Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

How to Get and Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

 

 

 

 

How to Get and Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Introduction

   Information

If you would like to burn your downloaded or converted .iso image to a DVD or create a bootable USB flash drive, this free Microsoft utility is for you.

In very little time this can be accomplished by even a novice, and in this tutorial I'm gonna show you how. I have seperated this tutorial into 2 sections: Part 1 covers how to burn a bootable DVD and Part 2 is on creating a bootable flash drive.

This is primarily going to be useful to XP and Vista users who do not have .iso burning software installed on their current HDD and wish to perform a clean install.

   Note

The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool does not support using Windows XP .iso files.

If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 ISO, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file here:

Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

   Warning

The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool does not work with UEFI.

To create a 64-bit Windows 7 or Windows 8 UEFI USB flash drive, see:

How to Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7 and Windows 8

Here's How:
First visit the MS Store Website and download and run the installer.

Or just click on this easy to use button --->

After you have successfully downloaded and installed the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, you should see its icon on your desktop. Double click to start the program.

PART 1 - How to Burn a bootable Windows 7 DVD

1) After you launch the app, you will see the Step 1 of 4 dialog box. Here you will navigate to the location of your .iso file by clicking the Browse button. Once you have successfully located your iso file click Next to continue to step 2.

2) In step 2 of 4 you are given the choice of making a bootable DVD or a bootable USB flash. In this first section of my tutorial I show you how to burn a bootable DVD. So click DVD if that is what you want.

3) Make sure you have a blank DVD in your optical drive, or you may see this message.

4) Once you have inserted a blank DVD you will see the folowing screen, click Begin burning to continue.

5) Once the burn starts, you should see the progress bar here at Step 4 of 4. Remember the amount of time it takes to complete the burn depends on many factors... be patient.

6) If all you wanted was a bootable DVD, you are finished when you see the image below, close the program or start over if you wish to make a 2nd copy.

PART 2 - How to create a bootable Windows 7 USB Flash Drive

   Warning

You need a USB flash drive with at least 4GB of free space, and the flash drive will be formattted to NTFS! So backup your data before creating this bootable USB, or you will lose all your data!

Follow the instructions in the Introduction at the beginning of tutorial and download and install the tool. The installation will add the program shortcut to your desktop, just double click to start.

1) After you launch the app, you will see the Step 1 of 4 dialog box. Here you will navigate to the location of your .iso file by clicking the Browse button. Once you have successfully located your iso file click Next to continue to step 2.

2) In step 2 of 4 you are given the choice of making a bootable DVD or a bootable USB flash. Here in Part 2 of my tutorial I show you how to create a bootable USB Flash Drive. So click USB device if that is what you want.

3) Here in step 3 of 4 you will select the USB flash drive of your choice by using the drop down list arrow. Once you have chosen the correct Drive, click the Begin copying button.

4) Here in step 4 of 4: Creating bootable USB device, you should see the progress bar move across the screen. As always your speed depends on many factors, have patience!

5) Once completed you should see the following dialog box.

I found it interesting that the USB device icon in "Computer" now looks identical to that of the DVD!

Here are the contents of the USB device after completion...

I hope this helps out some of you who are "stuck" when it comes to burning an iso to DVD or creating a bootable USB device.

Thanks!

Boot from a VHD using Windows 7

Boot from a VHD using Windows 7

How to Boot from a VHD using Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

 

How to Boot from a VHD using Windows 7 and 

Windows 8

   Information

Windows 7 and Windows 8 includes support for creating, mounting and booting from VHD images but not many seem to know how to use this functionality to boot VHDs at boot time... I will detail the steps required to have another OS bootable using Windows 7...

This tutorial will show you how to setup Windows 7 or Windows 8 to boot from an existing VHD (Virtual Hard Disk).

All Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 (except Windows 8 RT) editions support booting from a VHD.

You must have either Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8 Pro, or Windows 8 Enterprise installed on the VHD to be able to boot from the VHD.

   Warning

If you do not have a good knowledge of how to reset your VirtualOS configuration like HAL type and driver configuration then your VHD will fail to boot. It must be cleaned of VirtualOS configuration correctly before Windows can boot your VHD!!

Step 1: If you have not already, create or attach an existing a VHD using the tutorial below.

Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD

Step 2: Open an elevated command prompt.


Step 3: Copy and Paste this command below and press Enter.
NOTE: Substitute VHD_Boot in the command below for what you want to be displayed as the name in Windows Boot Manager.

bcdedit /copy {current} /d "VHD_Boot"

If the command succeeds, BCDEdit displays a message similar to the following:


The entry was successfully copied to {CLSID_Number}

Take note of the CLSID number as you will need this during the next step

Step 4: Then type this command below and press Enter.
NOTE: Substitute C with the drive letter your VHD is on, and substitute disk1 with the name of your VHD file.

bcdedit /set {CLSID_Number} osdevice vhd=[C:]\disk1.vhd

Step 5: Thats it, You can now boot VHDs using Windows 7
To confirm the settings simply type bcdedit

If your VHD is configured correctly You can reboot and select the extra boot-option to boot from your VHD

   Warning

VirtualPC VHDs can not be used for booting with Windows because VirtualPC uses a Pentium 3 HAL and this prevents them from being used as boot media, You can however use this Tutorial: Virtual Hard Disk - Create and Attach VHD and create then mount a VHD for use with VMWare Workstation....

