Installing the OS with a disk drive is quite simple. However, when it is required to do so USB help- drive, many users have problems. In fact, such a procedure is very simple, and anyone can handle it.
What do we need
In order to install Windows Vista distribution is required. It can be downloaded on the official website or on third-party resources. Commercial sales have been discontinued.
Although Vista is a relatively outdated OS, some users are interested in its minimum requirements.
They are:
- processor with a clock frequency of at least 900 MHz;
- RAM - at least 1 GB;
- free disk space- 15 GB;
- availability of Internet access (for further registration).
Preparing a bootable flash drive
Surely, inexperienced users may think that it will be enough just to throw the distribution kit on a disk and that's it. In fact, in order for the OS installation to start, some manipulations will be required.
UltraISO Utility
After downloading the distribution kit, you need to write it to a USB flash drive in a certain way. An easy and easy-to-manage UltraISO utility will help us with this.
Photo: UltraISO - a utility for working with disco images
Important! Previous versions of the OS, for example, XP, this program will not be able to record correctly.
To do simple USB bootable flash drive, do the following:
- download the UltraISO application. You can do this on the official website. It is distributed completely free of charge;
- open the program, and always with administrator rights;
- click on the "file" tab;
- then in the list that appears, select "open";
- open the image we need on the hard drive;
- click "open";
- as a result, the image will open, that is, all the files contained in it;
- after opening, you need to write to a USB flash drive. To do this, select the "Boot" item in the main menu;
- in it we select the recording of the image from the hard drive;
- a panel will open in which we select the recording method "USB-HDD". This measure is necessary in order for the system to correctly identify the device to launch. Only then will it be able to correctly interpret the data;
- the line Disk Drive indicates the name of the future flash drive;
Important! If you have multiple USB devices inserted, check this item.
- then press the "record" button. An informational message will appear stating that this operation will delete all files from the drive. We confirm;
- waiting for the recording to complete.
Video: Installing Windows Vista
Command line
If you do not want to litter your computer with unnecessary software, you can create a bootable drive through the command line. Press "Win + R". The Run application will open.
- DISKPART- indicates the launch of the command interpreter;
- list disk— display of active drives;
- select disk x (x is the disk number)— selection of a specific drive;
- clean— disk formatting;
- create partition primary- creating a section;
- select partition X (x - number)- choice;
- active— section activation;
- format fs=NTFS- erasing all files from the drive
- exit— completion of the process.
Photo: Manage hard drives with Diskpart
You must enter them in the same order.
Installing Windows Vista from a flash drive via BIOS
Having prepared everything you need, you can proceed to the main front of work.
BIOS Boot Priority
To start installing Windows Vista from a USB flash drive to a laptop, you must set a specific boot order.
To enter this menu, immediately after starting the computer, click on any system button. Most likely, the name of the key will appear in the message on the screen.
If it does not appear, you can try the following options:
- enter;
- backspace.
Entering this menu, you need to find the Boot section. In it you will see a list various devices, with a numerical designation. They indicate the order of loading.
Photo: approximate order
You need to make sure that the USB-HDD is in the first place (depending on the version motherboard name may vary). To change the order, use the F5 and F6 keys (or "-" and "+"). At the end, be sure to select the "save and exit" option.
Installation process
We reboot the laptop. If everything is done correctly in the previous paragraphs, a system message will appear asking you to press any key.
Photo: such a message should appear
So, we do the following:
- First, a window will open allowing you to select a language for further work. In addition to it, you can define the time format and keyboard layout;
- select the "install" button;
Photo: click on a single button
Please note: there is a "system restore" item here. In case of problems with the OS, this tool will allow you to fix everything.
- then an input window will appear serial number. It can be found on the bottom of the laptop. If not, you can skip this paragraph, but it is likely that this will lead to errors. This measure is needed so that the system can determine which version should be installed;
- after entering the key, press the "next" button. Will open license agreement. We read (optionally, of course) and click again "next";
- A window will appear asking you to select the type of installation. Click on "full". Now you need to select the partition in which you want to install the OS. By the way, at this stage, you can edit existing hard drives. In particular, you can separate, delete or format them;
Tip: It's best to format all drives. This will get rid of all sorts of problems (especially viruses).
