Bootable USB with ISO - What am I missing?

[copenhagen69]

I am trying to install win7 from a USB. I set the USB to be first boot and it finds it, but wont install the iso.

I have tried ...

1. Insert your USB flash drive to your running computer. As the first step, we need to run Command Prompt as administrator. To do this, we need to find cmd by typing 'cmd' in the search box on Windows Start Menu. After search result for 'cmd' appears, right click on it and select "Run as administrator".
2. Type 'diskpart' on Command Prompt (without quotes) and hit Enter. Wait for a while until the DISKPART program run.
3. Type 'list disk' to view active disks on your computer and hit Enter. There would be seen that the active disks shown as Disk 0 for hard drive and Disk 1 for your USB flashdrive with its total capacity.
4. Type 'select disk 1' to determine that disk 1 would be processed in the next step then hit Enter.
5. Type 'clean' and hit Enter to remove all of data in the drive.
6. Type 'create partition primary' and hit Enter. Creating a primary partition and further recognized by Windows as 'partition 1'.
7. Type 'select partition 1' an hit Enter. Choosing the 'partition 1' for setting up it as an active partition.
8. Type 'active' and hit Enter. Activating current partition.
9. Type 'format fs=ntfs quick' and hit Enter. Formatting current partition as NTFS file system quickly.
10. Type 'exit' and hit Enter. Leaving DISKPART program but don't close the Command Prompt instead. We would still need it for next process.
11. By default, Command Prompt's active directory for Administrator permission is on C:\Windows\System32>. We will navigate Command Prompt to set on DVD (F as its active directory. Just type 'f:' then hit Enter, and the active directory changed to F:.
12. Type 'cd boot' and hit Enter. Active directory changed to F:\boot>.
13. Type 'bootsect /nt60 d:' and hit Enter. Creating boot sector on D: drive (USB flash drive).
14. Type 'exit' and hit Enter to close the Command Prompt. Until this step we have made a bootable USB drive sucessfully, and the flash drive is ready to be used as a boot media.

However when I get to bootsect it does not do anything .. says it is not a recognized internal command ...

Is there something I am missing? I even tried just loading the iso on the USB and booting, but did not work either

Is there an easier way?

 

[ne6togadno]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
or
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

 

[slyfox2151]

Have you copied all the files from the ISO to the flash drive? I can't see that step.


After step 10. (after formatting and making it the active partition)

Copy files from the ISO to flash drive.

Open CMD as administrator.

navigate to the flash drive, lets call it drive Z and type in the following commands.
Z:
cd boot
bootsect.exe /nt60 z:
exit


Then try again.

 

[Ferrum Master]

I am trying to install win7 from a USB. I set the USB to be first boot and it finds it, but wont install the iso.

I have tried ...



However when I get to bootsect it does not do anything .. says it is not a recognized internal command ...

Is there something I am missing? I even tried just loading the iso on the USB and booting, but did not work either

Is there an easier way?

yes you have to CD to the folder where the bootsect actually is... install iso boot folder.


Seconds use the m$ tool, it may fail on some UEFI systems, if not use RUFUS with GPT layout.

 

[copenhagen69]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
or
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

Tried the first program, but it fails .. not sure yet why but troubleshooting that ...

The pendrive seems to be only for linux? although seems very useful i dont think it will help me with this. Keeping it for future linux installs though

Have you copied all the files from the ISO to the flash drive? I can't see that step.

After step 10. (after formatting and making it the active partition)

Copy files from the ISO to flash drive.

Open CMD as administrator.

navigate to the flash drive, lets call it drive Z and type in the following commands.
Z:
cd boot
bootsect.exe /nt60 z:
exit


Then try again.

hmmm if I already have the iso, do I just throw that in the usb drive?

yes you have to CD to the folder where the bootsect actually is... install iso boot folder.


Seconds use the m$ tool, it may fail on some UEFI systems, if not use RUFUS with GPT layout.

ok looking into this as well...

 

[ne6togadno]

you can use pendrive with win too. in step 1 you have to select "custom iso"(or "other" cant remember how exactly it was dubed) and point win .iso file. i've used it for my install usb stick and it works fine.

 

[copenhagen69]

ok got it working ... now the new issue is that I just get the blinking cursor in the top left of the screen and nothing happens ...

I have USB set to first boot. do I need to disable any of the other options in the boot sequence? I dont get the press any key to boot from disk option .. I changed from legacy to UEFI but still nothing ...

I used the pendrive to create it ... nice tool!

 

[ne6togadno]

if everything is ok you should get "press any key to boot from dvd" msg you normaly get when you install from dvd.
try smash F10 or/and F12 during boot so you get boot menu and then select your usb drive.

 

[BiggieShady]

I like using this one https://rufus.akeo.ie/

 

[bobodori]

Just format the drive under windows 7 with NTFS file system and copy the files from the iso.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Just format the drive under windows 7 with NTFS file system and copy the files from the iso.

Just don't suggest what you don't understand mate...

 

[copenhagen69]

got it finally ... man not sure what was going on but that took way more time than it should haha

Thanks all!

 

[RejZoR]

Why people bother with complicated ways when you have super easy tools that do just that in few clicks?

https://rejzor.wordpress.com/2013/11/12/create-bootable-windows-usb-drives/

 

[brandonwh64]

Rufus works about the best. I use it on many versions of windows without issues.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I've had no problems with Rufus either.

1. Start Rufus
2. Point to location of downloaded ISO
3. If you intended to force UEFI install, make sure to select UEFI.
4. start format/copy
5. restart computer
6. set stick as boot device
7. restart computer

 

[Drone]

WinUSB Maker by ZOTAC is pretty good