Tuesday 4 March 2014

Create a Bootable USB Windows 7 Installation Stick

The Microsoft Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool will create a bootable USB Stick minimum size 4 GB.
Unfortunately it only works on an ISO image purchased through the Microsoft Store,
If you have a situation like me where you have bought Windows 7 on a DVD and you want to install it on a Intel NUC which doesn't have a DVD drive this is what you do.

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Procedure

Open a cmd (DOS Box) with administrator privileges. Start_Run_type cmd_ENTER
Insert your 4 GB USB Drive.
Do the following and  Press ENTER after each line below watching for conformation)
Type DISKPART
LIST DISK (carefully look for the capacity of the USB Drive or you could wipe your hard drive)
SELECT DISK n (where n is the Disk number of the USB )
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1 (this is partition 1 on DISK n)
ACTIVE
FORMAT FS=NTFS  QUICK (this could take 30 minutes  without quick)
on completion of format
ASSIGN
EXIT.

Keep the cmd window open
Insert the Windows 7/Vista DVD and note down the drive letter of the DVD drive.
Assuming DVD drive is D: and the USB drive is G:.
Navigate to the directory where bootsect is found.
D:
cd d:\boot

Use the bootsect to make the USB Drive bootable. This updates the drive with BOOTMGR compatible code and prepares it to boot Windows 7/Vista.

BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 G:
  • Close the Command Prompt windows.
  •  Your USB Key is now ready to add the Installation files

    You can now put in your Windows Install DVD into the Drive). If it Autostarts cancel and the OPEN in Explorer. (My Computer)
    Open another Window in My Computer for the USB Drive
    Go back to the DVD drive and select all the files showing. Select ALL and COPY
    Go to the USB drive and PASTE
    Wait about 30 minutes again and EXIT.

    Ensure the BIOS is set for USB booting.
    With the USB drive still in place, RESTART the PC (press the Boot Options F10 or F12 usually, to SELECT USB Booting)
    The Drive should now enable the Windows logo to start up and then the Install Options.

    Other ways of doing it

    http://m.wikihow.com/Create-a-Bootable-Windows-7-or-Vista-USB-Drive

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    1 comment:

    1. My Friend.... You are the best. Ive tried multiple methods to get the NUC to boot from the USB and none have worked but this one. Thanks

      ReplyDelete