How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

   Information

This will show you how to create a USB flash key drive that you can boot from to install Windows 7 with.

   Tip

If the USB flash drive is of sufficient capacity, say 8GB, then after copying the Windows 7 installation DVD onto it, you can create a new folder (ex: Device Drivers) in the USB key and place all of your latest driver installation files in it. This way you will have them handy to manually install the drivers after installing Windows 7 from the USB key.

   Note

If you booted from the USB drive to install Windows 7, then you may need to change the hard drive back to being listed before the USB key in the boot order in BIOS after the computer restarts during installation to prevent the computer from booting right back into the USB key starting the installation process over and over.

   Warning

• The USB key needs to be at least 4 GB in size.
• This will delete everything on the USB key. Be sure to save anything that you do not want to lose on it somewhere else.
• Before installing Windows 7 from the USB key, you will need to:
  • Enable Legacy USB storage detect in the BIOS.
  • Temporarily set the USB FDD (USB Flash Disk Drive) to be listed right before the hard drive (or partition) that you will be installing Windows 7 on in the hard drive Boot Priority order list in the BIOS.
  • After you are finished installing Windows 7 from the USB key, make the Windows 7 hard drive (or partition) listed first in the hard drive Boot Priority order list in the BIOS.
  • If you have a BIOS setting to have USB mass storage set to emulate fixed discs, then be sure to set it to this and not have it set to something like emulate floppy discs.

METHOD ONE

---

Use a Program to Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

NOTE: If you do not have a ISO file, then you can use the free program like ImgBurn or ISODisk to create a ISO from your Windows 7 installation DVD to use with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool program to make a bootable USB flash drive with the ISO.

1. For how, see: Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

METHOD TWO

---

Manually Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

   Warning

With this method:

• You can only create a 32-bit Windows 7 USB key from within a 32-bit Vista or Windows 7.
• You can only create a 64-bit Windows 7 USB key from within a 64-bit Vista or Windows 7.

1. Plug the USB key in.

2. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of what the drive size is for the USB key for step 6 below. You can also openComputer (step 21) to see what the drive size is to. For example, mine is 3920 MB. (See screenshot below)

 

3. Open a elevated command prompt.

4. In the elevated command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

5. In the elevated command prompt, type list disk and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Make note of what disk # your USB key is listed as for step 6 below. You can also look for the drive size (step 2) for the USB key to help ID the disk number. For example, mine is listed asDisk 1 here for the 3920 MB disk.

6. In the elevated command prompt, type select disk # (your USB disk #) and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can also look for the drive size (step 2) for the USB key to help ID the disk number. For example, my USB key is listed as Disk 1, so I would type select disk 1 and press Enter.

7. In the elevated command prompt, type clean and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

8. In the elevated command prompt, type create partition primary and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

9. In the elevated command prompt, type select partition 1 and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

10. In the elevated command prompt, type active and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

11. In the elevated command prompt, type format fs=ntfs quick OR format fs=fat32 quickand press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a few moments to finish formatting the USB key.

12. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it. 

13. In the elevated command prompt, type assign and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will assign a new drive letter to the USB key. Make note of the new USB drive letter for step 19 below. For example, mine is now H.

14. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of the new USB drive letter for step 19 below. For example, mine is now H.

15. In the elevated command prompt, type exit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will exit you from DiskPart from step 4.

16. Close the elevated command prompt.

17. Insert your Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive.

18. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the Windows 7 installation DVD, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of what the drive letter is for the DVD drive that has the Windows 7 installation DVD in for step 18 below. You can also open Computer (step 21) to see what the drive letter is to. (See right screenshot below)

19. Open the Start Menu, and right click on the Computer button and click on Open.

20. Right click on the DVD drive (ex: E: ) that has the Windows 7 installation DVD, and click onOpen. (See screenshot below)

21. Highlight all of the contents, right click on the highlighted contents, and click on Copy. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will need to copy all of the files and folders on the Windows 7 installation DVD to the USB key.

22. Go back to Computer, right click on the USB key drive (ex: H ), and click on Paste. (See screenshot below)

23. The contents of the Windows 7 installation DVD will now start copying over to the USB key. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a few moments to complete.

