Imagine a situation where you need to install Windows Vista or 7 in a system but you don't have access to DVD drive. We all know Windows Vista, Server 2008 or 7 comes in DVDs and you'll need a DVD drive to install them. Then how will you install them? The solution is, you can create a bootable USB drive which can be used to install Windows without using DVD drive.
We have posted a detailed tutorial to create such bootable USB drive long time back, you can read about it here.
The above method is very easy to follow but wouldn't it be great if we can use a utility to do the whole task automatically? Our reader "Aris" has created a small utility exclusively for AskVG readers which creates a bootable USB drive to install Windows Vista, Server 2008 or 7.
Prerequisites:
- A USB Drive (4 GB or more)
- Windows Vista, Server 2008 or 7 ISO image or DVD
- Host OS: Windows Vista (SP1 or SP2), Server 2008 or 7
How to Use:
Once you meet the requirements, run the utility. Its a portable utility so doesn't need installation. Simply run it and check the option "I have read and accepted the following License Agreement". Now click on OK button and it'll launch the main application.
It also shows a Help window so that you can use the utility easily. The utility requires only 4 easy steps to follow:
- Check USB drive (To check whether your USB drive is attached or not)
- Format USB drive
- Choose DVD or ISO image (To copy the required files to USB drive)
- Start the process to create bootable USB drive
PS: It also works in 64-bit Windows versions.
NOTE: If you face problem while formatting the USB drive, click on "Options" button and then select "QUICK" option.
Complete list of AskVG articlesThis article was posted in Portable Apps, Software Zone, Windows 7, Windows Vista.
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anonymous
anyway to overide the limit that shows only thumbdrives of 4gb and above? my thumbdrive is 4gb but the formatted size is 3.82gb and the files inside the installation cd adds up to only 3.1gb!
Amhon-ra
It worked fine for me. Great Job ARIS.
it Stopped a few minutes formatting at 72% but ended fine.
I have a question. I created a usb bootable with Win 7 version RC, if i need to update the same usb with Win 7 version RTM, do i need to do the whole process again including formatting ?
Thx friends.
a
please make it to run in win xp?
GnG
Why the prequisite is 4GB USB Drive? I found a Netbook version of Win 7, just at 1,5 GB size (i dont know its fake or not & i wanna try this version).
Can i just force to use 2GB USB drive?
hclarkjr
i am getting error message when i select check DVD - you have to override build numbers to see all drives. when i try ISO version and select ISO it tells me ISO opened not correct. i am trying to open vista SP2 images. i am running vista 64 bit ultimate with SP2. also, you mention there is a help window but i do not see it. it finds the USB flash drive and formats it but that is as far as i get. please help!! thank you
DeathOfChaos
I don't know why, but everytime I try this thing, it comes up with an error message that says "Unable to open file." ...
®um@n
Can we have any tricks or tweaks for this app to use in Windows XP in all service pack.
rs
"Drive letters are R, I, S" and one of them must be available for the program to work.
Given that I have about 15 other drive letters available, it is highly weird that the tool refuses to work (with the above message) if all of R:, I: and S: are taken.
Satyam
Thanks
Nice application
Claude
When installing from a USB drive you need to boot off that drive by setting the BIOS accordingly. Once it starts the install you have to watch it and when the first system reboot occurs you need to disable USB boot and set your hard drive again (without unplugging the USB key. Then the install will continue.
The same thing can be achieved (USB bootable stick) by using UltraIso and "burning" the ISO image on the USB stick. It's really simple and UltraISO is free for 15 days.
I tried XP, Vista, WHS with success.
I tried making a OSX bootable stick but it's just not possible, the OSX DVD is written as hybrid disk and although the stick gets written, the boot just doesn't work.