Installing Windows7 on an XP machine from usb stick

[Joe_Fox]

Ok, to all you IT people out there HELP!

I want to install Windows7 onto my laptop which currently has XP on it.
I want to completely overwrite XP.

What I have:

- 4GB usb stick
- Windows7 ISO (Completely blank and formatted to NTFS)
- Patience and willingness to learn

I've looked at loads of resources on the web but none have helped thus far.

What I want to achieve is to be able to boot from the USB stick and install Windows7 from that but I cannot for the life of me work it out.
I've read lots about partitioning the USB stick, but none of it is really helping me.

Can any of you help me out?

Cheers,
Joe_Fox

 

[SJN-Fox]

I think you would be far better putting the ISO on to a blank DVD and installing from there.

 

[spionfox]

I think you would be far better putting the ISO on to a blank DVD and installing from there.

That wouldn't work.

An ISO file is an image - it needs BURNING to a CVD/DVD rather than simply being copied over :icon_wink

Anyway Joe, I hope the ISO wasn't obtained from dubious sources!

 

[SJN-Fox]

That's what I meant ... create a Win7 install DVD from the ISO image.

Anyway, try here ... http://myeeeguides.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/winsetupfromusb-install-windows-xp-from-usb-flash-drive/

If it works for Vista, there's no reason really why it shouldn't work for Win7

 

[Biffa Bacon]

Unless there are specific windows programs you need to run why use windows 7, a version of Linux would probably work out simpler.

 

[spionfox]

That's what I meant ...

I'm sure it was, but someone not 'in the know' may have thought you meant simply to copy it across.

Anyway, I'm a pedantic argumentative ****er so it gave me an opportunity to reaffirm that :icon_bigg

 

[spionfox]

Unless there are specific windows programs you need to run why use windows 7, a version of Linux would probably work out simpler.

I'm a great fan of Linux, I use it most days, but to somebody who has only ever known Windows it can be a bit of a challenge if things aren't how they are used to them being.

 

[Durham Fox]

Joe - Download the trial of Flashboot then come back and see me

 

[Matt_B]

He may not have a cd drive

 

[FOX Franks]

He may not have a cd drive

Often the case with netbooks, i might add

 

[spionfox]

Often the case with netbooks, i might add

Surely *always* the case with Netbooks. (Unless of course he uses a plug-in external CD/DVD drive)

 

[bocadillo]

He may not have a cd drive

If he can access a network that has another computer with a cd drive, that won't be a problem.

 

[Matt_B]

If he can access a network that has another computer with a cd drive, that won't be a problem.

You can't install Windows from a network any way that I know of.

 

[Durham Fox]

You can't install Windows from a network any way that I know of.

You obviously don't know any of the multiple ways of installing windows from a network then

In any case hopefully Joe has got this sorted.

 

[bocadillo]

You can't install Windows from a network any way that I know of.

Sorry. I was forgetting that was the aim. Is there no way that the netbook could 'see' and 'use' another machines cd-drive in these circumstances?

 

[Durham Fox]

Sorry. I was forgetting that was the aim. Is there no way that the netbook could 'see' and 'use' another machines cd-drive in these circumstances?

Not really but he has an ISO so it's not really an issue. That's effectively a CD but without the need for a cd drive to make it work.

 

[Joe_Fox]

still struggling here. Got so far (starts installing, language settings etc) thanks to durham but it says drivers are missing. Where do i get the drivers from? And which ones do i need? Dell machine

 

[Durham Fox]

still struggling here. Got so far (starts installing, language settings etc) thanks to durham but it says drivers are missing. Where do i get the drivers from? And which ones do i need? Dell machine

Joe, seriously??

you told me it was dell latitude d630. It took me 13 seconds to find this:

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/uk/en/ukdhs1

Download the basic drivers like SATA, chipset, Network and VGA

 

[fludie]

still struggling here. Got so far (starts installing, language settings etc) thanks to durham but it says drivers are missing. Where do i get the drivers from? And which ones do i need? Dell machine

Windows 7 should install most of the drivers automatically.

If not just download driver genius and let it do the work for you, sometimes you get certain drivers which just won't install and will leave you with a yellow exclamation mark icon in device manager. Just google the hardware ID and you should be able to find the driver that way

 

[Durham Fox]

Windows 7 should install most of the drivers automatically.

If not just download driver genius and let it do the work for you, sometimes you get certain drivers which just won't install and will leave you with a yellow exclamation mark icon in device manager. Just google the hardware ID and you should be able to find the driver that way

Windows is asking for drivers pre-installation.