[Lancez]

Recently, i hav download Windows 7 beta to try it out. The problem is, i don't have dvd burner to burn a Windows 7 dvd. All i have is just a 4gb thumb drive.
In thins guide, i'll show you how to create a bootable usb device to install Windows..................

What you need:

1) a usb device which has enough capacity to hold all of the Windows setup file,
2) "bootsect.exe" file (which can b obtain from windows installaton file in the folder "boot").
3) motherboard wit hthe capability of booting from usb.

In this guide, i uses a 4gb Kingmax thumb drive & also Windows 7 build 7000 installation files.

NOTE: DO THIS IN ADMINISTRATOR PRIVILEGE

Steps:

1) plug in your ubs device & do a clean format to NTFS format. (try this guide on how to format ur removable drive to NTFS)

2) goto start > run, enter cmd. a command prompt should pop up. otherwise, just go to start > all programs > Accesories > command prompt.

3) in the command prompt, type "diskpart" & enter to go in DISKPART.

4) enter "list volume", this will list out all the partition & drive including removable drives.

5) now select your removable drive by entering "select volume 5". (replace 5 with your romovable drive volume).
a message will be shown saying "Volume 5 is the selected volume."

6) enter "active". a message will be prompt, "Volume 5 is the selected volume."

7) now, you can exit DISKPART by entering "exit".

after you keave the diskpart, enter E:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 G:". (replace E with the location of the "bootsect.exe" and replace G with the letter of your removable drive. In this guide, i kept the "bootsect.exe" in E > boot.
A message will be shown indicating the bootcode was successfully updated on your selected volume.
Here is an example from step 3 - 8:



9) now, you can copy all the windows installation file into your usb device, restart your computer & install your OS. (remember to set 1st boot device to usb).

All the example screenshot in this guide is done under Windows 7.
Originally, i did it using Windows Vista & successfully install Windows 7 using this method.
The "copying files" process during installation was very fast, i'll say 3 minutes+ (not more den 5) on my rig.

Note:

1) So far, i have proven it work with Windows 7 installation & also i'm able to boot in Vista setup (cancel it coz i just wanna test it out).
2) i have not test it wit xp installation, perhaps somebody can try it out & tell me as well...........
3) you will get an error on "active" command if you use this guide under windows xp. A sollution suggest, instead of using the keyword "volume", use "disk" (i have not tested this yet).
4) from what i experience, this guide will only works once. If you wish to use the same usb device to install on another rig, you have to to repeat all the steps.
5) i encounter failure to boot sometime, i just repeat the process & try to boot again.
6) if u hav problem executing the "X:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 X:" command, please make sure u hav administrator privilege. If problem still persist, try to force it by entering "X:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 X: /force"

update:
microsoft has release a Windows 7 USB/DVD which allow user to easily create a bootable DVD/USB device.

u just need:
1) USB device which hav enough capacity (4GB min of coz)
2) the iso file

instruction:
1) download the tool here, http://images2.store.microsoft.com/prod/cl...SB-DVD-tool.exe
2) install & run, just follow the on screen instructions, even idiots can screw this up.
3) further FAQ & troubleshooting, see here, http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool

I tested it myself, works like charm!

[k0ffle]

Please state on the requirements wether or not u need a previous version of windows to install. I was looking for a way on a linux box, this got me excited... but it ends up not working =/

[CaptainFantastic]

Hey the links don't work. Try decreasing the text size too, easier to read.

[mhurricane]

Originally Posted by k0ffle

Please state on the requirements wether or not u need a previous version of windows to install. I was looking for a way on a linux box, this got me excited... but it ends up not working =/

I don't see why it wouldn't work. As long as you format the USB fine then you should be able to boot from it when you start your computer BEFORE any OS loads.