Installing Windows from USB Storage Device

Introduction

This method is to show you how to create a bootable USB storage device for Windows installation. This method works for Windows Vista and Windows 7. You can choose to use an USB external hard disk or USB Flash drive.

Why would you want to install from a USB Storage Device?

A USB storage device can be faster than a CD or DVD. Read the Transfer Rate Test to understand how much faster can a USB Storage Device is compared to a DVD.

Optical drive have high tendency to fail after a year or two. If you do not want to buy a optical drive merely to install windows, this is a good alternative.

Will this work for USB Flash Drive?

Although the tutorial uses a USB Hard Disk, this method works for USB Flash Drive.

The Guide

Right click Computer, then click Manage.

Go to Disk Management. Right click the device you intend to use as a bootable storage device. Select Delete Volume.

Note: This will erase everything on that particular drive. Do not erase the wrong drive!

Click Yes to delete the volume.

Right click the delete volume. Click New Simple Volume.

Click Next >

Select the desired size. I have selected 5120MB so that i can use the remaining free space to keep other files. This is totally up to you, you can select according to the space used by the CD/DVD. You can use the whole maximum disk space if you like to. Then click Next >

Assign the following drive letter. Remember it. Click Next >

Click Next >

Click  Finish

Right click the New Volume, click Mark Partition as Active.

Now close the Computer Management.

Copy everything from the Windows DVD (E:) to the USB Storage Device. (G:)

Note: Your drive letter might be different.

Go to the desktop to create a new Shortcut

type in cmd and click Next

Click Finish

Right click the shortcut, click Run as administrator

Type the command depending on your drive letter, Windows DVD (E:) & USB Storage Device (G:)

Note: Your drive letter might be different.

Now you are ready to boot up the windows installation