Install Windows 7 from USB (Including Unattended Installs!)

As many who have installed windows 7 know, one of the greatest ways to take on this particular project is to install your OS via USB. Traditionally users were able to use the official tool to do this project which asks to select the installation disc/iso and continue from there.

                                                                                                            (hackforums.net)

After discovering how nice it was to install from USB I wanted to take the process a step further and create an unattended installation disc. After I created my unattended install disc I wanted to use the new .iso file to install from a USB. One of the neat things that Microsoft did when they created the official USB/DVD download tool was to make it so it only supports 1:1 images of an install disc, so any modified discs are flagged as "unsupported".

  

It turns out that the good people involved in the linux development community also didn't like this fact and chose to include Windows 7 install-to-USB capabilities in their own release called "Universal USB Installer". (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/)

Download the Universal USB Installer and run the executable (it is standalone so no need to install anything.)

Next you'll see a page similar to this: 

 

(pendrivelinux.com)

In step 1, where it asks you to "Select a Linux Distribution", click the drop down arrow and scroll towards the very bottom. You should find an option that says "Windows 7 Installer" underneath the subcategory called "Other or Non Linux Based Software".

 

*CAUTION* 

formatting the drive will erase all of its contents so make sure you backup any data on the drive.

Select "Windows 7 Installer" and continue through the steps, next choosing your .iso file, and selecting the appropriate USB drive letter you want to install to. When you choose your USB drive letter tell it to format the drive to FAT32. (Make sure you remember to back up the data on the drive first).

The beautiful thing about this is that in under 5 minutes you can have a USB drive ready to install your unattended install disc which means not only will it install blazing fast compared to using a DVD, but now you can initiate the install and walk away letting it take care of itself. 

Some great guides for creating unattended install discs are here:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-create-unattended-windows-7-installation-setup/