- if it is planned to install a second OS, then it is strictly forbidden to unpack it into an existing system partition;
- Having dealt with the sections, click next. This will launch the installer.
Now you only need to wait a while (about half an hour). The system will do everything automatically.
presetting
After unpacking and copying the files, you will need to do a little system setup.
OS drivers
The main scope of work has been completed, but no less time-consuming task remains - the search for drivers. Where can you get them? The ideal option would be to have a special factory disk (it is usually given when buying a laptop). But what to do if it is not there? There may be several options:
We use the official site:
- we go to the official Internet resource of the manufacturer.
- then in the search box we drive in the identification code of the laptop. It is written on its bottom and consists of 12-16 digits.
Tip: if you just enter a laptop model, there is a chance that the new software will not work. The fact is that in many stores they like to modify the “insides” of PCs and laptops.
- click search;
- as a result, a set of necessary drivers should appear;
- download it and install it.
However, this method is not always possible to use. Identification code may be erased, or the manufacturer may be too unknown. In this case, you will have to look for drivers manually.
We do it like this:
- click "my computer" and call context menu;
- in the window that appears, click on "Device Manager";
- a list of all equipment will open. Here you need to select each device in turn and write out its identification code;
- To do this, call the context menu on desired device and select "Properties". Next, go to the "Information" tab. It will present the ID;
- copy this set of letters and numbers to the search engine. As a result, he will give the necessary information.
If you don't want to use this method, you can make things a little easier. In particular, you will need to download some bootloader (for example, X-Driver). This is a utility that diagnoses a computer and downloads and installs itself. required drivers latest version. The only problem might be to find a working version.
Important! Such software actively cooperates with the developers of virus toolbars. Therefore, when installing, do not forget to uncheck unnecessary checkboxes.
To use the above software, you need a fast and stable Internet connection. If it is missing, you can download the driver package. They will be packed in a single archive. You will need to run autorun and follow the instructions. Remember that such a package weighs quite a lot (on average from 1 to 10 GB or more).
As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this. If you strictly follow all the instructions, you can easily achieve the desired result. Don't forget to get it right away good antivirus(NOD or AVAST). The fact is that Vista is considered the most vulnerable to malicious files.
Since almost no one uses CDs and DVDs anymore, it makes sense that Windows image for further installation, it is best to write to a USB drive. This approach is indeed much more convenient, because the flash drive itself is much smaller and it is very convenient to store it in your pocket. Therefore, we will analyze all the most workable methods creating bootable media for further installation of Windows.
For reference: creating bootable media implies that an image is written to it operating system. From this drive itself, the OS is installed on the computer in the future. Previously, during the reinstallation of the system, we inserted a disk into the computer and installed it from it. Now you can use a regular USB drive for this.
To do this, you can use proprietary Microsoft software, the already installed operating system itself, or other programs. In any case, the creation process is quite simple. Even a novice user can handle it.
All the methods described below assume that you already have a downloaded ISO image of the operating system on your computer, which you will write to a USB flash drive. So, if you haven't downloaded the OS yet, do it. You must also have a suitable removable media. Its volume should be sufficient for the image you downloaded to fit on it. At the same time, some files may still be stored on the drive, it is not necessary to delete them. All the same, during the recording process, all information will be irretrievably erased.
Method 1: Use UltraISO
Our website has a detailed description of this program, so we will not describe how to use it. There is also a link where you can download it. To create a bootable USB flash drive using Ultra ISO, do the following:
If there are any problems during the recording, errors appear, most likely the problem is in a damaged image. But if you downloaded the program from the official site, no difficulties should arise.
Method 2: Rufus
Another very handy program that allows you to create bootable media very quickly. To use it, follow these steps:
It is worth saying that there are other settings and recording options in Rufus, but they can be left as they are initially. You can check the box if you wish. "Check for bad blocks" and specify the number of passes. Thanks to this, after burning, the installation flash drive will be checked for damaged parts. If such are found, the system will automatically correct them.
If you understand what MBR and GPT are, you can also indicate this feature of the future image under the inscription "Partition scheme and system interface type". But doing all this is completely optional.
Method 3: Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
After the release of Windows 7, developers from Microsoft decided to create a special tool that allows you to make a bootable USB flash drive with an image of this operating system. Thus, a program called . Over time, the management decided that this utility could well record other operating systems. To date, this utility allows you to record Windows 7, Vista and XP. Therefore, for those who want to make media with Linux or another system other than Windows, this tool will not work.
