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.

      • Boot-Menu.png
    • 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


download_rufus.jpg
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)
Rufus-1.jpg
6. Click/tap on OK to confirm. (see screenshot below)
Rufus-2.jpg
7. Rufus will now start creating the bootable UEFI USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)
Rufus-3.jpg
8. When Rufus is "DONE", you can close Rufus. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: It could take a little while to finish.
Rufus-4.jpg
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)
Computer.jpg
3. Open an elevated command prompt.

4. In the elevated command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Step1.jpg
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.
Step2.jpg
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.
Step3.jpg
7. In the elevated command prompt, type clean and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Step4.jpg
8. In the elevated command prompt, type create partition primary and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Step5.jpg
9. In the elevated command prompt, type select partition 1 and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Step6.jpg
10. In the elevated command prompt, type active and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
Step7.jpg
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

Step8.jpg
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.
Step9.jpg
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.
Step10.jpg
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)
Open.jpg
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.
Copy.jpg
22. Go back to Computer, right click on the USB key drive (ex: H ), and click on Paste. (See screenshot below)
Paste.jpg
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.
Copying.jpg
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




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Last edited:
Click to expand...
SIW2
Thanks ,
I made 3 different usb drives, all different ways,
going to try all tomorrow and hopefully 1 will work, will let you all know
thanks Again everyone,
My pc is uefi, csm capable, with fast boot disabled.
So please which settings should I have used in Rufus
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Lenovo - IdeaCentre 5i Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive -
    OS
    windows 10 pro 64 bit
    CPU
    Intel(R) core(TM) i5-10400 CPU @ 2.90GHz
    Motherboard
    lenovo 370 A
    Memory
    Micron 8.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630 / Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
    Sound Card
    built in Intel corp
    Hard Drives
    Seagate sata - 1 terabyte /
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell OptiPlex 7020
    OS
    win 7 /win 10 dual boot
    CPU
    intel core i5 4570 (3.2Ghz)
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Hard Drives
    SSD 512Gb
dslgirl said:
SIW2
Thanks ,
I made 3 different usb drives, all different ways,
going to try all tomorrow and hopefully 1 will work, will let you all know
thanks Again everyone,
My pc is uefi, csm capable, with fast boot disabled.
So please which settings should I have used in Rufus
Click to expand...

You can use the steps in option 2 for Rufus to create the USB.

It will depend on if you have CSM disabled (UEFI) or enabled (Legacy BIOS) for which will be used with the USB for the clean install of Windows 7.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
My pc is uefi, csm capable, with fast boot disabled.
Click to expand...

I dont think you need rufus. I just format the usb stick as fat32 using disk management then copy the installation media onto it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
Brink , SIW2
Thanks ,

i will find the copy to usb info in the forums,
I'm going to try both ways , really want this to be done, lol

- - - Updated - - -

hi guys,
I don't have bootmgfw.efi anywhere ,
this is what i have
image.png

- - - Updated - - -

should i download and copy bootmgfw.efi or ?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Lenovo - IdeaCentre 5i Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive -
    OS
    windows 10 pro 64 bit
    CPU
    Intel(R) core(TM) i5-10400 CPU @ 2.90GHz
    Motherboard
    lenovo 370 A
    Memory
    Micron 8.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630 / Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
    Sound Card
    built in Intel corp
    Hard Drives
    Seagate sata - 1 terabyte /
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell OptiPlex 7020
    OS
    win 7 /win 10 dual boot
    CPU
    intel core i5 4570 (3.2Ghz)
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Hard Drives
    SSD 512Gb
When you install win7 from your usb stick, it will create a folder called EFI on the target disk in the esp partition.

Inside that will be another folder called microsoft.

Inside that will be another folder called Boot.

Inside that will be bootmgfw.efi

"esp_partition\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi"

What are you trying to do?

If you have csm support, you dont need uefiseven that I linked earlier.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
SIW2
I just formatted the usb stick as fat32 using disk management then copy the installation media onto it.
per notes above "esp_partition\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi"
I don't have bootmgfw.efi anywhere on the usb drive, should i download it and put it in there
i will post my screen shot of booting , and my BIOS so you can see what i did wrong please
and thanks again
IMG_20211206_143440695.jpg

IMG_20211206_143518049.jpg





- - - Updated - - -

It wont let me upload the rest of the pics,
arghhhhhhhh
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Lenovo - IdeaCentre 5i Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive -
    OS
    windows 10 pro 64 bit
    CPU
    Intel(R) core(TM) i5-10400 CPU @ 2.90GHz
    Motherboard
    lenovo 370 A
    Memory
    Micron 8.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630 / Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
    Sound Card
    built in Intel corp
    Hard Drives
    Seagate sata - 1 terabyte /
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell OptiPlex 7020
    OS
    win 7 /win 10 dual boot
    CPU
    intel core i5 4570 (3.2Ghz)
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Hard Drives
    SSD 512Gb
I don't have bootmgfw.efi anywhere on the usb drive
Click to expand...

You do.

It is in boot.wim and install.wim.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7 X64
    CPU
    i5 8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Hard Drives
    various
    PSU
    pure power 11 400w cm
    Case
    Coolermaster
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    OS
    7x64
    CPU
    g5400
    Motherboard
    ga b365m ds3h
    Memory
    8gb ddr4 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450w
SIW2

Thanks,
i didn t find them on the usb after i copied to it,
so just wondered,
thanks will try to boot usb again,
Thanks
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Lenovo - IdeaCentre 5i Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive -
    OS
    windows 10 pro 64 bit
    CPU
    Intel(R) core(TM) i5-10400 CPU @ 2.90GHz
    Motherboard
    lenovo 370 A
    Memory
    Micron 8.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630 / Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
    Sound Card
    built in Intel corp
    Hard Drives
    Seagate sata - 1 terabyte /
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell OptiPlex 7020
    OS
    win 7 /win 10 dual boot
    CPU
    intel core i5 4570 (3.2Ghz)
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Hard Drives
    SSD 512Gb
IMG_20211221_131305229~2.jpg
Well I sent the extracted iso to my usb drive, now I get this error ,any help would be appreciated
Thanks
PS its a sata seagate hard drive ? if that matters
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    Lenovo - IdeaCentre 5i Desktop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive -
    OS
    windows 10 pro 64 bit
    CPU
    Intel(R) core(TM) i5-10400 CPU @ 2.90GHz
    Motherboard
    lenovo 370 A
    Memory
    Micron 8.00 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630 / Nvidia GeForce GT 1030
    Sound Card
    built in Intel corp
    Hard Drives
    Seagate sata - 1 terabyte /
  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell OptiPlex 7020
    OS
    win 7 /win 10 dual boot
    CPU
    intel core i5 4570 (3.2Ghz)
    Memory
    32 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Hard Drives
    SSD 512Gb
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