How to Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7 and Windows 8!

1. Connect the USB flash drive.
2. Open an elevated command prompt in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

3. In the elevated command prompt, type the commands below one at a time and press Enter after each one. (see screenshot below step 5)
.diskpart
.list disk
4. Make note of the Disk # (ex: Disk 4) for the USB flash drive. (see screenshot below step 5)

WARNING: It is critical that you use the correct disk #. If you do not, then you could delete the wrong drive below and lose everything on it.)


5. In the elevated command prompt, type the commands below one at a time and press Enter after each one. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Substitute # in the first command with the actual disk # from step 4 above. For example: select disk 4
select disk #
clean
create partition primary
format fs=fat32 quick
active
assign
list volume
exit

6. Make note of the volume letter (ex: K) for the USB flash drive in the command prompt. (see screenshot above)

7. Do step 8, 9, or 10 below depending on if you are using a Windows 7/8 ISO or DVD.


8. If Using a Windows 7 or Windows 8 ISO File in Windows 8
NOTE: For a Windows 7 ISO or Windows 8 ISO file.


A) Open File Explorer, navigate to the .iso file, right click or press and hold on the .iso file, then click/tap on Mount. (see screenshot below)

B) The mounted .iso file will now automatically open. Select all files in it, right click or press and hold on the selected files, click/tap on Send to and the Removable Disk for your USB flash drive letter (ex: K) from step 6 above. (see screenshot below)

C) This could take a bit to copy the ISO contents to the USB.

D) When finished, go to step 11 below.


9. If Using a Windows 7 or Windows 8 ISO File in Windows 7
NOTE: For a Windows 7 ISO or Windows 8 ISO file.

A) If you have not already, you will need to download and install 7-Zip.
NOTE: You can use any program that performs the same function to extract or mount an ISO, but I just find 7-Zip easier to use.

B) Open Windows Explorer, navigate to the .iso file, right click on the .iso file, then click on 7-Zip and Extract files. (see screenshot below)

C) In the Extract dialog, click on the browse button, select the Removable Disk for your USB flash drive letter (ex: K) from step 6 above, and click on OK, and OK. (see screenshots below)

D) This could take a bit to copy the ISO contents to the USB.

E) When finished, go to step 11 below.

10. If Using a Windows 7 or Windows 8 Installation DVD

A) Insert the Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation DVD into the CD/DVD drive.

B) In the Computer window, open the DVD. (see screenshot below)

C) Select all files in it, right click or press and hold on the selected files, click/tap on Send to and the Removable Disk for your USB flash drive letter (ex: K) from step 6 above. (see screenshot below)

D) This could take a bit to copy the DVD contents to the USB.

E) When finished, go to step 11 below.

11. If Using 64-bit Windows 7 

A) On the USB flash drive, "copy" the efi\microsoft\boot folder up one level into the efi folder as efi\boot. (see screenshot below)

B) If you have not already, download and install the free program 7-Zip, then run 7-Zip. 

C) In 7-Zip, navigate to the sources\install.wim\1\Windows\Boot\EFI\bootmgfw.efi on the USB flash drive, select the bootmgfw.efi file, copy it to your desktop, click/tap on OK, and close 7-Zip. (see screenshot below)

D) Rename the bootmgfw.efi file on your desktop to bootx64.efi.

E) Copy/Move the renamed bootx64.efi file into the efi/boot folder (step 11A) on the USB flash drive.

F) Go to step 12 below.

12. You are now ready to do a clean install of Windows 7 or Windows 8 for UEFI with your bootable UEFI USB flash drive.

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