in step 6 below. You can also open Computer (step 19) to see what the drive size is to. For example, mine is 3920 MB. (See screenshot below)

3. Open an elevated command prompt.

4. In the elevated command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

5. In the elevated command prompt, type list disk and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Make note of what disk # your USB key is listed as to use in step 6 below. You can also look for the drive size (step 2) of the USB key to help ID the disk number. For example, mine is listed as Disk 1 here for the 3920 MB disk.

6. In the elevated command prompt, type select disk # (your USB disk #) and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, my USB key is listed as Disk 1, so I would type select disk 1 and press Enter.

7. In the elevated command prompt, type clean and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

8. In the elevated command prompt, type create partition primary and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

9. In the elevated command prompt, type select partition 1 and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

10. In the elevated command prompt, type active and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

11. In the elevated command prompt, type in the command below to format the USB as NTFS or FAT32, and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a few moments to finish formatting the USB key.

   Note

You can substitute Windows 7 within quotes in the commands below with whatever name (drive label) you would like to have displayed for the USB drive instead.

See also: Choosing between NTFS, FAT, and FAT32



FAT32 volume labels

• If you have an UEFI instead of BIOS motherboard, then you will need to use FAT32 and not NTFS.
• Volume labels can contain as many as 11 characters and can include spaces but no tabs.
• Volume labels cannot contain the following characters: ? / \ | . , ; : + = [ ] < > "
• Volume labels are stored as uppercase regardless of whether they contain lowercase letters.

NTFS volume labels

• Volume labels can contain as many as 32 characters.

format fs=ntfs label="Windows 7" quick

OR

format fs=fat32 label="Windows 7" quick


12. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.

13. In the elevated command prompt, type assign and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will assign a new drive letter to the USB key. Make note of the new USB drive letter to use in step 22 below. For example, mine is now H.

14. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.

15. In the elevated command prompt, type exit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will exit you from DiskPart from step 4.

16. Close the elevated command prompt.

17. Insert your Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive.

18. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the Windows 7 installation DVD, then just close it.

19. Open the Start Menu, right click on the Computer button, and click on Open.

20. Right click on the DVD drive (ex: E: ) that has the Windows 7 installation DVD in it, and click on Open. (See screenshot below)

21. Highlight all of the contents, right click on the highlighted contents, and click on Copy. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will need to copy all of the files and folders on the Windows 7 installation DVD to the USB key.

22. Go back to Computer, right click on the USB key drive (ex: H ), and click on Paste. (See screenshot below)

23. The contents of the Windows 7 installation DVD will now start copying over to the USB key. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a few moments to complete.

24. When finished, you can close the Computer window and unplug the USB key.

25. You now have a Windows 7 Installation USB key.

   Warning

If you have UEFI instead of BIOS motherboard, then you will need to temporarily disable Secure Boot to use the USB to install Windows. After installation is complete, you can enable Secure Boot again.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
• How to Do an Upgrade Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7
• How to Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB Device
• How to Setup Windows 7 to Boot from a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk)
• How to Create a Windows 7 VHD at Boot to Start with from Boot
• How to Create a Bootable ISO from an Older ISO
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
• How to Get and Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
• How to Make a MS-DOS Bootable Flash Drive
• How to Create a Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc
• How to Install Windows 7 from USB Pen Drive Using Grub4Dos
• How to Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 and Updates to Create a Bootable USB, Installation DVD, or ISO File
• How to Install Windows 7 Using "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface" (UEFI)
• How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[Brink]

No problem. See if you may be able to run a Startup Repair with a System Repair disc.

 

[ItSteven]

No problem. See if you may be able to run a Startup Repair with a System Repair disc.

Hi, Sir. Brink. Thank you again, I wasn't able to create a system repair disc because I was not in the office of my Mom. So I just did the Ult Boot Usb and the good news here is after I passed HuSEAGATE now I am curently in windows 7 Install, I checked system recovery options for sysyem recovery tool and image but both are blank so i checked "Load Drivers" and I saw my C: " System Reserved" its empty so I checked properties of my C: and my files are there, so what I did next is run 4x Startup Repair, send the problem to windows, then I checked view diagnostoc and repair details, it was able to fixed everything besides Bootmgr is missing or corrupt. I restarted the computer. Should I Load Driver and compressed my C: or go to Tools tab then "Error Checking" check now and fix? What to do next? rb:

 

[Brink]

Next would be to try these troubleshooting steps.

:ar: Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[ItSteven]

Next would be to try these troubleshooting steps.

:ar: Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot - Windows 7 Help Forums

Hi, Sir. Brink, By the way I also checked cmd and tried the 4 bootrec for repairs and it showing that it was sucessfully fixed and I tried also Sfc but It doesn't allow me to scan it. Still encountering bootmgr is missing or corrupt, I'll go ahead and work on the "Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Boot" then I will let you know. Thank you so much.

 

[ItSteven]

Sir. Bink, I just followed the steps but I can't fixed boot mgr is missing or corrupt, I'm urrently stucked on Step 1 and 2 and the chkdsk /f is not working..

 

[Brink]

You could try doing a factory recovery. If it's the same Toshiba in your specs, you can get recovery media from Toshiba at the link below.

:ar: Repair & Parts Support | Toshiba

If you're not able to install to the drive, then the drive may actually be dead.

