Install Windows 7 with a USB key

The operating systems for several years now, sold on DVD. Windows 7, which will be released on 22 October this year is no exception. However, this medium is far from being the most efficient and may even be useless in the case of netBook, these low cost laptops which have no optical drive.

The USB key can be an attractive alternative for both the netBook for users of machines that will support in a medium more secure, more mobile and more quickly. So a simple method to install Windows 7 from a USB key.

Note: you need a key (or a memory card) 4 GB to carry out this operation, the installation files for Windows 7 in a space of about 3 GB.

Step 1: Prepare your USB drive under Vista

In the Windows Start menu, do "Run" then type CMD. Press OK.
In the new window, enter "Diskpart" and press Enter.
Then type the command "list disk" and click OK. If you have only one USB drive connected, only one entry should appear. Note the number at the beginning of the line.
Now enter "select disk X" where X is the number noted in the previous step. Press. OK.
The 'clean' will allow you to clean your key by removing all the partitions there. Enter it and press the Enter key.
You must now create a partition type "create partition primary" and complete validation.
Select the newly created partition with the command "select partition 1". Press. OK.
An important component of this preparation, we must make the active partition. Just type "active" and press Enter.
Format the partition by entering "format fs = ntfs quick 'then validating. You can change from fat32 to ntfs, the quick saving a few seconds by requesting a quick format.
Finally, assign a unit to your USB key by the simple command "assign". Press. OK. You can leave diskpart by typing "Exit" and pressing the Enter key. Your key is ready to host the system files of Windows 7.

Step 1a: Prepare your key in Windows XP
The utility is also diskpart under Windows XP, but does not support USB. It will need to activate your score differently. Begin by formatting your USB drive:

In your My Computer, select your key and select "Format ... » "From the context menu (right-click).
Check the quick format option, enter a name for your key (here, Seven) and start the procedure.
After a few seconds, the transaction ends and you can close this window.

We must now use a software to make your active partition. Here's how:

Download the utility MBRWIZ in our software. Note that there is a 32-bit version and a second for 64-bit system.
This software requires no installation. Simply place it in a directory easily accessible, such as the office.
In the Windows Start menu, are now "Run" then type CMD.
Again, go to the folder "Office" via the command "cd Desktop". Validez. OK. Enter now "mbrwiz / list". A list appears on your disks, including your USB drive. Locate well the number indicated after "Disk:" (1 in our case).
Enter the command "mbrwiz / disk = X / active = 1" where X is the number noted in the previous step. Confirm the operation and answer "Y" to the question that follows to make your active partition. Your key is ready to host the system files of Windows 7.

Step 2: Copy the source files

Prepared your key, it is now time to provide the source files for Windows 7. Either you have downloaded an ISO file from the Microsoft site, or you are in possession of a DVD of the latest Microsoft operating system. In the latter case, a simple copy and paste content from DVD to your USB drive is sufficient. In the case of an ISO image, here are the steps:

Download and install the software Winrar if you do not already have. Attention to the installation, do not forget to tick "ISO" when the software will propose you to associate various file types.
Put yourself in the directory where the image of Windows 7 and select the file in question.
Click the right button of the mouse on this file and select the "Extract ... » "In the menu.
Select by destination, your USB key with a name that should appear in the list (Seven, in our case).

The extraction of image files is done and then take some time, depending on the performance of your media in writing.

Step 3: Finalization and installation

There is still a step to make your USB key to install Windows 7 on your machine. Here's where:

Locate the letter corresponding to the unit of your USB key.
In the Windows Start menu, do "Run" then type CMD.
In this window, enter the following command:

X: \ boot \ bootsect / nt60 X:

where X is the letter of your USB key. Press OK. Note that the bootsect is dependent on the operating system version: if you want to install Windows 7 in 64 bits, you must run this command on a 64-bit operating system as well (Vista, XP or even Windows 7).

Your key is now ready! Before starting the installation of Windows 7, we recommend careful reading of our recent article: Windows 7, our advice to prepare the update. This will explain everything you need to know in terms of backup and update your operating system.