24. When finished, you can close the Computer window and unplug the USB key.

25. You now have a Windows 7 Installation USB key. 

That's it,
Shawn

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

How to Create a Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

   Information

This will show you how to create a USB flash key drive that you can boot from to install Windows 7 with.

   Tip

If the USB flash drive is of sufficient capacity, say 8GB, then after copying the Windows 7 installation DVD onto it, you can create a new folder (ex: Device Drivers) in the USB key and place all of your latest driver installation files in it. This way you will have them handy to manually install the drivers after installing Windows 7 from the USB key.

   Note

If you booted from the USB drive to install Windows 7, then you may need to change the hard drive back to being listed before the USB key in the boot order in BIOS after the computer restarts during installation to prevent the computer from booting right back into the USB key starting the installation process over and over.

   Warning

• The USB key needs to be at least 4 GB in size.
• This will delete everything on the USB key. Be sure to save anything that you do not want to lose on it somewhere else.
• Before installing Windows 7 from the USB key, you will need to:
  • Enable Legacy USB storage detect in the BIOS.
  • Temporarily set the USB FDD (USB Flash Disk Drive) to be listed right before the hard drive (or partition) that you will be installing Windows 7 on in the hard drive Boot Priority order list in the BIOS.
  • After you are finished installing Windows 7 from the USB key, make the Windows 7 hard drive (or partition) listed first in the hard drive Boot Priority order list in the BIOS.
  • If you have a BIOS setting to have USB mass storage set to emulate fixed discs, then be sure to set it to this and not have it set to something like emulate floppy discs.

METHOD ONE

---

Use a Program to Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

NOTE: If you do not have a ISO file, then you can use the free program like ImgBurn or ISODisk to create a ISO from your Windows 7 installation DVD to use with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool program to make a bootable USB flash drive with the ISO.

1. For how, see: Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

METHOD TWO

---

Manually Create Bootable Windows 7 Installation USB Flash Drive

   Warning

With this method:

• You can only create a 32-bit Windows 7 USB key from within a 32-bit Vista or Windows 7.
• You can only create a 64-bit Windows 7 USB key from within a 64-bit Vista or Windows 7.

1. Plug the USB key in.

2. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of what the drive size is for the USB key for step 6 below. You can also openComputer (step 21) to see what the drive size is to. For example, mine is 3920 MB. (See screenshot below)

 

3. Open a elevated command prompt.

4. In the elevated command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

5. In the elevated command prompt, type list disk and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Make note of what disk # your USB key is listed as for step 6 below. You can also look for the drive size (step 2) for the USB key to help ID the disk number. For example, mine is listed asDisk 1 here for the 3920 MB disk.

6. In the elevated command prompt, type select disk # (your USB disk #) and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can also look for the drive size (step 2) for the USB key to help ID the disk number. For example, my USB key is listed as Disk 1, so I would type select disk 1 and press Enter.

7. In the elevated command prompt, type clean and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

8. In the elevated command prompt, type create partition primary and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

9. In the elevated command prompt, type select partition 1 and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

10. In the elevated command prompt, type active and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

11. In the elevated command prompt, type format fs=ntfs quick OR format fs=fat32 quickand press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a few moments to finish formatting the USB key.

12. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it. 

13. In the elevated command prompt, type assign and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will assign a new drive letter to the USB key. Make note of the new USB drive letter for step 19 below. For example, mine is now H.

14. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the USB key, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of the new USB drive letter for step 19 below. For example, mine is now H.

15. In the elevated command prompt, type exit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will exit you from DiskPart from step 4.

16. Close the elevated command prompt.

17. Insert your Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive.

18. If AutoPlay opens a pop-up for the Windows 7 installation DVD, then just close it.
NOTE: Make note of what the drive letter is for the DVD drive that has the Windows 7 installation DVD in for step 18 below. You can also open Computer (step 21) to see what the drive letter is to. (See right screenshot below)

19. Open the Start Menu, and right click on the Computer button and click on Open.

20. Right click on the DVD drive (ex: E: ) that has the Windows 7 installation DVD, and click onOpen. (See screenshot below)

21. Highlight all of the contents, right click on the highlighted contents, and click on Copy. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will need to copy all of the files and folders on the Windows 7 installation DVD to the USB key.

