Windows 7 How to Install Windows 7 from a USB Drive

I think you forgot to mention how to create a Windows 7 bootable drive. Here is how you can make it. I found this method when I worked at O365CloudExperts
  1. Create an ISO file from the Windows 7 DVD. If you already know how to create ISO images, fantastic: do it, and then come back here for further instructions on what to do with it.
    Burning an ISO Image File (*.iso)

    If you've never created an ISO file from a disc before, check out the tutorial linked above. It'll walk you through installing some free software and then using it to create the ISO. An ISO image is a single file that perfectly represents a disc—in this case, your Windows 7 installation DVD.
    Next we're going to work on properly getting that Windows 7 ISO image you just created onto the flash drive.

  2. Download Microsoft's Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. Once downloaded, execute the file and follow the installation wizard.
    Install button for Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool Setup

    This free program from Microsoft, which works in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, will correctly format the USB drive and then copy the contents of your Windows 7 ISO file to the drive.
    Pick the en-US.exe download for the English edition of this tool.
  3. Start the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool program, which is probably located in your Start menu or on your Start screen, as well as on your Desktop.

  4. On the Step 1 of 4: Choose ISO file screen, click Browse.

  5. Locate and select your Windows 7 ISO file, and then click Open.
    Open button

    If you downloaded Windows 7 directly from Microsoft, check for the ISO image wherever you tend to store downloaded files. If you manually created an ISO file from your Windows 7 DVD in Step 1 above then it will be wherever you saved it to.
  6. Click Next once you're back on the Step 1 of 4 screen.

  7. Click USB device on the Step 2 of 4: Choose media type screen.
    USB device button in Choose media type
  8. On the Step 3 of 4: Insert USB device screen, choose the flash drive or external hard drive you want to put the Windows 7 installation files on.
    New Volume F drive in Windows 7 USB Download Tool

    If you haven't yet plugged in the flash drive or other device you're using, you can do that now. Just click the blue refresh button to make it show up in the list.
  9. Click the Begin copying button.

  10. Click Erase USB Device if you're prompted to do so on a Not Enough Free Space window. Then click Yes to the confirmation in the next window.
    Erase USB Device button in Windows 7 Download Tool

    If you don't see this it just means that the flash drive or external hard disk you've selected is already empty.
    Any data you have on this USB drive will be erased as part of this process.
  11. On Step 4 of 4: Creating bootable USB device, wait for the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool to format the USB drive and then copy the Windows 7 installation files to it from the ISO image you provided.
    Copying files status screen in the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool

    You'll see a Status of Formatting for several seconds, followed by Copying files. This part might take as long as 30 minutes, maybe even longer, depending on which edition of Windows 7 the ISO file you have is from, as well as on how fast your computer, USB drive, and USB connection is.
    The percentage complete indicator may sit on one or more percentages for a long time. This apparent pause does not mean anything is wrong.
  12. The next screen you see should say Bootable USB device created successfully, with a Status of Backup completed.
    Bootable USB device created successfully

    You can now close the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool program. The USB drive can now be used to install Windows 7.

  13. Boot from the USB device to start the Windows 7 setup process.
    BIOS setup utility boot options

    You might need to make changes to the boot order in BIOS if the Windows 7 setup process doesn't start when you try to boot from the USB drive. See How to Change the Boot Order in BIOS if you've never done that.
    If you still can't get the flash drive to boot, and you also have a UEFI based computer, see the last paragraph at the bottom of this page.
    If you arrived here from How to Clean Install Windows 7, you can now return to that tutorial and continue installing Windows 7. See How to Install Windows 7 if you weren't doing a clean install or you're not sure what kind of installation to do.
  14. You should have now installed Windows 7 by USB.
 
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