Installing Windows from a USB Key

This is a problem that many of you with Netbooks or laptops without an optical drive will likely run up against.  I know I have, many times… I’ve done some research and thought I would document a couple of the ways that I’ve been successful in getting this done.   This catch is that for Windows 7 and Vista there is a easy way to do this that doesn’t require any software; however, for Windows XP you need to jump through a little hoop and get yourself a utility.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista Method

This method is really straight forward.  It doesn’t require a utility and it certainly is FAST to do.  It does require that you’re a little bit comfy with techie stuff.  But not too much.  Here is the method.  From a machine that does have a CD-ROM / DVD drive, Insert your Windows install disk and the USB key.  Then complete the following steps.

1. Find Command Prompt in the programs list, right select Run as Administrator
2. Type DISKPART to enter into the Diskpart utility
3. Type RESCAN to identify the disks on your computer
4. Type LIST DISK to display a list all your disks
5. Look at the list and find the number of the disk that represents your USB key.  It should be easy to identify based on the size of storage for each drive.
6. Type SELECT DISK # (where # is what you found from the previous step for your USB key)
7. Type CLEAN
8. Type CREATE PART PRI
9. Type SELECT PART 1 (That’s a “One” at the end of that command)
10. Type FORMAT FS=NTFS QUICK to format the drive
11. Type ACTIVE to make the newly formatted partition on the drive active and available for use
12. Type EXIT to exit the utility and finally type EXIT again to exit the Command Prompt

The next step is super easy.  Simple OPEN the DVD on your computer (don’t run it) and Drag and Drop all the files from the DVD to the USB key.  It’s as easy as that!

Windows XP Method

Okay.  This to me is more challenging and a bigger pain in the A$$.  I couldn’t get the above method to work when installing Windows XP. 

Pause.  First of all.  If you’re reading this you should be asking yourself “Why am I installing Windows XP? Am I too cheap to purchase and upgrade to Windows 7? Am I stuck in an era of Lego block colored close buttons ? Really?”

If you’ve properly self reflected on this topic and you still need to do this.  Then this utility seems to work well.  It’s a super easy wizard based thing and worked perfectly for me the first time I used it.  I used it to install the base OS on my last Netbook before selling it (see… I properly self reflected and came to terms with this…)

Download WinToFlash

Note.  When you boot into the USB key for the first time you will see a bunch of boot options.  You need to run the them sequentially.  First run option One when installing Windows for the first time, then after the install process finished and you do your first reboot, selection option Two.  Finally do option Two a second time.  You should be finished after this.  This will allow windows to continue the boot process.  This is a little different than the install of Win7 / Vista or XP off of a CD, but it works.  This is what I meant by having to jump through a hoop!

Happy Installing…