Since the latest leaks are not bootable DVD media I thought this post stolen from MS Blogs would be of use Code: Or if you have a thumb drive that is big enough just put the files on there. All you have to do to prepare the thumb drive is this: Open the elevated command prompt with administrator privileges and type the following commands. C:\Windows\system32>diskpart Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7000 Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation. On computer: AVIRAJ DISKPART> list disk Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt -------- ------------- ------- ------- --- --- Disk 0 Online 149 GB 0 B Disk 1 Online 3834 MB 0 B DISKPART> select disk 1 Disk 1 is now the selected disk. DISKPART> clean DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk. DISKPART> create partition primary DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition. DISKPART> format fs=fat32 quick 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully formatted the volume. DISKPART> active DiskPart marked the current partition as active. DISKPART> exit Leaving DiskPart... C:\Windows\system32>exit Now, just copy the files located on Windows 7 DVD Media
sure it does. You just need to follow the instructions. I have done this with Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Server 2008 R2, Windows 7. If you don't follow the instructions it will not work. Specifically the part about marking the drive active so it can boot.
USB Flash Win7 Install All I did was buy a 8gb flash for $18 (on sale), open Win7 with PowerIso/MagicIso, copy the files onto the flash, plug it in and followed the on screen instructions. (of course installed over a previous Win7 partition) and everything worked perfectly in 20-25 minutes including MS registration using the previously issued free MS Key. No success at all with previous methods of burning slow, burning fast, booting w/disc, etc. Once my old Win7 was running I just plugged in the USB and installed. Less frustrating than burning DVD's that don't work. Hope that works for anyone else that needs an alternative to methods they're having problems with.
yeah I remember when 1 gig thumb drives for $30 was a good deal. Now you can get 8 gig thumb drives for $20. I was going to grab one the other day but since I am unemployed I decided it was not in my best interest.
Unfortunately diskpart will not recognize USB disks under XP so you will need to do this under Vista/Server 2008/7 systems. This is real simple though, the following is what you need to get it bootable; - Fat32 with Primary Partition - You need to make it Active - Update the bootsector to be BOOTMGR compatible Updating the bootsector via the "bootsect /nt60 x:" command (the bootsect utility is in a folder named "boot" on the win7 installation dvd) to switch from NTLDR to BOOTMGR is needed otherwise your PC boots back your startup partition's OS.