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Install Windows 7 from USB (Retail DVD)

Install Windows 7 from USB (Retail DVD)

Thrax Robert Hallock 21 Oct, 2009 at 11:25pm ET Article published in Tech

windows7This guide details how to prepare a Windows 7 DVD for flash drive installation. If you have a Windows 7 ISO, please go here.

Windows 7 is officially on the prowl, and that means a huge crop of users just got their hands on a minty fresh DVD. Sure, you could install it from the disc and be on your way, but that’s so ordinary, and Netbook users are still up the creek. Why not build a little geek cred and install Windows 7 from USB? We’ll show you how to do it in just four simple steps.

Preparation

You’ll need to prepare a few downloads before you can get crackin’ with your USB-powered install of Windows 7:

Next, make sure that your flash drive is larger than 4GB and is connected to your system.

Our 8GB SanDisk Cruzer is ready!

Our 8GB SanDisk Cruzer is ready!

Step 1:

Install and run the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. Configure the tool to match the settings provided below, and press start to clean the drive.

Caution

This step will erase the contents of your flash drive. Make sure that all important material has been backed up prior to proceeding.

Match your program to these settings and press start.

Match your program to these settings and press start.

Step 2:

Insert the Windows 7 DVD into your PC and confirm that it is loaded by checking Windows Explorer.

Windows Explorer confirms our ISO is on Z:.

Windows Explorer confirms our DVD is on Z:.

Step 3:

Now it’s time to start making that flash drive bootable. Launch a command line and navigate to the directory in which you saved MBRWiz.exe (we saved ours to D:). Once there, invoke the MBRWiz /list command to display a list of drives configured in the system. Be sure to write down the disk number for your flash drive as we have in the figure below.

Note

Windows Vista or Windows 7 users must run the command prompt as an administrator for MBRWiz to function correctly.

mbrwiz_disk_list

MBRWiz has identified our flash drive as "Disk: 4."

Next, issue the MBRwiz /disk=# /active=1 command, where the pound sign represents the disk number of your flash drive.

Setting the flash drive to "/active=1" makes it bootable.

Setting the flash drive to "/active=1" makes it bootable.

Lastly, copy the Windows 7 DVD’s bootable properties over to the flash drive with the Z:\boot\bootsect /nt60 X: command. In this case, Z: represents the drive letter for the Windows 7 DVD and X: represents the drive letter for your flash drive. Be sure to replace these drive letters with the ones that are appropriate for your PC.

Caution

This command can only be used to copy the bootable bits from a DVD that matches the instruction set of the current Windows installation. Users running 32-bit copies of Windows can only execute this command if a 32-bit Windows 7 DVD is inserted; the same is true for 64-bit Windows 7 DVDs which require a 64-bit OS to be running.

If you’re running a 32-bit copy Windows and want to configure a Windows 7 x64 flash drive, repeat step 2 with a 32-bit Windows 7 DVD, then insert a 64-bit DVD for step 4.

We've copied the bootable bits from Windows 7 on Z: to the flash drive on H:

We've copied the bootable bits from Windows 7 on Z: to our flash drive on H:.

Step 4:

Open Windows Explorer and copy the contents of the Windows 7 DVD to the flash drive.

copy_dvd_to_usb

Final thoughts

With the drive prepped and the files copied, it’s time to configure your BIOS to boot from USB and let ‘er rip! Installing Windows 7 from USB takes about 30 minutes depending on your system configuration. Remember to leave your flash drive connected until the installation completes, and you’ll be all set.

