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

 

[Britton30]

Shawn, My board was just like any other Windows install and it is UEFI. There are those who say I don't have UEFI and it's just a GUI though. All in all it's confusing.

 

[Brink]

Hey John,

Ray (theog) brought that to my attention. I'm hoping to have an UEFI mobo by Friday sometime to start playing with to get better familiar with it all myself.

Woo hoo Shawn it's fun down in the loony tune park

Just joking but it is different mate

No worries mate.

Shawn, My board was just like any other Windows install and it is UEFI. There are those who say I don't have UEFI and it's just a GUI though. All in all it's confusing.

Indeed it is. It doesn't help that each board will have it's own way of doing things as well.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Absolutely Shawn you wouldn't have t any other way would you

It's ok and I must say although it looks intimating at first it really is like learning to ride a bike. The thing I do like about it is how you can move around inside the interface and not make a an absolutely mess of it.

Have you looked up your boards UEFI on Youtube I got my Asus one up and it is really very well done but I have a personal tutor too he sorta keeps me in line LOL!!

 

[Brink]

Oh yeah. The UEFI for it looks pretty nice. I can't wait to jump into it.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hiyya Shawn I know it has probably been asked before but does this method cover retail and OEM installs as long as the code is used - for example if a factory default doesn't work?

John

 

[Brink]

Hello John,

Yep, you can use a retail installer to install and activate either a retail or OEM product key.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello John,

Yep, you can use a retail installer to install and activate either a retail or OEM product key.

Thanks Shawn just making sure I have my facts right before advising others.

I must say that my learning curve is and has been very pleasurable notwithstanding the help and understanding you have always extended to me.

John.

 

[Brink]

Anytime John. Glad to help where able.

 

[Maroon Machine]

Hello Brink my brother (ICit2lol) and I downloaded the HeiDoc install ISO from the tutorial set the BIOS to boot from the stick.
But we cannot get the laptop to boot from the stick is there something that e are missing please?.

 

[Britton30]

Hi Steve, did you use the CD/DVD Download tool to add the iso to the usb stick? Sometimes those iso's aren't right the first time so you might try a new download.

Is there a button to press during boot up to go to a one-time boot menu? You might give that route a go.

Make sure the USB stick is recognized in Computer too and in all the USB ports.

 

[Maroon Machine]

Hiyya Gary yes mate we made the ISO from the site mentioned (see pic) and the BIOS was set to boot from the stick lined up as the first boot device (a Sandisk 4GB) .

I might have to redo the ISO it did take forever to download actually the longest one I have done so far.

 

[Britton30]

True, it's over 3GB and will take some time. did you try the one-time boot menu option, not the BIOS option? Maybe by pressing F2, F5, or something during boot with the stick inserted.

 

[Maroon Machine]

Done it mate but the ISO cannot be activated by the code that person who sold Steve the disk so might have to go cap in hand to Microsoft and grovel.

 

[Brink]

Hello Steve,

Be sure that you are using the product key number on the COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop or under the battery.

If you are, then you may be able to activate by phone instead.

 

[Maroon Machine]

Hello Steve,

Be sure that you are using the product key number on the COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop or under the battery.

If you are, then you may be able to activate by phone instead.

Hiyya Shawn (John) Yes mate we are using the original sticker that that fellow sent Steve it is obviously a very old label off the Dell machine so I am hazarding a guess it is tied somehow to the Dell disk??.

We have emailed Microsoft as phoning over here is super expensive

 

[Maroon Machine]

Problem solved Microsoft had a toll free number and they activated the version for us.

 

[Brink]

 

[Maroon Machine]

No probs mate and thanks for the help to you and the others.

Am heading back home on the 12th May so it was great to get it fixed before I left

(John)

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome, and have a safe trip.

 

[pwashington]

Need Windows 7 ISO

My hard drive is gone. I bought a new one, but now I need a copy of windows 7. I have the Key code on the bottom of my laptop. Does any one know were I can get a copy of windows 7 from the Internet. This was the orginial OS on the laptop and plus I have the code and someone said that I can download it and create a ISO DVD.