Install Windows 7 From Pendrive: Make bootable usb drive in xp/vista

You can make your USB Flash Drive/Pendrive Bootable & Use it to install operating systems (like Windows 7)

You can also Check: Install Ubuntu from pen-drive – if you are running Ubuntu

In this tutorial, we will be describing how to install Windows 7 from your pen drive. I assume you are running Windows.

Important: Your motherboard must support booting from flash-drives. Before you boot from flash-drives, you must go to your BIOS settings panel & change Boot priority to USB drive.

First Step: You need a copy of bootable Windows 7 DVD/ Image – ISO. Mount this ISO on your pc using any virtual-drive software. If you don’t have any, get Magic ISO (Free)

Second Step: If you are using XP, go to the section below.

Windows Vista/Seven Users:

  1. Plug-in your pen-drive.
  2. Go to Start menu > All programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  3. Type DISKPART and hit enter
  4. type LIST DISK command and note down the Disk number (i.e: Disk 1) of your USB flash drive. In my example, I assume that it was Disk 2. Type and execute the commands below one by one:
  5. SELECT DISK 2
  6. CLEAN
  7. CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
  8. SELECT PARTITION 1
  9. ACTIVE
  10. FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK (Format process may take few seconds)
  11. ASSIGN
  12. EXIT
  13. Now minimize the Command-Prompt window. Insert your Windows7/Vista DVD or mount ISO by virtual drive then check the drive letter of the DVD drive. Suppose your DVD drive letter is “D” and USB drive letter is “H” (open my computer to know about it).
  14. Go to the Command-Prompt & type D: and hit enter.Where “D” is your DVD drive letter.
  15. Type CD BOOT and hit enter to see the below message. Next, type command given below to update the USB drive with BOOTMGR compatible code.
  16. Type BOOTSECT.EXE/NT60 H: where “H” is your USB drive letter. Once you enter the above command you will see the below message.
  17. Copy the contents of your Windows-7 DVD to your pen-drive. You’re Done!

Windows XP Users:

  1. Download MBR Wizard (Freeware) & Extract it in a folder. Remember the folder location, we will use it later!
  2. Connect your pen-drive & Format it. Insert Windows 7 DVD/Mount it from an ISO image. I assume “I” is your USB drive latter.
  3. Go to Start menu > All programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  4. Type convert i: /fs:ntfs I assume “I” is your USB drive latter.
  5. In the command promt, go to the directory where you extracted the MBR Wizard software. If you extracted it in D:\my_folder, Then first type D: and hit Enter. Then type cd my_folder & hit Enter.
  6. Type mbrwiz /list (note down disk number of your USB Pen drive)
  7. Type mbrwiz /disk=1 /active=1 (Assume 1 is Disk Number of your USB Drive)
  8. Type exit
  9. Open another Command-Prompt window and type G: (Drive letter of Windows 7 DVD/Image)
  10. CD boot
  11. bootsect /nt60 I: (I is drive latter of your USB drive )
  12. Copy the contents of your Windows-7 DVD to your pen-drive. You’re Done!