How to Make a Flashdisk to Boot Windows 7 or Vista

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Do you want to install Windows 7 on a computer that doesn't have a ? Would you like to have a backup installer in case your Windows disc gets corrupted? Follow the guide in this article to move Windows installation files to a bootable USB flash drive (can be used for booting).

Easy Way

Renaming File

1. Connect the flash drive to your computer (if you have copied the files and made the flash drive bootable), then open the folder where the installation files are stored.
2. Rename the file "Boot.mgr" to "ntldr" (without the quotes), and it should work!

3. Do but (boot) from the flash disk first, not from the hard disk (hard disk). Most computers support using the 'F12' or 'Del' key to access boot sequence settings.

   Step

   Part 1 of 4: Creating or Getting Windows 7/Vista ISO Files

   

   Step 1. Install a free burning program

   You can find various free burning programs on the internet. You need a program that can create ISO files.

   If you got Windows 7 as an ISO file downloaded from Microsoft, skip to the next section

   

   Step 2. Insert the Windows 7 DVD disc

   Run a file burning program. Look for options like “Create Image” or “Copy to Image”. When prompted, select the DVD drive as the source.

   

   Step 3. Save the ISO file you created

   Set an easy-to-remember name and storage location for the file. The created ISO will be the same size as the copied disc. This means that you need several GB of free space on your computer's hard disk. Make sure you have sufficient storage space.

   It will take a long time to create the ISO file, depending on the speed of the computer and the DVD drive

   Part 2 of 4: Creating a Bootable Flash Drive

   

   Step 1. Download "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool"

   You can get it for free on the Microsoft site. Although the name says "Windows 7", this tool can also be used to create Windows Vista ISOs and can run on almost all versions of Windows.

   

   Step 2. Select the source file

   This is the ISO file that you downloaded or created in the first step. Next, click Next.

   

   Step 3. Select the USB flash disk

   You will be given the option of whether you want to burn the file to a DVD or a USB flash drive. In this guide, you have to click on USB Device.

   

   Step 4. Select your USB flash disk

   Make sure the flash drive is properly connected to the computer. You must have at least 4 GB of free space on your flash drive to copy the Windows installation files.

   

   Step 5. Wait for the tool to finish its work

   This tool will format the USB flash drive to boot properly, then copy the ISO file onto the flash drive. The process can take up to 15 minutes, depending on the speed of the computer.

   Part 3 of 4: Using the Command Line

   

   Step 1. Plug the flash drive into the computer

   First, plug the flash drive into the USB port, then copy all its contents to a safe place on your computer's hard disk.

   

   Step 2. Run Command Prompt as administrator

   To run the command line (command prompt), click Start and search for CMD. Right-click the search result that appears, then click '' Run as Administrator'' so you use it as admin.

   

   Step 3. Find the flash drive number using the Diskpart tool

   To do this, type this command in the command line: DISKPART

   • By running DISKPART, the computer will show the DISKPART version and the computer name you are using.
   • Type " list disk " to display all disk drives. Take note of the numbers given for your flash drive.

   

   Step 4. Format the flash drive

   Run the list of commands below one by one. Replace the words Disk 1 with the number Disk you got from DISKPART.

   select disk 1

   clean

   create partition primary

   select partition 1

   active

   format fs=NTFS QUICK

   assign

   exit

   

   Step 5. Make the flash drive bootable

   Use the bootsect tool that comes with the Windows 7/Vista package. How to do it:

   • Insert the Windows 7/Vista disc and note the letter for the DVD disc drive. In this guide, the DVD drive is located at D:, and the flash drive is G:.
   • Navigate to the directory where bootsect is stored.

   D:

   cd d:\boot

   • Create a bootable flash disk using bootsect. This will update the flash drive with BOOTMGR compatible code and prepare it to boot Windows 7/Vista.

   BOOTSECT. EXE /NT60 G:

   • Close Command Prompt.

   

   Step 6. Copy all the files on the Windows 7/Vista disc to a formatted flash drive

   Using Windows Explorer is the fastest and safest way. Open the Windows DVD, select all the data, then drag it to the flash drive. The process of copying this file can take a few minutes.

   Part 4 of 4: Preparing to Install Windows

   

   Step 1. Change the boot order

   To boot from a flash drive, set the BIOS so that the flash drive is first in the boot list, above the hard disk. Open the BIOS by restarting the computer and pressing the suggested key to enter Setup. The key will vary depending on the computer manufacturer, but is usually Del, F2, F10, or F12.

   Open the Boot menu in the BIOS. Change the 1st Boot Device to a flash disk. Make sure the flash drive is plugged into the computer so that the options appear and can be selected. Depending on the computer manufacturer, what is written can be Removable Device or the model name of the flash drive

   

   Step 2. Save the changes made and restart the computer

   If the boot sequence is set correctly, the Windows 7/Vista installation will load after the computer manufacturer logo disappears.

   

   Step 3. Install Windows

   The installation process will load and the Windows setup will begin. Read How to Install Windows 7 for more information.