To use it, follow these steps:
Method 4: Windows Installation Media Creation Tool
Also, Microsoft specialists have created a special tool that allows you to install on your computer or create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 7, 8 and 10. The Windows Installation Media Creation Tool is most convenient for those who decide to burn an image of one of these systems. To use the program, do the following:
In the same tool, but for Windows 10, this process will look a little different. First check the box next to the label "Create installation media for another computer". Click "Further".
But then everything is exactly the same as in the Windows Installation Media Creation Tool for version 8.1. As for the seventh version, the process there is no different from the one shown above for 8.1.
Method 5: UNetbootin
This tool is intended for those who need to create a bootable Linux USB flash drive from under Windows. To use it, do this:
Method 6: Universal USB Installer
Universal USB Installer allows you to write images of Windows, Linux and other operating systems to drives. But it is best to use this tool for Ubuntu and other similar operating systems. To use this program, do the following:
This entry is available in another language:
To create a bootable flash drive from which you can later boot and install Windows, you need the following:
1 . Download and run free program Universal USB Installer:
2 . In the program window:
- Select the version of Windows - at the very bottom of the list. ( Windows version, which will be installed with bootable flash drive)
- Select an installation image Windows disk, is a file with the ISO extension. (Note! For Windows 8, I had to name the ISO file like this: Windows8, otherwise the program would not see the ISO file.)
- Select the drive letter of the USB flash drive. (Note: For Windows Vista/7/8, a flash drive larger than 2GB is required.)
- Check the box next to Format. Note! During the installation process, all data from the flash drive will be deleted.
- Press the "Create" button.
3
. Confirm the creation of a bootable flash drive - click "YES". Immediately after that, the process of creating a bootable USB flash drive will begin. 
4
. This is how the process of creating a bootable USB flash drive in the Universal USB Installer looks like: 
5
. Once the installation is complete, click “Close”: 
Everything, this process is completed.
To boot from a flash drive, which you created according to the instructions, restart the computer and press F8 at the time of loading; then select the flash drive and press "Enter".
Good luck!
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Today I want to talk about one very convenient thing - this is a bootable (installation) Windows flash drive(XP, Vista, 7 or even 8). It happens that you need to reinstall Windows on a netbook where there is no drive, or on a computer or laptop with a non-working DVD drive, then installation flash drives come to the rescue. An example will show 3 ways to create such bootable flash drive with Windows.
As I said above, the installation flash drive is an indispensable thing when it is not possible to reinstall Windows from a disk. Making an installation / bootable USB flash drive is quite simple, but I will talk about the three most simple and better ways. Or rather, there are only two ways, the first is using the command Windows strings(cmd), and the second one using utilities - and . If using the second utility you can do installation flash drive(and even drive) only Windows 7, then with using UltraISO and standard way You can do anything with the command line.
In order to create a bootable flash drive, you need to have an ISO image of the operating system (to create using utilities) or just all the files copied from the installation disk (to create with cmd).
Create a bootable Windows flash drive with CMD.
The process of creating a bootable USB flash drive using the command line will not take much time and it consists of only 9 points. First you need to run the command line (cmd) as an administrator and naturally insert a flash card into the computer (at least 4 GB for a standard system image). Next, using the DiskPart console utility, we will create a bootable USB flash drive:
1. Enter the command: and press Enter. [ After entering each command, you need to confirm its execution by pressing Enter.]
3. Now a list of all disks under the numbers will come out, in my example the flash drive is under the number 3, which means that to select it you need to enter the command: (if your flash drive is under a different number, for example 2, then you need to enter: select disk 2 )
4. Now after selecting the flash drive, you need to clean it with the command: clean
6. Now you need to select the created partition, for this we execute the command:
7. You need to activate the selected partition using the command:
8. Now using the command: format the flash drive in file system NTFS. Formatting is not fast, so be a little patient
9. Well, after the formatting is completed, it remains to exit the DiskPart mode using the command: exit
That's all, the main work is done, now it remains to copy all the files from boot disk or an unzipped ISO image of the operating system to a USB device. All Windows files 7 on the installation disk look something like this:
You just need to copy and paste them onto the finished USB flash drive, which we just configured correctly and made it bootable.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated here, you can make a bootable USB flash drive of any operating system, be it Windows XP, even Vista, 7 or even Windows 8.
