How To: Install Windows 7/Vista From USB Drive [Detailed 100%
Working Guide]
Posted January 11, 2009 – 3:58 pm in: Live DVD/USB, Vista Tweaks, Windows 7, Windows 7 Tweaks
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This guide works 100% for Vista &
Windows 7 unlike most of the
guides out there. I have seen many
sites/blogs that have “Install Vista
from USB guide” but either with
incomplete steps or not working
guide. I have also seen some
guides that don’t’ use proper
commands in this guide. After
spending many hours I have come
up with this 100% working guide.
I just did this method on one of my
friends machine and installed the
new Windows 7 BETA. The main
advantage is that by using USB
drive you will be able to install
Windows 7/Vista in just 15 minutes.
You can also use this bootable USB
drive on friend’s computer who
doesn’t have a DVD optical drive.
The method is very simple and you
can use without any hassles.
Needless to say that your
motherboard should support USB
Boot feature to make use of the
bootable USB drive.
Requirements:
*USB Flash Drive (Minimum 4GB)
*Windows 7 or Vista installation
files.
Follow the below steps to create
bootable Windows 7/Vista USB
drive using which you can install
Windows 7/Vista easily.
1. Plug-in your USB flash drive to
USB port and move all the contents
from USB drive to a safe location on
your system.
2. Open Command Prompt with
admin rights. Use any of the below
methods to open Command Prompt
with admin rights.
*Type cmd in Start menu search
box and hit Ctrl+ Shift+ Enter.
Or
*Go to Start menu > All programs
> Accessories, right click on
Command Prompt and select Run
as administrator.
3. You need to know about the USB
drive a little bit. Type in the
following commands in the
command prompt:
First type DISKPART and hit enter
to see the below message.
Next type LIST DISK command
and note down the Disk number
(ex: Disk 1) of your USB flash
drive. In the below screenshot my
Flash Drive Disk no is Disk 1.
4. Next type all the below
commands one by one. Here I
assume that your disk drive no is
“Disk 1”.If you have Disk 2 as your
USB flash drive then use Disk
[Link] the above step to confirm
it.
So below are the commands you
need to type and execute one by
one:
SELECT DISK 1
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT FS=NTFS
(Format process may take few
seconds)
ASSIGN
EXIT
Don’t close the command prompt as
we need to execute one more
command at the next step. Just
minimize it.
5. Next insert your Windows7/Vista
DVD into the optical drive and
check the drive letter of the DVD
drive. In this guide I will assume
that your DVD drive letter is “D”
and USB drive letter is “H” (open
my computer to know about it).
6. Maximize the minimized
Command Prompt in the 4th
[Link] the following command
now:
D: CD BOOT and hit [Link]
“D” is your DVD drive letter.
CD BOOT and hit enter to see the
below message.
7. Type another command given
below to update the USB drive with
BOOTMGR compatible code.
[Link] /NT60 H:
Where “H” is your USB drive letter.
Once you enter the above
command you will see the below
message.
8. Copy your Windows 7/Vista DVD
contents to the USB flash drive.
9. Your USB drive is ready to boot
and install Windows 7/Vista. Only
thing you need to change the boot
priority at the BIOS to USB from
the HDD or CD ROM drive. I won’t
explain it as it’s just the matter the
changing the boot priority or
enabling the USB boot option in the
BIOS.
Note: If you are not able to boot
after following this guide means
you haven’t set the BIOS priority to
USB. If you got any problem in
following this guide feel free to ask
questions by leaving comment.
Update: If you find this guide
difficult to follow, please use
the easy-to-use guide to create
a bootable USB to install
Windows 7 using official tool
