How To Install Windows 7 From USB

Chances are you'll need to install Windows 7 from a USB device if you have a tablet, or small laptop or netbook device, few of which include optical drives as standard hardware.

 

Important: Start with Step 1 below if you have a Windows 7 DVD or Step 2 if you have a Windows 7 ISO image.

 

1. Create an ISO file from the Windows 7 DVD. If you already know how to create ISO images, fantastic: do it, and then come back here for further instructions on what to do with it.
   
   If you've never created an ISO file from a disc before, check out the tutorial linked above. It'll walk you through installing some free software and then using it to create the ISO. An ISO image is a single file that perfectly represents a disc... in this case, your Windows 7 installation DVD.
   
   Next we're going to work on properly getting that Windows 7 ISO image you just created onto the flash drive.
    
2. Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from Microsoft. Once downloaded, execute the file and follow the installation wizard.
   
   This free program from Microsoft, which works in Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, will correctly format the USB drive and then copy the contents of your Windows 7 ISO file to the drive.
    
3. Start the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool program, which is probably located in your Start menu or on your Start screen, as well as on your Desktop.
    
4. On the Step 1 of 4: Choose ISO file screen, click Browse.
    
5. Locate, and then select, your Windows 7 ISO file. Then click Open.
   
   Note: If you downloaded Windows 7 directly from Microsoft, check for the ISO image wherever you tend to store downloaded files. If you manually created an ISO file from your Windows 7 DVD in Step 1 above then it will be wherever you created it to.
    
6. Click Open.
    
7. Click Next once you're back on the Step 1 of 4 screen.
    
8. Click USB device on the Step 2 of 4: Choose media type screen.
    
9. On the Step 3 of 4: Insert USB device screen, choose the flash drive or external hard drive you want to put the Windows 7 installation files on.
   
   Tip: If you haven't yet plugged in the flash drive or other device you're using then you can do that now. Just click the blue refresh button to make it show up in the list.
    
10. Click the Begin copying button.
     
11. Click Erase USB Device if you're prompted to do so on a Not Enough Free Space window. Then click Yes to the confirmation in the next window.
    
    Note: If you don't see this it just means that the flash drive or external hard disk you've selected is already empty.
    
    Important: Any data you have on this USB drive will be erased as part of this process.
     
12. On Step 4 of 4: Creating bootable USB device, wait for the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool to format the USB drive and then copy the Windows 7 installation files to it from the ISO image you provided.
    
    You'll see a Status of Formatting for several seconds, followed by Copying files. This part might take as long as 30 minutes, maybe even longer, depending on which edition of Windows 7 the ISO file you have is from, as well as on how fast your computer, USB drive, and USB connection is.
    
    Tip: The percentage complete indicator may sit on one or more percentages for a long time. This does not mean anything is wrong.
     
13. The next screen you see should say Bootable USB device created successfully.
    
    You can now close the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool program. The USB drive can now be used to install Windows 7.
     
14. Boot from the USB device to start the Windows 7 setup process.