lovingatx
asked on
windows 7 install
I bought the Windows 7 upgrade for my Vista machine. I chose the option to download compressed files rather than the iso. The upgrade went fine.
Several months later, my hard drive crashed. I have a new hard drive and need to install windows. I have the cd key for both vista and windows 7. I have the downloaded copy of windows 7 but it is not on a bootable cd. I do not have the recovery disk for vista.
Is there anyway to create a bootable cd that will install windows 7 from my media?
Several months later, my hard drive crashed. I have a new hard drive and need to install windows. I have the cd key for both vista and windows 7. I have the downloaded copy of windows 7 but it is not on a bootable cd. I do not have the recovery disk for vista.
Is there anyway to create a bootable cd that will install windows 7 from my media?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Thank You!
MS actually released a tool specifically for this it will let you take the ISO file that you downloaded and let you create a bootable DVD or USB stick. I made a few of the usb sticks one for 64bit and one for 32bit. It is a very easy process maybe 2 or 3 screens.
The install can be downloaded from here.
http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool
All you do is point it to your iso and follow the onscreen prompts.
Two issues I ran into that may save you some headache.
1. When making a DVD you need to install .NET framework and Image Mastering API. When you do this reboot the computer. I did not and I burned myself several coasters.
2. If you are going to try to make the bootable usb drive you will need to use a program to open the ISO file and copy the windows 7 version of bootsect.exe off of the CD. Copy it into the USB creation tool directory.
The install can be downloaded from here.
http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool
All you do is point it to your iso and follow the onscreen prompts.
Two issues I ran into that may save you some headache.
1. When making a DVD you need to install .NET framework and Image Mastering API. When you do this reboot the computer. I did not and I burned myself several coasters.
2. If you are going to try to make the bootable usb drive you will need to use a program to open the ISO file and copy the windows 7 version of bootsect.exe off of the CD. Copy it into the USB creation tool directory.
Look at this wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NLite_and_vLite