You simply set VMWare workstation to use a Physical Disk, you can then Install a separate OS onto this mounted VHD for use with Windows.

   Tip

You Must reset your VHD VirtualOS configuration like HAL type and driver configuration or your VHD will fail to boot!!! It must be cleaned of VirtualOS configuration correctly before windows 7 can boot your VHD!!

   Note

There are still many bugs associated with VHD booting with Windows 7 at this time, I suspect Microsoft will be releasing a new Version of VirtualPC that's able to manage this entire process of creating, installing and booting separate VHDs at boot-time easily and without so many problems

Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB device

How to Install Windows 7 FAST without a DVD or USB Device

   Information

So far we've seen tutorials for installing Windows 7 in quite a few different ways. All of them require boot media like a DVD or USB key. All of them use the Windows 7 installer. All of them require you to upgrade or replace your existing Windows 7 installation. All of them are relatively slow. All of them are using technology designed by Microsoft for clueless end-users.

This method uses technology designed for advanced users; OEMs like Dell, big IT departments and experts like us. It doesn't require extra bootable media and it leaves your existing Windows install intact. It's fast, it's flexible and it's all command line suitable for scripting.

Let's start with the assumption that you've got a single hard disk with one big partition, it's not full, and you're already running some build of Windows 7 or Vista. If you've got more than one partition and can't figure out how to modify the steps in this tutorial to accommodate that please post a comment and I'll add the steps. The same goes for other hard disks. The only hard requirement is that you be running Windows 7 or Vista. We need to make room for the new Windows 7 install so we start by running DISKPART. Open Start, type diskpart and press Enter.

Code:

 
Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7100
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: ORION7
 
DISKPART> lis vol
 
  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0     F                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 1     E                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 2     C   7            NTFS   Partition     16 GB  Healthy    System
  Volume 3     D   Data         NTFS   Partition    263 GB  Healthy
  Volume 4     G                       Removable       0 B  No Media
 
DISKPART> sel vol 3
 
Volume 3 is the selected volume.
 
DISKPART> shr minimum=10240 desired=16384
 
DiskPart successfully shrunk the volume by:   16 GB
 
DISKPART> cre par pri
 
DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.
 
DISKPART> for fs=ntfs quick label="7new"
 
  100 percent completed
 
DiskPart successfully formatted the volume.
 
DISKPART> ass
 
DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point.
 
DISKPART> act
 
DiskPart marked the current partition as active.
 
DISKPART> lis vol
 
  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0     F                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 1     E                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 2     C   7            NTFS   Partition     16 GB  Healthy    System
  Volume 3     D   Data         NTFS   Partition    247 GB  Healthy
  Volume 4     G                       Removable       0 B  No Media
* Volume 5     H   7new         NTFS   Partition     15 GB  Healthy
 
DISKPART> exi

• Select the volume to shrink from the list with "sel vol"
• Specify the minimum and desired volume size in megabytes with "shr"
• Specify your own label for the new volume with "for"
• Make note of the drive letter of the starred volume after "ass"

Now crack open a Windows 7 ISO and extract the file \sources\install.wim. I just mount the file directly with CloneDrive: elby Free Software but your favorite ISO or archive program should be able to do this as well. Download imagex.zip, extract and open an elevated command prompt there.

Code:

D:\Mike\Desktop\work>imagex /apply e:\sources\install.wim 5 h:\
 
ImageX Tool for Windows
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved.
 
[ 100% ] Applying progress
 
Successfully applied image.
 
Total elapsed time: 7 min 8 sec
 
 
D:\Mike\Desktop\work>h:\windows\system32\bcdboot h:\windows
 
Boot files successfully created.

Now reboot and a few minutes (less than 5 on my box) later you'll be prompted for locale info and to create a user. Welcome to your new Windows 7 installation.

To toggle back and forth between this new installation and the original one use diskpart.

Code:

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7100
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: ORION7
 
DISKPART> lis vol
 
  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 0     F                       DVD-ROM         0 B  No Media
  Volume 1     E   GRC1CULFRER  UDF    DVD-ROM     2413 MB  Healthy
  Volume 2     C   7            NTFS   Partition     16 GB  Healthy    System
  Volume 3     D   Data         NTFS   Partition    247 GB  Healthy
  Volume 4     H                NTFS   Partition     15 GB  Healthy
  Volume 5     G                       Removable       0 B  No Media
 
DISKPART> sel vol 2
 
Volume 2 is the selected volume.
 
