I know there are tons of tutorials that try to teach you how
to install windows using a USB drive but I am going to write another one. This
is because most of the tutorial are either too complicated or simply not work.
The method I am going to show you never failed on me before so I am sure it
will work for you as well.
Now you've poked around the web and have learned that there
is something called windows 8 consumer preview which got you all excited. When
you downloaded it, you're left with an ISO file that must be burned to a DVD
before you can actually install it. But you don’t have a DVD burner or you
burned the disk using your desktop but found out that your shiny new “ultra book”
simply don’t have a place that you can insert the disk. So there is nothing you
can do to try the fancy Metro interface. Or is there?
The good news is that you are not screwed. You can install
the ISO file from a USB drive. It will save you the trouble to burn a DVD, save
you the cost of a DVD disk, and last but not least, save you time during the
installation as well.
Material you’ll need:
Now we all set and let’s rock and roll
First you need to install the Windows 7 USB DVD Download
Tool by following the steps in the setup dialogs. If you don’t know how to do
this, you shouldn’t really mess up with your computer, just make a cup of tea
and ask you grandchildren to handle the rest.
Run the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool by click the Windows
7 USB DVD Download Tool icon on your desktop or run it from the start menu.
Click browse
Find you downloaded .ISO file
Double click the file and move to the next step and select USB devices
Select the device on which you want to write the ISO file then click begin copying
It will warn you that all data on the device will be deleted, if you are sure, click erase USB device.
Now you just sit back and wait for your USB windows installation drive to be ready. It will take around 10-20 minutes depends the write speed of your USB drive.
Installation of Windows.
Shut
down your computer. Plug in the USB drive and make sure your computer is set to
boot from USB drive.
The
easiest way would be if your computer gives you a choice to do a 'One Time Boot'
when you first turn on your computer before it starts to boot into Windows. It
should say some variation of ‘Press <F11> to load boot menu’ on the start-up
screen, the one with your computer vendor’s logo Unfortunately there is no
default key that will bring up this menu, it will be different on most
computers, so if there is nothing showed on your start-up screen, you may want
to contact the laptop manufacturer or consult the notebook manual for this
information. Google is always a good place to look as well.
If your computer has this capability, you may
skip direct to installation.
Turn
your computer on and enter into the BIOS. This is different depending on your
computer, but the most common key triggers to get you into the BIOS are 'delete',
'F2', 'F2', or 'F12.' The start-up screen should tell you how to enter setup;
if it does not, and none of the keys work, you may need to contact the laptop manufacturer
or consult the notebook manual for this information. Again, Google is a good
place to look as well.
In
most BIOS' you will see a tab that indicates 'Boot' 'Boot Sequence' or 'Boot Device
Priority'
Make
sure the first boot device is the USB drive. After saving this you may restart the
computer.
NOTE:
The USB drive must be plugged in before entering the BIOS to be able to choose
this option.
Now
restart your computer and start installing windows. If you
don’t know how to do this, please refer to this handy tutorial.