Create a bootable USB flash drive using the UltraISO utility.
With this utility, making a bootable USB flash drive is just as easy, for this you need an ISO image of the system and a flash drive of at least 4 GB. First, download UltraISO and install it on your computer. (Trial version for 30 days, but that's enough if you don't need to make bootable flash drives so often). After, run the utility, choose a trial period.
After launch, go to: "File -> Open" and specify the image of the operating system from which you want to make an installation flash drive.
Now, you need to burn this image to a USB flash drive, insert it into your computer, if you have not already done so, and go to the menu.
Next, a window will open in which, first you need to select your flash drive in the item "Disk Drive", then click "Format". After, in the "Recording method" select - "USB-HDD +" and already click "Record".
That's all, you just need to wait a bit and a bootable Windows USB flash drive with UltraIso utility, from the installation disk image is ready.
Also, an installation USB flash drive with Windows can be made using the utility - "Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool". After the utility has been downloaded and launched, follow a few simple steps:
- Click "Browse" and point to the ISO image of Windows 7 and click "Next".
- Select "USB device" (if you want to make a bootable flash drive) or DVD (if you want to make a bootable DVD).
- Click "Begin copying", after selecting the desired media, to create an installation flash drive or disk.
All. Wait a bit, the execution process will be completed and boot / installation flash drive with Windows 7 is ready. That's all, I think most will choose the option to create with UltraIso, because with this utility you don’t need to do anything extra, just specify iso image operating system that needs to be written to a USB flash drive, but the main disadvantage is that the utility is paid, and trial version only 30 days, so I think the best option is still the command line, you can learn these few commands and bootable flash drives at any time.
P.S. There will be questions on the topic of creating a bootable USB flash drive - ask.
One fun and not-so-frequently used feature is the ability to install Windows Vista from a regular USB flash drive. Who might need it? There may be several options, for example, the user needs to install Windows Vista on a computer without an optical drive. Very often, Windows Vista is installed on netbooks in this way. In addition, installation from a USB flash memory is an order of magnitude faster than from an installation disk, since the speed of reading data from a disk is less than the data exchange speed with a flash memory (which, however, depends on the type of flash memory and its speed characteristics). ).
The first thing to do is to purchase a fast USB flash drive. The capacity of the flash drive must be at least 4 GB, and its speed must be as high as possible. In this case, you should purchase a flash drive recommended for use in Windows Vista. These flash drives can be identified by the appropriate Windows Vista logo sticker on the flash drive package. You will need the same flash drive in the future in the same installed Windows Vista, for example, for use within the ReadyBoost technology.
Now format the purchased flash drive (you can do this in the window My computer by clicking on the flash drive icon right click mouse and selecting the command Format). Now you need to check the list of all connected drives and find out what number your USB flash drive is. Choose a team Start>Run and enter the command in the opened query field CMD.EXE, then click the button OK.
As a result, a “dark and scary” command line window will open, in which a set of certain commands should be entered in a row. However, before doing so, find out the number of your USB drive. For this in command line enter the command and then command List Disk. Find your disk in the command results and note its number. In this case, the list of disks will look something like this.
DISKPART> list disk
Disk ### Status Size Free Din
Disk 0 Connected 112 GB 1528 KB
Disk 1 Connected 559 GB 12 MB
Disk 2 Online 2048 MB 0 bytes
Now, having found out the number, enter a set of such commands in sequence on the command line. In the second step, specify the disk number of the USB flash drive shown by the DISKPART utility. In this case, we need disk 2.
Select disk 2
clean
create partition primary
select partition 1
active
format fs=fat32
assign
exit
Xcopy d:\*.* /s/e/f e:\
However, instead of a disk "D:" specify the drive letter of the optical drive into which the installation DVD is inserted, and instead of “ E:"- the drive letter of the USB flash drive.
The result will not be long in coming. You will receive a USB flash drive from which you can install Windows Vista on absolutely any computer with USB ports which is not only very convenient, but also very fast. For example, the typical installation time for Windows Vista from DVD disc takes about half an hour, while installation from a USB flash drive, depending on its speed characteristics, can take only 15-20 minutes.