Brink,
I've got a 250 GB USB HDD with spare space - can I create a new partition on that with an ISO image that is bootable, or does this still require the entire USB drive to be wiped?
I have an OEM Win 7 Pro install DVD, but no USB sticks over 2 GB in size. I have copied all the files to both this USB HDD as well as one on my laptop.
I could just install from the DVD, but as this is my second install on this machine, I want to be ready to reinstall faster next time.
Thanks.
Hello Winwolf,
Unfortunately, the USB flash drive will still get formatted when you burn a ISO to it to make the USB bootable. However, you could temporarily copy what you do not want to lose on the USB flash drive to another location, then after creating the bootable USB flash drive, you could copy the files back onto the USB flash drive if you still have enough free space.
Hope this helps,
Shawn
Thanks, that's what I thought. I'll go the DVD route for now.
Aah Brinks,
Seems like the 'printer's devil' got you in this tut also.
Your notes in steps
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 for step 19 below.
and
14. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of the new USB drive letter for step 19 below.
should read "for step 22 below"; and
18. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the Windows 7 installation DVD, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of what the drive letter is for the DVD drive that has the Windows 7 installation DVD in for step 18 below. You can also open Computer (step 21) to see what the drive letter is to. (See right screenshot below)
should read "for step 20 below"
and "You can also open Computer (step 21)"
should read "(step 19)"
Hope I'm not being a PITA, just trying to be helpful, and thanks from us 'noobs' for writing these very informative, stepwise tutorials.
P.S; your last suggestion to me in the "SFC thread" triggered my need to read up on the ways I could install my OS.
Frank
Hello Frank,
No you're not being a PITA. With these tutorials constantly being updated all the time, I'm sure that I missed a few things here and there. Anyone that helps to point out these mistakes are always most welcomed. :)
Thank you.
LOL, seems I missed one myself, Brink,
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 step 6 below. You can also open Computer (step 21) to see what the drive size is to. For example, mine is 3920 MB. (See screenshot below)
"(step 21)" should be (step 19); or
instead of necessitating scrolling down to step 19, the note may be better stated:
"Open computer (Start>Computer) and make a note of the drive size and disc letter of the USB key for use in later steps of this procedure. For example, mine is 3920 MB and listed as disc G: (See screen shot below)"
(P.S) the note in step 5 is OK
the note in step 6 (unchanged) will now refer correctly to step 2.
But step 18 says:
18. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the Windows 7 installation DVD, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of what the drive letter is for the DVD drive that has the Windows 7 installation DVD in for step 20 below. You can also open Computer (step 19) to see what the drive letter is to. (See right screenshot below)
since step 19 requires you to open Computer etc, and step 20 follows then there really is no need for step 18's note, if you catch my drift.
Again, just my two cents.
Your friend
Frank
Hello Frank,
Thank you. I fixed up the missed typos. Unfortunately, you cannot use the drive letter of the USB drive until you actually get down to step 13 since the drive letter will change from step 2.
Hi Brink,
Couldn't one simply insert the USB drive, go to Computer, right click the drive, click format, uncheck Quick Format, then start the copying from the Win 7 DVD after it's formatted?
I'm a total novice at doing this, but it would seem simpler unless going through the elevated cmd prompt does something else I'm unaware of.:)
I'm trying to create a bootable Win 7 X86 USB drive to use on my wife's PC which has XP now. My Win 7 DVD is a University Upgrade version. Will this still work on a USB?
Hello Britton,
Q1) It wouldn't be a "bootable" USB if done that way. You could do it that way if you only wanted to run the USB from within XP though.
Q2) Yes, it should be able to be used the same as a retail Windows 7 DVD in the tutorial.
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