 

[ItSteven]

Awesome! Thank you so much for that sir. Brink. I'm so sorry if it takes 2 days before I was able to reply regarding to my situation but I just want to let you know that my drive is not DEAD. Actually I was searching for a resolution for 2 days so I can fix this issue with my computer. I followed your instructions and encountered some problems, But what I did is I clean reinstall my computer because my case is so complicated because of my tools that got infected, malware, virus, adware, rootkits, trojan, worm, fake intels, fake mc cafee, fake adobe, fake flash player, Home Group virus, even my toshiba tools got infected, and etc... But my case right now is much better I just followed different post regarding to my issue so I can move forward, but right now I encountered an issue with my internet connection but I was able to resolved it. I just need time to install the tools of my computer and update everything manually.Thank you so much again for your help Sir. Brink! rb:

 

[Brink]

That's great news Steven. I'm happy to hear that all is well again.

 

[ItSteven]

That's great news Steven. I'm happy to hear that all is well again.

Yes Sir. Brink thank you so much for all your help again!! I really appreciated your advise, especially your time and effort, I really learned a lot because of those experience that I get from you, staffs, and members. Even the BOOTMGR and DISK PARTITIONS, Now I already know what do just in case I encountered those problems again. :cheers:

 

[Novel8]

Macrium rescue dsk

I went to the area here that has a very long list on how to create a MR Rescue dsk, but to say the least, it was so variable and some went back 5 years, so one doesn't even no if its still apply. My MR vers is 6.01..if that is any help to mention. How do i know which suggestion to choose? I have a MR Win 7 image file that I would like to restore.

 

[Brink]

Hello Novel8,

Option 2 with "Rufus" is my favorite way.

 

[dslgirl]

Hi all,
My windows 7 wim was only 3.8gb, so i used this to create a usb bootable drive,
is this correct please and tyvm.
if not what do i need to change thanks again

 

[Brink]

Hi all,
My windows 7 wim was only 3.8gb, so i used this to create a usb bootable drive,
is this correct please and tyvm.
if not what do i need to change thanks again

Hello,

That looks fine.

 

[dslgirl]

Brink
thanks, but ,,,,,
question per the rufus sight
"Windows 8 or later installation ISOs, that support both UEFI and BIOS boot, will be converted to either one or the other mode, depending on the option you selected under Partition scheme and Target type: If you select MBR and BIOS or UEFI-CSM, the USB will be bootable in BIOS-mode only (even on UEFI systems), and if you select GPT then the USB will be bootable in UEFI mode only (and not bootable on a BIOS system at all)..
Note 1: You should no longer have to disable Secure Boot if you use Rufus 3.17 or later, as the UEFI:NTFS bootloaders being used by these versions are Secure Boot signed. "

so after reading that I didnt use that one i used this one ,(below) and now getting screen froze at 3 lites circling,
should i go back to that one sorry Ive been working on this what seems like forever,
I went and got and installed a nvidia geforce win 7 / 10 graphics card due to onboard graphics no drivers,
i used 7up and with drivers from installed , I don't know how they got there though , then dism++ for updates ,
then created with rufus,
didn't work, So should I use the 1st one, that i posted, any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks

 

[Brink]

Brink
thanks, but ,,,,,
question per the rufus sight
"Windows 8 or later installation ISOs, that support both UEFI and BIOS boot, will be converted to either one or the other mode, depending on the option you selected under Partition scheme and Target type: If you select MBR and BIOS or UEFI-CSM, the USB will be bootable in BIOS-mode only (even on UEFI systems), and if you select GPT then the USB will be bootable in UEFI mode only (and not bootable on a BIOS system at all)..
Note 1: You should no longer have to disable Secure Boot if you use Rufus 3.17 or later, as the UEFI:NTFS bootloaders being used by these versions are Secure Boot signed. "

so after reading that I didnt use that one i used this one ,(below) and now getting screen froze at 3 lites circling,
should i go back to that one sorry Ive been working on this what seems like forever,
I went and got and installed a nvidia geforce win 7 / 10 graphics card due to onboard graphics no drivers,
i used 7up and with drivers from installed , I don't know how they got there though , then dism++ for updates ,
then created with rufus,
didn't work, So should I use the 1st one, that i posted, any help would be greatly appreciated

thanks

You would only want to use UEFI if you have it enabled in your BIOS.

 

[dslgirl]

Brink
thanks,
So to clarify i want GPT, UEFI, or mbr and Bios or ( Uefi - csm )


what about file system fat 32 or ntfs,
as my wim file is 3.8gb,


thanks again for all your help

 

[dslgirl]

Dumb question how do I get uefi on my usb stick,?
By chance does 7update do that ?

 

[Brink]

Dumb question how do I get uefi on my usb stick,?
By chance does 7update do that ?

Rufus is great to create a bootable Windows 7 installation USB with UEFI support.

If you want to install Windows 7 with UEFI, you will need to have UEFI enabled (CSM disabled) in your BIOS before booting from the USB to clean install.

 

[dslgirl]

BRINK
tyvvm
Going to try and do this again and again really want to get this done
thanks

 

[SIW2]

You should have csm enabled for win7.

If your bios is restricted and does not have csm support, you can try Releases . manatails/uefiseven . GitHub


Prepare Windows 7 installation USB Drive
Rename bootx64.efi at (UsbDrive)\EFI\Boot\ to bootx64.original.efi
Unpack bootx64.efi from UefiSeven archive and copy it to (UsbDrive)\EFI\Boot\
If the target disk is not already intialized and partitioned, you can use bootice to do it.
Apply win 7 image using winntsetup
Rename bootmgfw.efi at (esp partition)\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\ to bootmgfw.original.efi
Copy UefiSeven bootx64.efi to (esp partition)\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
Now you cant try booting into the installation