Using The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
[ This article is posted at ElMajdal.Net website : http://elmajdal.net/Win7/Using_The_Windows_7_USB_DVD_Download_Tool.aspx ]
Another article for Windows 7 was about Installing Windows 7 From a USB Stick, which showed you how to install Windows 7 from a USB drive instead of wasting DVDs. Well, with the world wide release of Windows 7 on the 22nd of October 2009, the Microsoft Store released a new tool and it is called Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool. This tool allows you to create a copy of your Windows 7 ISO file on a USB flash drive or a DVD disc. Also, tool available as Codeplex project
Note:
The current version of this tool is : 1.0.24.0
System Requirements
- Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster (300 MHz is recommended)
- 50MB of free space on your hard drive
- DVD-R drive or 4GB removable USB flash drive
Once you have purchase Windows 7 from Microsoft Store and have downloaded the Windows 7 ISO file to your hard drive, follow the below steps:
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Click here to download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool and save it to your desktop
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Double-click on the executable file you just downloaded, when prompted to allow running the the file or not, click Run
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The executable will be installing few component (Image Master API v2 for Windows XP and Windows 2003 (KB932716-v2) ) on your machine, click Install
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The required components will be downloaded
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and then will be installed
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Once installation is done, you will be requested to reboot your machine, click**Yes
**
Clicking the Details >> button will inform you with the following:*Component Image Master API v2 for Windows XP and Windows 2003 (KB932716-v2) requires a reboot before setup can continue.
The following components were successfully installed but a reboot is required:
- Image Master API v2 for Windows XP and Windows 2003 (KB932716-v2)*
Once your computer boots up and you logon to your user account, the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool Setup will automatically start. Click Next
Accept the terms in the license agreement and then click Next
Finally, the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool is ready to be installed. Click Install
Once setup is completed, click Finish
On your desktop, a new shortcut will be created. Double-click it to launch the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool
Here we go with our new tool. From its graphical user interface, we will instantly know that there are four steps required to complete this tool and prepare our USB drive with Windows 7. Step number one is choosing the ISO file. Click the Browse button.
Browse to the path where you have stored your Windows 7 ISO file and click Open
Now that the ISO file is selected, click Next to go to step two
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In Step two, we will need to decide whether we need to copy the Windows 7 installation files to a DVD disc or a USB stick. Click your choice. In this article we will be creating Windows 7 Installation files on a USB stick, so click USB device
In Step three, if you have not yet attached your USB stick, then plug it to your machine and then click the refresh button http://elmajdal.net/Win7/Using_The_Windows_7_USB_DVD_Download_Tool/7-step%20three-refresh%20button.PNG
The plugged-in USB drive will be displayed, click **Begin copying
Note:** You need a USB device that is at least 4GB.
http://elmajdal.net/Win7/Using_The_Windows_7_USB_DVD_Download_Tool/7-step%20three-usb%20selected.PNG
Step four will begin, which will be creating our USB device with Windows 7 installation files. First it will begin with formatting the USB device
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Then will be copying Windows 7 setup files to the USB device
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Finally, creating the USB device will be completed, click the X button to close the tool.
If you open My Computer, you will notice that your USB drive icon is now different and it looks like as if it were a DVD drive, with Windows 7 Installation files inside it
Double-click on the USB device to open it, and then double-click setup.exe to run Windows 7 Installation
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Click Install now and follow the wizard to upgrade to Windows 7. If you want, check my other articles which cover the steps of upgrading to Windows 7.
For FAQ and Troubleshooting see Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
**Summary
**The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool is a great tool. It creates a DVD or USB device, loaded with Windows 7 setup files, for you in seconds. This is a great tool for people who have Netbook which comes without CD/DVD drive. People who have NetBook are now able to upgrade to Windows 7 by using a USB stick prepared with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool. Then they can directly start the Windows 7 installation by double clicking on the setup.exe from inside the USB device.