Install Windows 7 64 bit and 32 bit from one USB stick?

[josh1980]

Is it possible to have a single USB stick that has both the 32 bit and 64 bit windows 7 installers? Right now I make a bootable USB stick when i need it from http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-in...working-guide/ .

What I envision is plugging in my USB thumbdrive and booting up the computer. A menu will appear with the options (32 bit or 64 bit). Then the installer for the appropriate selection will load(separate partitions perhaps?). My Windows 7 images are already "universal" (they can install starter, home basic, home premium, pro, and ultimate) by removing the ei.cfg file from the installation media.

Anyone ever done this before or know someone/somewhere that has directions?

Thanks in advance!

-Josh

[Johnny87au]

I do this with a copy of windows 7 I downloaded , comes with both 32 and 64 bit so I can choose ...

[Mats]

OMG that's the most tedious guide I've ever seen!

Use this instead, three clicks and your ISO is copied to USB memory and gets bootable.

I think it can also add more ISO's to the same USB memory, just what you asked for, since it has a menu from which you choose which ISO to use during boot.
I've never tried adding more ISO's so you have to read up on that.

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/1204...musb-with-gui/

Here's how to put all 32 and 64 bit versions in one ISO.

http://www.windowsvalley.com/create-...in-single-dvd/

[josh1980]

Mats,

Your links just might work! I'll give them a try and let everyone know what happens!

[dinos22]

i tried XP with this software Mat cant get it going, win2003server also same

[josh1980]

That might not be so good for me. I had decided earlier that I wanted to add XP and Server 2008 R2 to the mix...

[dinos22]

maybe im ing something up man lol

[Mats]

Just to clarify, I've used WinSetupFromUSB dozens of times, and it have never failed for me. I've never tried making a W7 AIO ISO, will try it after I get SP1.

i tried XP with this software Mat cant get it going, win2003server also same

That's strange, this is the only SW that actually works for me with anything XP, 2003, Vista, W7..

For single Windows ISO, quick format in Windows first, NTFS.
Then start WinSetupFromUSB and add the ISO you want.
No need to touch the MBR controls etc. for me anyway.
Make sure you pick the right choice during boot countdown.

I can also recommend Unetbootin for any Windows 6.x, but with 5.x it's more of a hit and miss. Maybe it got better, dunno.

Are you sure your USB memory works well with booting? Also, try format to FAT32 if NTFS fails, sometimes it makes a difference in Unetbootin + Windows 5.x, maybe in WinSetupFromUSB too.

Unlike MS official USB installer, both WinSetupFromUSB and Unetbootin works with modified ISO's (nlite, vlite...), and also works with Linux and other bootable ISO's.

I dunno if adding two ISO's with WinSetupFromUSB is a good idea, after reading the guide...

[FlawleZ]

I do this with a copy of windows 7 I downloaded , comes with both 32 and 64 bit so I can choose ...

Same here. I think Win 7 Ultimate ISO has this ability.

[Mats]

Same here. I think Win 7 Ultimate ISO has this ability.

Nope, the official ISO's are all the same, either all 32 bit versions, or all 64 bit versions. It's the /Sources/ei.cfg that tells which version you can install. If you remove it, you can choose between all 32 bit versions, OR all 64 bit versions, but never all of them.
That's what the guide I posted does.

Enterprise is not included.

[dinos22]

i cant attach ISOs but what i do is load it up with daemon tools and point to the OS drive

i will try your method now as i tried bootice and also tried that RMprepUSB thing and both failed

the USB stick is bootable, i use the same one for Win7 installs and it works ok

[dinos22]

well i feel like a flucking idiot now dont I

simple is usually best, isnt that what they say

it works with 2003 just installing the OS now with the USB stick thanks for the correction

Just to clarify, I've used WinSetupFromUSB dozens of times, and it have never failed for me. I've never tried making a W7 AIO ISO, will try it after I get SP1.


That's strange, this is the only SW that actually works for me with anything XP, 2003, Vista, W7..

For single Windows ISO, quick format in Windows first, NTFS.
Then start WinSetupFromUSB and add the ISO you want.
No need to touch the MBR controls etc. for me anyway.
Make sure you pick the right choice during boot countdown.

I can also recommend Unetbootin for any Windows 6.x, but with 5.x it's more of a hit and miss. Maybe it got better, dunno.

Are you sure your USB memory works well with booting? Also, try format to FAT32 if NTFS fails, sometimes it makes a difference in Unetbootin + Windows 5.x, maybe in WinSetupFromUSB too.

Unlike MS official USB installer, both WinSetupFromUSB and Unetbootin works with modified ISO's (nlite, vlite...), and also works with Linux and other bootable ISO's.

I dunno if adding two ISO's with WinSetupFromUSB is a good idea, after reading the guide...

[Johnny87au]

Dinos i use this guide, only 2 steps pretty much 2 clicks and your done..
http://www.addictivetips.com/windows...-simple-steps/

[Mats]

well i feel like a flucking idiot now dont I

simple is usually best, isnt that what they say

it works with 2003 just installing the OS now with the USB stick thanks for the correction

LOL, np, glad I could help!

[josh1980]

I just found a program called RMPrepUSB. I'm currently downloading the Windows 7 Automated Installation Kit to help combine WIM files. I'll let everyone know how it goes . It looks like RMPrepUSB will work with just about any version of windows from XP on up and virtually any linux OS with syslinux.

[Mats]

It looks like RMPrepUSB will work with just about any version of windows from XP on up and virtually any linux OS with syslinux.

Pretty much the same as WinSetupFromUSB I guess.

[josh1980]

So I've spent 2 days on this. I used this method to combine all of the Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 versions into 1 single WIM file. This allowed me to have a single 8GB stick to install all of the latest versions of Windows(the WIM file was only 5GB).

As for XP I had some difficulties. It got time consuming trying to set it up, and I finally gave up. The amount of time I will spend trying to get a working version with XP exceeds the amount of time I will spend reinstalling XP from a CD in the future. It was fun playing around with it though.

I've ordered a fast USB3.0 thumbdrive for this. USB 3 isn't very popular right now, but all of my computers at home have it.

[Mats]

This allowed me to have a single 8GB stick to install all of the latest versions of Windows(the WIM file was only 5GB).

So I guess you used SP1 versions? Otherwise you should have waited for it..

[josh1980]

I did use SP1 for all of them That's why I'm dealing with this now. I had DVDs of all of the non-SP versions. I figured when SP1 was available I'd make the jump to using USB. I'm curious if Microsoft will eventually switch to using a USB key for installation in the future. While I would love the idea, I don't think it will happen because the cost to manufacture a DVD is many times less than a USB stick.

[-=DouglasteR=-]

Saved me from going back to IDE Sata drive

[dinos22]

just thought id bump this thread, pretty nifty tool to use to get XP on USB drive so you can install XP from USB without too much of a hassle