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Comments

  1. meathd
    24 Oct 2009 ~ 10:41am meathd "cool beans"
    it took me a couple of reads to get it
    thanks great job!
  2. 25 Oct 2009 ~ 9:05pm George Yours is the first site to specifically state from a USB via the DVD. I want to load 7 Ultimate alongside XP Pro. This is the first site I have been able to find that states how to do this.
    Will give it a go and let you know from my end.
    Thanks up front for the advice.
    George.
  3. 15 Nov 2009 ~ 8:00am Joe I'm getting a BOOTMGR is missing error.
  4. Mushu
    17 Nov 2009 ~ 10:53pm Mushu Thank you.
  5. 16 Jun 2010 ~ 1:47pm Grumpus I am a Troll. You are no longer Troll-free. Take that!
  6. primesuspect
    16 Jun 2010 ~ 2:23pm primesuspect Nooooo!
  7. 17 Jun 2010 ~ 9:26pm george after entering "MBRwiz /disk=1 /active=1 " i repeatedly get "Invalid or incomplete switch: /disc=1"...
    any ideas?
  8. 21 Jun 2010 ~ 4:08pm gav remove "=1" after active
  9. 24 Jun 2010 ~ 11:18am Rob People who get the "invalid or incomplete switch" error.....i was facing the same issue with MBRWIZ 3.0 beta....then i switched to MBRWIZ 2.0 and ran the HP USB STORAGE FORMAT TOOL again and it worked.
    Thanks for the info...helped a lot
  10. 25 Jun 2010 ~ 7:17pm Mark Great Tutorial!! Thanks!!
  11. 25 Jun 2010 ~ 7:19pm Mark Oh, and with MBRWIZ 3.0 you have to use "/active" in place of "/active=1"
  12. 28 Jun 2010 ~ 3:33pm Iain Are all the versions of Windows 7 on one DVD (like Vista) or are there separate DVDs (similar to XPP and XPH CDs)? What about 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7?

    The reason that I ask is that I've asked in several High Street computer repair companies and they're split 50/50 about whether they're all on the same DVD or separate DVDs.

    Finally, I've been told that the Windows 7 media is "locked" though I don't know exactly what this means. Does anyone have any ideas?
  13. Thrax
    28 Jun 2010 ~ 4:09pm Thrax Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit are separate DVDs. Every DVD contains all the versions of Windows 7, and your license key determines what gets installed.
  14. 5 Jan 2011 ~ 8:13pm Barış Kaan YÜKSEL I appreciate for this stuff.. THANK YOU A LOT.. This forum is the best useful and trustable forum.. Same subjects are also available on another forums but they completely false and full of mistakes... THANKS A LOT.. I m so happy that I cant tell :)
  15. 10 Jan 2011 ~ 4:26pm FerusGrim A lot of errors that people are getting is that they're not typing the command correctly.

    Remember that it's spelled 'disk', not 'disc'.
  16. primesuspect
    10 Jan 2011 ~ 4:34pm primesuspect That's a good point, Ferus. Thanks for bringing that up.
  17. spin498
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 9:05am spin498 Got a question for Thrax. If every Win7 DVD contains every version, why does my Home Premium DVD only allow me to access 'Home Premium'?
  18. AlexDeGruven
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 9:16am AlexDeGruven
    spin498 wrote:
    Got a question for Thrax. If every Win7 DVD contains every version, why does my Home Premium DVD only allow me to access 'Home Premium'?

    The only difference in versions is the packages and licensing configuration. Since the DVD contains all of the packages available, any version can be installed/anytime-upgraded from one disc.

    The version that gets installed/activated is dependent on the key you enter to activate.
  19. Thrax
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 9:45am Thrax As Alex said, it only allows you to install Home Premium because that is what your license unlocks. Using the Windows Anytime Upgrade function, you can purchase a new key that will unlock any higher tier of Windows at your leisure.