DISKPART> act
 
DiskPart marked the current partition as active.
 
 
 
 

DISKPART> exi

• Select the volume containing the Windows installation you want to start from the list with "sel vol"

Please post issues, questions or other feedback here.

How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

Repair Install

How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

 
 Here's How: NOTE: Be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose first to be extra safe.

1. Start Windows 7, and log on to an administrator account.
2. Disable any 3rd party firewall, antivirus, or other security program to avoid it from possibly preventing the repair in-place upgrade installation of Windows 7.
3. Do either step 4, 5, or 6 below depending if your retail Windows 7 installation ISO/DVD/USB has SP1 or not, and if your currently installed Windows 7 has SP1 installed or not.
4. Repair Installed Windows 7 SP1 using Windows 7 with SP1 ISO

   Note

If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 ISO, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file here:
Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

A) If you have not already, you will need to install a program like 7-Zip that supports extracting a ISO to a folder.
B) Using the program (ex: 7-Zip) from step 1, extract the Windows 7 SP1 ISO file to a folder on a partition or HDD other than the current Windows 7 partition. (see screenshot below) NOTE: For example with 7-Zip, right click on ISO, click on 7-Zip, Extract files, browse button, select where you want to extract to, and click on OK twice.

C) While in Windows 7 SP1, open the folder that you extracted the ISO into, and run the setup.exe file.
D) Go to step 7 below.

5. Repair Installed Windows 7 SP1 using Windows 7 with SP1 DVD/USB

   Note

If you do not have a Windows 7 with SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 with SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7 using this step.

A) While in Windows 7 SP1, insert your retail Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD into the DVD drive, or connect your Windows 7 with SP1 installation USB thumb drive, and click on the Run setup.exe option in AutoPlay. (see screenshot below) NOTE: If the AutoPlay window does not open, then open the drive folder in Computer and run the setup.exe file.

B) Go to Go to step 7 below.

6. Repair Installed Windows 7 without SP1 using Windows 7 without SP1 DVD/USB

   Note

• If you do not have a Windows 7 without SP1 installation DVD/USB, then you can download the latest official Windows 7 Professional or Home Premium without SP1 ISO file here: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links, and use Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to create a bootable DVD or USB flash drive with the ISO to do the repair install from within Windows 7 using this step.
• It is preferred to have SP1 installed and use step 4 or 5 above to do a repair install instead.

A) While in Windows 7 SP1 installed, insert your retail Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive, or connect your Windows 7 installation USB thumb drive, and click on the Run setup.exe option in AutoPlay. (see screenshot below) NOTE: If the AutoPlay window does not open, then open the drive folder in Computer and run the setup.exe file.

B) Go to Go to step 7 below.

7. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.
8. Click on the Install Now button to start the installation. (see screenshot below)

9. If prompted, uncheck the I want to help make Windows installation better box (unless you would like to ), and click on the Go online to get the latest updates for installation option. (see screenshot below)

A) Windows 7 will now check online for and install any available installation updates. (see screenshots below)

10. Check the I accept the license terms box, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)

11. Click on the Upgrade option. (see screenshot below)

12. Windows will now check for any compatibility issues. If any are found like in the example below, take care of them first then restart the repair install process over again.

13. The installation of Windows 7 will now begin. (see screenshot below) NOTE: During the installation process, your screen may flash and computer will restart a few times.

14. After the final restart, you will see this screen for a moment. (see screenshot below)

15. Type in your Windows 7 product key number. (see screenshot below step 16)
16. Uncheck the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box unchecked, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below) NOTE: You can activate Windows 7 later after you make sure it is running properly. (see step 23 below) If you chose to automatically activate Windows online when you set up your computer, automatic activation begins trying to activate your copy of Windows three days after you log on for the first time.

17. Click on Use recommended settings. (see screenshot below)

18. Select your time zone and set your time and date settings, then click on the Next button. (see screenshot below)

19. Click on the option for your computer's location to select the correct network location type settings to be applied for that location. (see screenshot below) NOTE: It is best to select Public location for the best security.

20. Windows 7 will now prepare your desktop to startup. (see screenshots below)

21. Check to see if you are missing any user files. If you are, then you can copy them from the C:\Windows.old or the hidden protected operating system C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q backup folders. (see screenshot below)

22. If everything checks out in step 21, then you can run Disk Cleanup (step 5 at this link). You will need to click on the Clean up system files button first, and then could check the Files discarded by Windows upgrade, Previous Windows installations, and Windows upgrade log files boxes. (see screenshot below) NOTE: This will delete the C:\Windows.old, C:\$INPLACE.~TR and C:\WINDOWS.~Q folders from step 21 above.

23. Refresh your Windows Experience Index (WEI) score.
24. When done, all you will need to do is to activate Windows 7, and make sure that your security programs are enabled again.