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

 

[MrDongji]

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[Brink]

Sounds like a corrupted ISO.

 

[Britton30]

MrDongji I had to download the iso twice before I got it to "take". Varying bandwidth, server loads and other factors can corrupt files at times.

 

[MrDongji]

---

 

[Brink]

That's great news MrDongji. I'm glad that ISO worked for you.

You could try to roll back the wireless drivers to hopefully restore it's connection.

Device Manager - Roll Back Driver - Vista Forums

 

[MrDongji]

---

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[dond13]

Making Bootable Memory Stick

I used your option 1 "Manually Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive". I have gone through the procedure several times and everything works fine up to point where I am copying the Windows 7 installation disk over to the Memory Stick. I have Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit and am trying to use a USB 3.0, 8GB Memory Stick. The copy ALWAYS hangs up about 90% into copying the Folder "Winsxs". I have tried copying from within the CMD prompt also and it still hangs. There is plenty of space still left on the Memory Stick, but it just won't work.

Any suggestions?

 

[Brink]

Hello Dond, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It sounds like something may be interfering, or you may have a bad installation DVD. Double check the to make sure that the DVD is free of smudges or smears that may be preventing it from being read properly. In addition, don't have any programs running while copying the files over in case one may be interferring.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[dond13]

Hello Dond, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It sounds like something may be interfering, or you may have a bad installation DVD. Double check the to make sure that the DVD is free of smudges or smears that may be preventing it from being read properly. In addition, don't have any programs running while copying the files over in case one may be interferring.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

Shawn. Thanks for the reply. I used the DVD with Windows 7 that I had just re-installed on my system two days ago. I was starting fresh because of some problems and decided a fresh start would be best. So far the system is working perfect. I decided to make to bootable USB Stick because I am planning on getting a SDD soon and the documentation I have read recommends that in case I have to update any firmware on the disk.

I am using a copy of Windows 7 that was furnished by the computer maker, ZT Systems, so I am wondering if that may be the problem? That may not be a regular version of Windows 7. I also have another Full version Disk of 7 that I am going to try and that might correct my problem.

 

[dond13]

I tried again with another Windows 7 disk and had the same results. It always stops at about the same spot on the USB Stick so I'm thinking I have a defective Stick. I have run Disk Dr twice and found an error once, but not repeatable after being corrected. I just got the USB Memory Stick, so I'll send it back and get another.

 

[Brink]

Do you have another known good USB stick that you can test with? A friends perhaps?

 

[dond13]

Do you have another known good USB stick that you can test with? A friends perhaps?

Nope, I'm new to the area and haven't made any tech savy friends. I'm 80 and most people my age are not that much into computers anyway. I've been involved for years - was teaching programming in 1967, but I'm losing my proficiency and have more problems than I used to. Thanks, but I'll buy another Memory Stick.

 

[dond13]

Do you have another known good USB stick that you can test with? A friends perhaps?

Brink - I just tried something different. I have copied a 6GB Folder over to the Memory Stick and it worked fine- no problems. I think this eliminates the problem of a bad Memory Stick. I have also tried TWO Windows 7 Disks and had basically the same problem with both of them. Both Disks look clean with no scratches, etc. and I used one of them to re-install Windows 7 onto my computer. I think that this elimainats the Windows 7 disk as the problem.

This leaves WHAT? I have no idea what the problem is EXCEPT that neither is a retail disk, one beint an OEM disk and the other basically the same except that it was furnished with the computer. Does the disk that I use have to be a RETAIL version that is not for an "Upgrade or Re-install". Could this be my problem?

 

[Brink]

You should be able to copy anything over to the USB, but it only needs to be a bootable installation DVD. It doesn't matter what kind as long as it's the same 32-bit or 64-bit as what you currently have installed.

What AV program are you using? As a test, you might temporarily disable or uninstall it to see if it may be interfering with the copy.

 

[dond13]

You should be able to copy anything over to the USB, but it only needs to be a bootable installation DVD. It doesn't matter what kind as long as it's the same 32-bit or 64-bit as what you currently have installed.

What AV program are you using? As a test, you might temporarily disable or uninstall it to see if it may be interfering with the copy.

Using Norton Internet Security. It wasn"t disabled when I copied the 6GB folder and that worked fine.

 

[Brink]

Could be something from the DVD itself being blocked since they are different files. Give it a test with Norton disabled and/or uninstalled to see if the issue persists afterwards. Just one more thing that needs to be ruled out

 

[dond13]

Could be something from the DVD itself being blocked since they are different files. Give it a test with Norton disabled and/or uninstalled to see if the issue persists afterwards. Just one more thing that needs to be ruled out

OK. I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[dond13]

OK - FINALLY, it worked! I'm not sure if it was the AV disabling that did it because I waited a litle longer after it appeared to lock up and it finally finished. It was hung at 180MB left to copy for about 15 minutes and then it Finished. Before, I had waited for what I thought was 15 minutes, but I might have gotten eager.

When I copied the 6GB folder, it finished immediately when it counted down to zero, so I don't really understand the 15 minute delay on this.

Anyway, it worked and I thank you very much for sticking with me. I guess my age is catching up with me and I no longer have the patience or concentration to accomplish some of the tasks I take on.

Thanks again.

Dond13

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I find the desktop is best to use when working with items.

Did you use the lower "PART 2" section in the tutorial exactly to create the bootable USB from?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html

If you continue to get an error, then you may need to download a new copy of the ISO files.

May I make a stating the bleeding obvious comment here please Brink maybe the stick was ?faulty? - corrupted, a lemon etc?