How to Install Windows from a USB Flash Drive.

1. • The Flash Drive should have a decent read/write speed

     

      
   • The size of the drive should be at least 4GB

     
2. To prepare the USB Flash Drive, we need access to a computer running either Windows Vista™ or Windows 7™. Insert the Flash Drive in the computer and wait for the computer to recognize the drive.

   
3. Click START > All Programs > Accessories

   
4. Right click on Command Prompt and select “Run As Administrator”

   
5. In Command Prompt, type DISKPART

   
6. Type SELECT DISK 1 [ The Picture Shows 2 Because Of My Drive Allocations ]

   

    
7. Type CLEAN [ A successful clean will prompt the message “Diskpart succeeded in cleaning the disk” ]

   

    
8. Type CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

   
9. Type SELECT PARTITION 1

   
10. Type ACTIVE

    
    • By following the above step we have just created a USB Flash Drive capable of booting from the system BIOS.

      

      Copying The Installation Files

1. The next step is to copy the files from the Original Windows Vista™ / Windows 7™ disc. Before we copy the content of the disc to the Flash Drive, we have to make sure that the drive is ready to accept files. In the same Command Prompt that we have used in the previous step, type the following commands

   • Type FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK [ When it reaches 100% you are ready to move to the next step ]

     

      
   • Type ASSIGN

     
   • Type EXIT to get out of DISKPART Command Utility

     
2. Now your Flash Drive is ready for the files. Insert your Windows disc into your drive. In my case, my Disc Drive is I: drive and my FLASH Drive is J:

   
3. Type XCOPY I:\*.* /S/E/F J:\ [ This Command needs to be typed in the same Command Prompt that we have left open after Diskpart.

   
   • If your Drive letters are correct, after several minutes you will get a message saying the numbers of files successfully copied to your FLASH DRIVE

     Warning

     • Please make sure that no other external or internal hard drives or flash drives are attached to the computer while performing these steps. Only the FLASH DRIVE should be attached to the computer. Failure to do so might result in DATA LOSS in other drives while performing the DISKPART commands

     Things you will need for the procedure

     • A Computer With DVD Drive Running Windows Vista Or Windows Seven
     • A Flash Drive with 4GB Capacity
     • The OS Installation disk you want copied onto your Flash Drive

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