Install Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 using a USB Key

I have been installing Windows 7 (x86 and x64) or Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64) using a USB key. It is much faster than installing off a DVD. There are 2 options to creating the USB drive.

Option 1 | Microsoft’s Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

The tool is named a bit funny, but it basically let’s you copy an .ISO file to a USB drive (or burn to a DVD disk). The tool is available here.

For more information, you can visit the Microsoft Store.

 

Option 2 | Using DiskPart

If you don’t have Diskpart, you can download it here.

1. Launch the DiskPart utility by typing diskpart at the Start Menu.
2. Then run the list disk command to check the status of your drive.
3. Now run select disk 1 where the "1" is the corresponding number of your USB drive (hint: use the size column to match up your drives).
4. Run clean.
5. Once the drive is clean, you can run create partition primary.
6. Now make the partition active by entering active
   
7. Set up the file system as Fat32 by running format fs=fat32 quick.
8. Enter assign to give the USB drive a drive letter
9. Copy everything from a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 .ISO image or DVD media onto the USB drive.

 

Make sure your BIOS supports booting off a USB device.