01-24-2009, 12:46 AM
I've finally completed our video tutorial on how to install Windows Vista (and Windows 7) from a USB flash drive (aka thumbdrive)!
What this tutorial shows you is how to specially prepare a 4GB USB flash drive to boot the windows installer from it, and how to copy all of the Windows installation files from the DVD to the USB drive.
Why install Vista / 7 from a flash drive?
1. Dramatically increased installation speed - Windows Vista and Windows 7 will typically install 30% - 60% FASTER using this method versus installing from the DVD disc. The reason for this is that flash memory is MUCH faster than reading from a spinning optical disc.
2. Portability and reliability - No more carrying a Windows install DVD around! Today's USB flash drives are really tiny and fit in any pocket, on any keychain, and lots of other places where a DVD would get scratched, broken, or just wouldn't fit. Plus you no longer have to worry about your Windows DVD being scratched and having the dreaded disc read error.
It's a win-win situation!
So without further adeu, here is my video tutorial. It's about 40 minutes in length but it's been seperated into five Youtube friendly portions.
Video is 720P high-def and portions were recorded both with FRAPS and with my Panasonic Lumix FZ28 camera.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tUCR3T8jAY"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer 1/3[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi0oMGsJ08I"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer 2/3[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuglpqYWRok"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer 3/3[/ame]
Supplemental short video explaining why we need to use DISKPART to prepare the USB drive, as well as an observation on different BIOS way of booting to a USB drive:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FEPLFTkmWw"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer - Supplemental[/ame]
What this tutorial shows you is how to specially prepare a 4GB USB flash drive to boot the windows installer from it, and how to copy all of the Windows installation files from the DVD to the USB drive.
Why install Vista / 7 from a flash drive?
1. Dramatically increased installation speed - Windows Vista and Windows 7 will typically install 30% - 60% FASTER using this method versus installing from the DVD disc. The reason for this is that flash memory is MUCH faster than reading from a spinning optical disc.
2. Portability and reliability - No more carrying a Windows install DVD around! Today's USB flash drives are really tiny and fit in any pocket, on any keychain, and lots of other places where a DVD would get scratched, broken, or just wouldn't fit. Plus you no longer have to worry about your Windows DVD being scratched and having the dreaded disc read error.
It's a win-win situation!
So without further adeu, here is my video tutorial. It's about 40 minutes in length but it's been seperated into five Youtube friendly portions.
Video is 720P high-def and portions were recorded both with FRAPS and with my Panasonic Lumix FZ28 camera.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tUCR3T8jAY"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer 1/3[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi0oMGsJ08I"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer 2/3[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuglpqYWRok"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer 3/3[/ame]
Supplemental short video explaining why we need to use DISKPART to prepare the USB drive, as well as an observation on different BIOS way of booting to a USB drive:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FEPLFTkmWw"]YouTube- HowTo - Make a thumb drive into a portable Windows Vista or Windows 7 installer - Supplemental[/ame]