Install Win 7 From Flash Drive

[clocker]

I've been anticipating a semi-disruptive hardware change to Sprocket for a while now and Good Do Bee that I am, preparations have begun.

I use my C: drive as OS only, all data is stored on separate (both internal and external) drives, so a wipe and reload is relatively painless- install OS and reload programs ( and not many of those).

I have a fairly good collection of program/driver executables and Windows 7 has been amazingly capable installing it's own drivers during setup (it's rare not to be internet ready after a fresh install), so post-install is pretty much trivial as well.

Many of my commonly used apps (like uTorrent and Chrome) are so frequently updated that I typically prefer to download the newest copies, but I do have backups if necessary.
Speaking of Chrome, Google Chrome Backup (http://www.parhelia-tools.com/products/gcb/googlechrome.aspx) is a handy free app that will backup and restore your Chrome install- favorites, themes, extensions, cookies, etc.- much like MozBackup does for Firefox.
I make a fresh backup about once a week.
After a fresh install, DL/install the newest Chrome and then run the backup tool, point it at your latest backup and let it do it's thing (about 15 sec. worth).
Hark and voila!, it's just like it always was...logins, favorites, passwords, all saved.

Microsoft has made a free tool available- get it here (http://www.intowindows.com/download-windows-7-usbdvd-download-tool-from-microsoft/)- that makes creating a bootable flash drive with Windows ridiculously simple (especially compared to the command line method of yore).

You'll need to have an .ISO image of the OS copied to your harddrive, a flash drive (min. of 4GB) and the tool.
Point the app at the image, tell it where the flash is and a few minutes later you have a bootable stick. Seriously, like three clicks.
Technology, Fuck Yeah!

Before using the new flash install, there are two more things to do.
- Turn off the machine and unplug every storage device except the harddrive you'll be installing on. All optical drives and all other hard drives- unplugged.
You want the options for the installer cut to the bone- only one place to look for data and one place to put it.

- Go into BIOS and make sure you can set a USB device into the boot order.

That's about it.

Insert the flash drive, restart the PC and it will jump right into the install process.

On a 30GB Vertex2 SSD, the entire install takes 10 minutes from start to desktop and the internet.
(I did this six times, on two different SSDs, with the same results)
I thought this was bloody excellent.

Another handy post install tool (free) is Ninite (http://ninite.com/).
You choose from groups of apps (browsers, media and the like) and it bundles them into a single executable.
Just go to the webpage and look, it's simple to grasp and use and will save some time.

I spend so much time with XP machines that this sort of software use is a real luxury.

[mjmacky]

On a 30GB Vertex2 SSD, the entire install takes 10 minutes from start to desktop and the internet.
(I did this six times, on two different SSDs, with the same results)
For comparison purposes, and I imagine you've installed this way as well, how long did it take to you to install and get to desktop using Win7 DVD onto an SSD?
I can't remember how long it took to go from DVD Install to HD, but I'm guessing like 30 to 45 minutes.

[clocker]

Given that I actually timed the six installs yesterday, I'd hate to sully the scientific integrity of my findings with mere guesswork.
"Mission creep" has set in and to be relevant, I'd really need to execute another set of tests.

Install to SSD from DVD.
Install to a regular mechanical drive with both DVD and flash.

Which kinda seems like work to me.

IIRC, an install to the SSD from disk would take about 15 minutes, maybe a tad longer.
So I'd estimate the flash install reduces the process by about 5 or 6 minutes, or 33%.
If you've performed multiple Win7 installs, you'll be familiar with two points that seem to take a lot of time.
The first comes right at the beginning as Windows "expands files"- it sits for quite a while on 0% before finally moving.
The second comes after the reboot as Windows searches for and installs a video driver (you can tell because the screen goes black and returns with adjusted resolution).

Both of these points go much more quickly with the flash drive...I assume because of the intensive disk seek required from an optical drive compared to the near instantaneous seek of the flash memory.

No matter the time saving, a flash install is so easy I'd recommend it to anyone- if only for the fun of it.

Also note the eerie silence during the process.
With a solid state drive and no optical, there're no moving parts involved so all you'll hear are fans.

[Appzalien]

Thanks Clocker, this will come in handy if I ever open my Win 7 Home Premium family pack. I think I'll wait until SP2 or 3 or 4, what ever. Do you think it would also work with Vista since they are sort of cousins?

[clocker]

It works on XP- assuming the pc's BIOS will allow booting from a USB device- so I assume it works for Vista (but I haven't tried).

[Disme]

Thiscould come in very handy ... no more messing around with scratched-DVD's, and with the prices of flashdrives this is a piece of cake!

[anon]

I want same working on windows XP.

clocker said this works on XP some posts above.

This is a pretty nice method, note Windows should take less time to install from a flashdrive, since USB speeds are higher and the seek time is near-zero when compared to an optical drive. Sadly my desktop PC is pretty old and doesn't support booting from USB devices. Well, it's not like I reinstall Windows regularly anyway. :idunno:

[diamondzul]

just go google and search Install Win 7 From Flash Drive tutorial it's better guide to u

[thomastom682]

Nice post and topic but i have also search this topic.

[Artemis]

I have installed Win7 using a flashdrive on netbooks as well as more than one laptop with a dicey optical drive, and as clocker says it is a far quicker process. Admittedly though I have only installed to mechanical drives not an SSD yet, but I have one flash drive preformatted and simply copy over the 32bit or 64bit version depending on which I am installing.

[clocker]

As I've slogged through the summer doldrums, it's been possible to experiment with this flash install on a wider variety of machines- all of which were lesser spec than mine.

It IS possible to flash drive an XP install but only in rare cases.
Most OEM PCs of the XP era simply won't allow booting from a USB device, even when the target HDD and the flash drive are the only devices present.
I disconnect all drives- including optical(s)- not the target of the install. It makes life simpler and subjectively, faster.
Homebuilt machines with higher end motherboards are usually able to boot from USB but can be cranky about nuances during the process.

For example, one PC I tried required that the flash be designated a USB-CD in order to boot and begin the install but then switched in BIOS to USB-HDD during the reboot sequence.
(Otherwise it just cycled through the "loading files" section endlessly).
Basically, older BIOS are just too dumb to know what do with a flash drive
And forget about machines that aren't even USB 2.0 capable.

My hatred of Vista is now so intense that I haven't even tried it on a client yet.
As it is now a large proportion of our intake, I'll probably have to relent soon.

USB install of Win 7- on a new machine, not some jumped up XP survivor- is definitely the way to go.

[Appzalien]

I want same working on windows XP.

clocker said this works on XP some posts above.

This is a pretty nice method, note Windows should take less time to install from a flashdrive, since USB speeds are higher and the seek time is near-zero when compared to an optical drive. Sadly my desktop PC is pretty old and doesn't support booting from USB devices. Well, it's not like I reinstall Windows regularly anyway. :idunno:

On older PC's you can do what I do. When I first install the OS and before I install too much stuff, I install my Acronis program and make a .tib file of the install (on a secondary drive is best). If I leave out say video card and sound card drivers, I can us the image even if I change cards. Restoring the image (to the machine it was made from) takes about 15 to 20 minutes depending on how much stuff you choose to install. 7Zip doesn't take up too much room and comes in handy when loading the rest of your stuff that might be compressed so I usually put that in the image as well. If you leave out motherboard drivers it will be a slow running PC at first until you install them from your disk, but will allow you to use the image with a new board with out too much trouble as well.