    Side note: if you dump the Windows 7 DVD to an ISO and delete EI.CFG in the ISO and burn that ISO back to DVD, you'll be given the option to install any version of Windows. Your key will only work for the version you purchased, but there it is.
  20. spin498
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 12:03pm spin498 so if I use my Home Premium DVD to create the USB I only need to delete EI.CFG from the finished product to access the other versions?
  21. Kwitko
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 12:34pm Kwitko But you'll still need a valid key to access them.
  22. Thrax
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 12:51pm Thrax
    spin498 wrote:
    so if I use my Home Premium DVD to create the USB I only need to delete EI.CFG from the finished product to access the other versions?
    Your key will only work for the version you purchased, but there it is.
  23. spin498
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 1:08pm spin498 I understand I would need a valid key to activate another version. That's not what I'm asking, it's been posted here that 'all' versions are on the same DVD. My Home Premium DVD will only allow me access to Home Premium. I'm not calling anyone a liar here but I'd like to see this for myself. I'm a tinkerer, I like to break things down to see how they work, this is an opportunity to expand my knowledge base.
  24. Ryder
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 1:12pm Ryder
    spin498 wrote:
    so if I use my Home Premium DVD to create the USB I only need to delete EI.CFG from the finished product to access the other versions?
    Yes.
  25. Thrax
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 2:07pm Thrax
    spin498 wrote:
    I understand I would need a valid key to activate another version. That's not what I'm asking, it's been posted here that 'all' versions are on the same DVD. My Home Premium DVD will only allow me access to Home Premium. I'm not calling anyone a liar here but I'd like to see this for myself. I'm a tinkerer, I like to break things down to see how they work, this is an opportunity to expand my knowledge base.

    EI.CFG determines what version the disc installs automatically. Microsoft uses a different EI.CFG for each version, but the other versions are made accessible by deleting it.
  26. spin498
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 3:18pm spin498
    Thrax wrote:
    EI.CFG determines what version the disc installs automatically. Microsoft uses a different EI.CFG for each version, but the other versions are made accessible by deleting it.

    So, if it works, I can install an upgraded version test it for 30 days, and simply buy the proper licence from MS, rather than add another two pieces of circular plastic to an already huge collection of generally useless discs. Linux anyone? I've got discs going back to the 90's. I'm a hoarder as well as a tinkerer.
  27. Thrax
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 3:22pm Thrax You don't even need to do that. Run the Anytime Upgrade client from the Start Menu, and you will be prompted to purchase a higher version of Windows. After inserting your DVD, issuing your new key and waiting a while, the new version will be installed and activated.
  28. spin498
    11 Jan 2011 ~ 3:36pm spin498 Really? I'd operated on the assumption that they just let me download an upgrade. And sent me discs later.
  29. spin498
    16 Jan 2011 ~ 4:40pm spin498 Thrax, just to clarify, does the system you want to upgrade from need to be active?
    Make a long story short, had to re & re my Win 7 home install. MS won't reactivate it automatically and want to charge me $60 to talk to a human being. For an extra $30 I might as well upgrade.
  30. Thrax
    16 Jan 2011 ~ 5:04pm Thrax You're trying to call the wrong number if they're charging you to activate. Use this: 1 888 725-1047

    Yes, the system must be activated.
  31. spin498
    16 Jan 2011 ~ 5:43pm spin498 It's not a charge to activate, they're saying my product ID doesn't qualify for free Tech Support. Does that number get to a human being? I've done this twice now for 2 different issues and got a computer generated auto response both times.
  32. Thrax
    16 Jan 2011 ~ 5:52pm Thrax You don't need free tech support. That number is the phone activation line for Windows.
  33. spin498
    16 Jan 2011 ~ 7:52pm spin498 I don't know when or if you used that number but I have called it three times in the last month and every time it was answered by a machine. It has offered no option to speak to a person and simply hangs up when it decides it can't help you further.
  34. Thrax
    17 Jan 2011 ~ 1:58am Thrax There's something you're not telling us, then. If you can't activate online or over the phone, then there's probably nothing you can do. Is it an OEM license? Did you do major hardware upgrades?
  35. spin498
    17 Jan 2011 ~ 9:01am spin498 It is a moot point. I had an epiphany in the middle of the night. To answer question more accurately. The machine had crashed because of faulty memory in doing so it had corrupted the MBR so badly that none of the repairs I tried would fix it. All I did was reinstall the system with new memory in the PC. My licence is for 3 machines, everytime I told the MS robo answer machine it was the 3rd machine it would tell me my licence was only good for 1 machine. So I called again and told it it was the first machine and it gave me an activation code. Another little hole in their convoluted activation system.
  36. 30 Mar 2011 ~ 12:41pm Steve Hi,

