How to create a Bootable Windows 7 USB flash drive : If you don’t have a windows 7 installation disk or if it is damaged, you can create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 7 on your PC. The process to create a bootable windows 7 USB flash drive is fairly easy, however you will have to have or download a copy of windows 7 ISO file.
Fortunately Microsoft provides Windows 7 ISO images as free downloads to the public. You can download Windows 7 iso images from here and Once you have downloaded a Windows 7 ISO file, you can then follow the instructions provided below to create a Bootable windows 7 USB flash drive.
Instructions to create a Bootable Windows 7 USB Flash Drive
Download Rufus and run it with Administrator rights.
- Step 1: Select the USB drive.
- Step 2: Select “ Select MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI “ ( Note: If your PC has UEFI bios, select the other two options. )
- Step 3: Select NTFS for File system. ( Note: Select FAT32 if your PC UEFI bios. )
- Step 4: Select the default Cluster size.
- Step 5: Type in a name for the Bootable USB Flash Drive.
- Step 6: Make sure you select these three options under Format options.
- Quick Format
- Create a Bootable disk using.
- Create extended labels and icon files.
- Step 7: Select the dropdown menu next to Create a Bootable disk using and select ISO Image.
- Step 8: Select the Drive icon next to ISO Image and then select the Windows 10 ISO file.
- Step 9: Verify all the settings and then click on the Start button.
That’s it, now you’ll just have to wait for a couple minutes more and the Windows 10 Bootable USB Flash Drive should be ready for installing Windows 10 on your PC.
After a few minutes your Windows 7 Bootable USB flash drive will be ready for installation. Reboot your PC and set the bootable flash drive as a first boot priority in the bios settings. Save the bios settings and reboot once again to continue with the windows 7 installation process .
Note: You have to allow booting from USB devices in your BIOS settings in order to proceed further with the windows 7 installation .
do you have any idea on how to make bootable usb window 7/xp on ubunto os?
im using ubunto 11.10… i tried all other steps like using unetbootin etc…but it fail…there always an error… please do help me! THANKS
I have yet to be able to do this
disk creator or whatever… it’s in the dash if you look for it, I’d give you more detail, but i’m currently on my new gaming machine and don’t feel like booting up.. Though I have ubuntu 14.04.02 LTS (Trusty Tahr)
I know this is an extremely late reply, but hopefully it at least helps others 🙂
Thank you
Sudan
my pendrive will be bootable and the pendrive will be connected to pc and then these will not be working for pc
Rufus and the step by step above guide work great. In my case, now I have to find 4 drivers (including the ethernet network one), and figure out why everything in windows now looks large, as if I were in safemode. 🙁 I guess it had to do with the copy of w7 ISO. But as far as Rufus and the procedure explanation, they were right on. Real quick, and easy.
Just do the windows update. That fixes the problems
You have to get the ethernet drivers first.
I’m inclined to think it was probably the missing vga driver(s)…
Do I still need a product key?
i forgot my product key and need it for my windows 7 ultimate disk i downloaded because it says i only have 30 days of service without it . can you help me?
Click on the Start menu button, then to Computer tab. At the top click on System Properties, then at the bottom of that page under Windows Activation: it will say Windows is Activated. Then you do not need a key. if it tells you that you have a few days left to Activate, you will need a key.
You can use Microsoft’s Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. This is quick and easy.
Dear LoveGeek
Fantastic. Very simple and helpful. I created a bootable win7 usb and loaded on new Laptops which comes with Dos only. Thanks and keep help people.
how i allow booting from USB devices in your BIOS settings in order to proceed further with the windows 7 installation .
I got an error after this
Type: NTFS (0x07)
Size: 7.5 GB
Boot: No
Recognized: Yes
Hidden Sectors: 63
Partition type: MBR, NB Partitions: 1
The •Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium X64 English youve provided here doesnt have an ISO image, thus can not be recognized by Rufus. Therefore, I couldnt created a bootable USB.
Please help me
Follow his link to http://45.33.117.7/download-windows-7-iso-x86-x64-microsofts-official-servers/ for iso images.
Can you do this on a pc and then use it on a laptop for a clean install of Windows 7 Home Premium? Or do you need to download this and create the bootable flash drive from the laptop that it will be used on?
You can do it on any computer and use it on any other.
My usb will not allow me to write the bootable program
I have downloaded the Windows 7 ISO file to my USB drive because my laptop doesn’t have a DVD drive. However, when I go to restore factory setting and re-install windows, my laptop since it can’t find the file. Any thoughts?
Please check out the guide on creating a bootable windows 7 usb drive.
Great!
Rufus for the win! Its the only thing that worked for me when my computer wouldnt reconized my PSP as a usb drive and im a advanced computer user/repairer, Thank you very much
thaaaaaaaanks you are hero
thank you boss…..:)
if i follow these steps on my desktop PC, will i be a able to use it on my laptop?
