How To Create A Bootable Flash Drive To Install Windows 7

Installing Windows 7 to a flash drive is a very easy way to install Windows 7 to your netbook or computer. Don't be afraid of the command line it is your friend. You need a flash drive that is at least 4GB+ in size and a copy of Windows 7.

Required:

Flash Drive that is at least 4GB in size.

Windows 7 install DVD

Computer with Windows already on it

Disclaimer: This guide will delete everything on your flash drive.

1. Insert the flash drive into your host computer.
   
   
2. Open a command prompt as administrator (Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt, right click and select “Run as administrator”
   
   
3. Find the drive number of your USB Drive by typing the following into the Command Prompt window:
   diskpart
   list disk
   The number of your USB drive will be listed. You’ll need this for the next step. It will most likely be disk 1.
   
   
4. Format the drive by typing the next instructions into the same window. Replace the number “1” with the number of your disk below.
   select disk 1
   clean
   create partition primary
   select partition 1
   active
   format fs=NTFS
   assign
   exit
   
   
5. Formatting might take a while but don't close command prompt while it is formatting. We are still working in it so keep it open. Now it is time to make the drive bootable. Insert your Windows 7 disk in your host computer.
   
   
6. You now need to change the directory to the disks boot directory where bootsect is located. So we can make the flash drive bootable.
   d:
   cd d:\boot
   
   
7. Now we use bootsect to make the flash drive bootable. Assuming your flash drive is drive d:
   bootsect /nt60 g:
   Close the command prompt when it is finished.
   
   
8. Find the Windows Install disk in My Computer. Select all of the files on it, then Ctrl+C. Find your flash drive and then Ctrl+V. It should take awhile since it is around 4GB.
   
   
9. Your Done!!! With the flash drive at least to install from the flash drive you must boot from it you have to change this from the bios. When your computer starts it should say setup and you must press what button it says such as F12. Find the boot order and set the USB Drive as the first one.