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How to Install Windows 7 from Usb Flash Drive Without Any Software

Posted by Tanmay

Microsoft has released Windows 7 with some advanced feature and a great appearance. All computer users are very much enthusiastic to check out the new OS by Microsoft. Now Windows 7 ISO files are available on the Internet. The ISO file is larger than 2 GB. Also read Install Windows XP from Usb Flash Drive.

Update: Create multiboot USB drive to install both Windows XP and Windows 7.

But if you do not have DVD drive in your PC then a problem you would face while installing it in your computer. In this scenario the Usb drive plays an effective roll. You can install Windows 7 from your USB flash drive/disk. There are various way to install the Windows 7 from Usb drive (also read about windows 7 system repair disc). But here I’m going to discuss about the installation process of Windows 7 from the Usb flash drive without any software.

One thing let me say that if you are applying this tutorial through Windows XP i.e if you are using the command prompt in XP then it won’t work as the “list disk” command does not shows the Usb disk in the disk list. So use windows Vista or Windows 7 to apply this tutorial. Once you have made ready your Usb flash drive for installing Windows 7 from it then follow the next steps.

What you need to have

1. The Windows 7 ISO file.

Note: You can download Windows 7 from web or copy it from the Windows 7 installation DVD. In the second case you have to copy the content in your USB drive from the computer which can read DVD.

2. A Usb flash disk/drive with a memory greater than 3 GB.

At first you have to make your Usb drive ready for installation.

The process

  • Insert the Usb stick in the appropriate port.
  • Run cmd.exe by typing “cmd” in the Run command in your windows start menu.
  • In the command prompt type the following commands:

1. diskpart

2. select disk 1 ( be careful* )

3. clean

4. create partition primary

5. select partition 1

6. active

7. format fs=ntfs ( you can also format in fat32 or fat )

8. assign

9. exit

install-windows-7=from-usb-flas-drive

* Note: The set of commands assume that the Usb drive is addressed as “disk 1”. So double check that by doing a list by the command “list disk” before cleaning it.Now your Usb flash drive is ready to use for installation.

Copy the content of the Windows 7 installation DVD. In case of ISO file just extract the ISO file in your Usb flash drive/disk. After completion of copying you can boot computer from the Usb flash drive ( Change the boot option in your BIOS setup. Make the Usb hard disk as the first boot option ).

If any type of problem arises, please write down your problems in the comment section.

Related content:

  1. Install Windows 7 Directly from Your Hard Drive
  2. Install Windows XP from USB Flash/Pen Drive
  3. Repair Your Windows 7 by System Repair Disc
  4. Install Windows XP From USB Drive Part-II
  5. Create Multiboot USB Drive: Install Windows 7, XP From Same USB Drive
This post was written by Tanmay

Reader Comments

  1. Dream183

    Great tutorial man. Thanks for your effort. But what about something more advanced, e.g. multiboot USB drive with Win7, WinXP and some Linux distros without any application, only from command line. Doesn’t matter whether linux or windows command line. Could you prepare some tutorial also for this? I guess it’s a sufficient challange ;)

  2. Tanmay

    @Dream183: Yes, it’s challenging. Definitely write about this if I find any solution. Thanks for the head up.

  3. Dream183

    I have an idea with separate partition for Win7, one partition for WinXP and one partition for Linux distros. But I’m missing some advanced knowledges about windows boot parameters to get it running with grub and/or isolinux. Maybe this could be the way to make it working from linux command line.

    I’m thinking about how to get it together from windows command line but I’m worry about the linux distros loading from within the windows boot manager or another boot manager w/o any other application.

  4. Tanmay

    @Dream 183: Great. You can always share your ideas with me. If not publicly, contact at my mail address: tanmay@techtipsgeek.com

  5. Virus.Alert

    For All Who Gonna Try This Tutorial..

    Please Run All Those Commands In Windows 7 Or Vista :)

    It Will Not Work In Windows Xp :P

    Windows XP Will Not Show The Flash Drive When U Hit The ” List Disk” In Diskpart utility :P

    Try This Link & Download That mkboot.exe & Follow The Instruction, It Works in XP : )
    http://www.bahamassecurity.com/software/utilities/mkboot.asp

    [ N-Joii ]

  6. Dante

    Hi my Name is Dante iam from bangldesh and i like ur web site u guys are awsom and i will work to read ur

  7. Andrei

    Hello,

    Thank you for the tutorial. I tried wintoflash and didn’t work. I did all steps and now will try the bootup.

    I actualy wanted to ask you why do I have to do this diskpart part. Doesen’t work if I just format the drive with windows expoler thingie and copy the files from the dvd?

  8. Tanmay

    @Andrei: Actually a USB device is not bootable by default and a PC needs to reconize the device as bootable first to get into the installation process. That is why the Diskpart part is must. Otherwise Windows won’t be able to detect your device as boot device.

    Feel free to ask any question. Thanks.