Thanks To Admin he Was Providing Us A Awesome Tutorials.
still not try now
this Rufus is mistake story..NOT WORK…Win 7 from Microsoft and Rufus together work but,DON`T BOOT….setup stop work after copy files and don`t back to USB…but WinToFlast work good
and more…for what help you Rufus and you don`t try it ? more peoples lost time follow you instructions
how we can create bootable USB which contains Windows 7 & Windows 8 in one usb device
You can keep image files of both the windows in the USB .However the system can only boot from one Windows like windows 7 or windows 8 (Not Both at a time).You can keep the setup of any window alongside the extracted components of another window in a bootable Usb.
you can just search Windows 7 & Windows 8 AIO file then just burn it to dvd or using this Rufus Step, but you need a bigger USB
I’ve done everything correctly but when I install it says the drivers are missing? Where r they?
Cause you are trying to boot on usb3, put it in the usb2 plug…. common problem…
in case you r confuse, USB3 appear in blue on the inside 😛
THAT, sir, may be the most valuable information I have found on this already very helpful site. Thank you!
Mine failed don’t know why i was trying to copy windows 7 ultimate
it said image extraction failure
Me too, did you get any help with this?
me also… anyone getting around issue of “image extraction failure?”
format the usb drive first with windows format option then use rufus to make bootable usb drive worked for me after failed attempt 🙂
vista?
No i didn’t not on here but got help from Microsoft with their tool. Thanks for the reply!
Can I create the usb on one computer then use it on a different computer
I believe you can as long as you don’t try and install on said first computer.
I HAVE INSTALLED WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE ON MY DESKTOP , WHICH ONCE HAVING XP…SUPRISE TO ME IS THAT AFTER INSTALLATION ONLY RECYCLE BIN IS SHOWING UP ON DESKTOP. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM FOR SUCH BEHAVIOUR? AND WHAT SHOULD I DO TO SO THAT MY PC WOULD SHOW ALL ICONS?
Unplug you PC, put it in a cardboard box and take it to the dumpster. Then go and live alone in the jungle. Technology doesn’t suit you.
Hahhahahahhahhhaha
Go kill u`r self.
Are you serious or is it a joke? You have to backup your data before re-installing windows, otherwise you lose them…
thats os etiquette 101, friend.
oh oh, well you could throw it out the window, FYI first open window! you may have lost what you had on that hard drive, which in case, your SOL. have a nice day. BTW, the rest of you are mean, like this hasnt happen to most of us, we were all if not still are, an enduser! shame on you.
Thank you for this. Worked flawlessly so far.
It says 0 devices found.
Workers as a charm, make sure you start it as Admin!
Thaaanks! 🙂
Thanks! Works great. Much appreciated
thanks boss….. [email protected]
Do I need to use an empty usb flash drive for this? Or can I use my existing external hdd which is already half filled with other stuff.
Empty becouse if you use filled hdd u will lose your data
Thx!
does anyone know if you can boot windows from USB without installing it???
Install the windows on the USB…
works but when setup, says can’t find drivers
Same here, anyone find a solution?
thanks boss
Thanks it’s great ….
I am using ISO2Disc which works as better as Rufus.
i hope the person that integrated all the popup ads, target words/etc on this website dies in a fucking fire, this site is terrible
Adblock my friend, Adblock!
Adblock for google chrome.
what a fucking retard you are…
i have an iso file for win 7 that i downloaded but it comes up with an extraction error wile running rufus? do i need to fined another
Yes, it seems the problem lies with the ISO file you’ve downloaded. Download it from another source and try again. Alternatively you can also try the Windows USB / DVD download tool : https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool
They don’t offer it anymore.
Weldone it do a great job dont waste your time on other software
I downloaded 3 different iso file and when I try to make the bootable flash drive it says this file does not appear to be an ISO file but all three files have ISO extensions. I used UTorrent 3.4.2 to download the ISO files and followed the instructions exactly but it will not let me make a bootable flash drive. What can I do now?
Thanks for your information 🙂
thanks
when i insert usb just lode the files and windows logo appears then blank screen blink curssor. what do i am wrong?
Instead of messing with BIOS boot order options you can try holding F12 on power up which should bring up a Boot menu, select the USB drive there. Works on most Laptops / PC’s Ive used.
Hi Lovejeet,
Thank you for posting instruction for windows 7 installation disk. It’s very helpfully. I have a doubt and would like to have additional information on step 8 concerns to select the Windows 10 ISO file on drive icon next to ISO Image. When I click on drive iten to select windows 10 Iso File, I didn’t find any file Windows 10 Iso file to select. how can I proceed to select iso file on windows 10.
Thank you very much
No Product Key Needed?
Hi there,
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How can i install a window to a totally formatted pc?
My pc Got no OS yet and that’s my problem.
And also can i prepare this USB in someone’s Computer.
Does it change anything to that Pc
Did you check your instructions?! Titles says Windows 7 but content is about Windows 10.