    Very informative post, but I'm stuck on what exactly you mean in Step 3. I'm not techie, so have no idea what this means "Launch a command line and navigate to the directory in which you saved MBRWiz.exe (we saved ours to D:). Once there, invoke the MBRWiz /list command to display a list of drives configured in the system."
    Sorry, but can you expand in layman's terms, please? (I know where I put MBRWiz, it's the command/launch/invoke business I don't get.)

    Also, I'm trying to upgrade XP 32 bit to Win 7 64 bit and I don't get the very last "caution" part of Step 3. Why do I repeat Step 2 and where do I get a 64 bit DVD - I thought 32 and 64 bit were on the same DVD and accessed depending on which license you had.

    Thanks.
  37. AlexDeGruven
    30 Mar 2011 ~ 1:26pm AlexDeGruven
    Steve wrote:
    Also, I'm trying to upgrade XP 32 bit to Win 7 64 bit and I don't get the very last "caution" part of Step 3. Why do I repeat Step 2 and where do I get a 64 bit DVD - I thought 32 and 64 bit were on the same DVD and accessed depending on which license you had.

    Thanks.

    The key is bit-level agnostic, but the media is not. You need separate media to install an x64 version, but you can use keys from either side of the equation.
  38. 1 Apr 2011 ~ 10:04am Steve Thanks but, sorry, I've not a clue what that means, AlexDeGruven! Might as well be written in Swahili!

    As I said, I don't know the tech side of computers, hence, my question about the command/launch/invoke element of Step 3.

    Cheers.
  39. AlexDeGruven
    1 Apr 2011 ~ 12:04pm AlexDeGruven
    Steve wrote:
    Thanks but, sorry, I've not a clue what that means, AlexDeGruven! Might as well be written in Swahili!

    As I said, I don't know the tech side of computers, hence, my question about the command/launch/invoke element of Step 3.

    Cheers.

    Hey, it happens. Let me break it down a little further:

    Windows 7 (and Vista, actually) keys don't care if you're using them on a 64-bit or 32-bit install. The key you got with your 64-bit version of Win7 will work just as well on a 32-bit version. They simply don't care.

    The install media, however (the DVD that Win7 actually comes on), is the part that matters with the 64-bit vs 32-bit discussion. There are 2 types of DVDs, one is 64-bit, and one is 32-bit. You can't install a 32-bit version of Windows with anything other than the 32-bit disc. The same goes with 64-bit. However, as the previous paragraph notes, the key that you use to activate the install could come from either without issue.

    Hope that helps clarify a bit. If not, feel free to ask more specific questions, as it will help us nail down exactly what you're looking for.
  40. 14 Apr 2011 ~ 2:53pm Steve Thanks, AlexDeGruven. I get that now. It's 64 bit I'm struggling with.

    Now, what about the command/launch/invoke element of Step 3. I've not idea what I'm supposed to do there. Sorry.

    Thanks again.
  41. 2 Jul 2011 ~ 4:06am Manuel Hey man, is it possible to use 1gb flash drive for this kind of action? Please help me...

    Thanks.
  42. primesuspect
    2 Jul 2011 ~ 2:00pm primesuspect No. Windows 7 requires a 4gb USB stick or larger.
  43. 17 Dec 2011 ~ 2:12pm Ehems BEST TUT EVERSZZZZ!!11!!!1eleven
  44. primesuspect
    17 Dec 2011 ~ 2:19pm primesuspect Wow I haven't seen the !!!111!!!one meme since like 2003. Grats!

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