22. Go back to Computer, right click on the USB key drive (ex: H ), and click on Paste. (See screenshot below)

23. The contents of the Windows 7 installation DVD will now start copying over to the USB key. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a few moments to complete.

24. When finished, you can close the Computer window and unplug the USB key.

25. You now have a Windows 7 Installation USB key. 

That's it,
Shawn

Elevated Command Promt

levated Command Prompt How to Open a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7 Published by Brink 12-04-2008

Elevated Command Prompt How to Open a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7    Information This will show you how to open a elevated command prompt with administrator rights (Run as administrator) instead of the default command prompt without administrator rights in Windows 7. EXAMPLE: Elevated Command Prompt NOTE: Notice how the elevated command prompt opens to C:\Windows\System32 and not C:\Users\(user name) as the default command prompt without administrator rights. Here's How: 1. Use a Elevated Command Prompt shortcut. OR 2. Open the Start Menu. 3. Click on All Programs and Accessories, then right click on Command Prompt and click onRun as administrator. (See screenshot below) OR 4. Open the Start Menu. 5. In the Start Menu search box area, type cmd and press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. OR 6. Open the Start Menu. 7. In the Start Menu search box area type cmd, then right click on cmd (at top), and click onRun as administrator. (See screenshot below)    Tip If you are in a administrator account and get a log in prompt after doing any of the above steps, then click on the Cancel button and repeat the above step again. This will only do this for the very first time you try to open a elevated command prompt in Windows 7. If you are in a standard account, then you will need to type in the administrator's password to elevate the command prompt. That's it, Shawn

Elevated Command Promt

levated Command Prompt How to Open a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7 Published by Brink 12-04-2008

Elevated Command Prompt How to Open a Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 7    Information This will show you how to open a elevated command prompt with administrator rights (Run as administrator) instead of the default command prompt without administrator rights in Windows 7. EXAMPLE: Elevated Command Prompt NOTE: Notice how the elevated command prompt opens to C:\Windows\System32 and not C:\Users\(user name) as the default command prompt without administrator rights. Here's How: 1. Use a Elevated Command Prompt shortcut. OR 2. Open the Start Menu. 3. Click on All Programs and Accessories, then right click on Command Prompt and click onRun as administrator. (See screenshot below) OR 4. Open the Start Menu. 5. In the Start Menu search box area, type cmd and press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. OR 6. Open the Start Menu. 7. In the Start Menu search box area type cmd, then right click on cmd (at top), and click onRun as administrator. (See screenshot below)    Tip If you are in a administrator account and get a log in prompt after doing any of the above steps, then click on the Cancel button and repeat the above step again. This will only do this for the very first time you try to open a elevated command prompt in Windows 7. If you are in a standard account, then you will need to type in the administrator's password to elevate the command prompt. That's it, Shawn

Change the User Account password

User Account Password - Change from WinRE How to Change the User Account Password if Unable to Login to Windows Published by Dinesh 01-20-2010

User Account Password - Change from WinRE How to Change the User Account Password if Unable to Login to Windows    Information This tutorial will help you remove the existing user account password and set up a new password incase you have forgotten the user password using WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) Here's how: 1. Boot to WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment). 2. Click on the Command Prompt option. 3. Type the following commands and press enter after each one: C: CD Windows\system32 ren cmd.exe cmd.old ren magnify.exe cmd.exe ren cmd.old magnify.exe 4. Restart computer.  5. Click on Easy of Access centre left side bottom à Choose Magnify option. 6. A Command prompt opens up 7. Type: net user administrator /active:yes and press enter. 8. Restart the computer. 9. Logon on administrator account and then using User Accounts page in the Control Panel, remove password for the other account. 10. Type Magnify.exe in Start Menu search box and press enter and open it. 11. Command prompt opens up 12. Type: net user administrator /active:no and press enter. 13. Restart the computer NOTE: This will disable the administrator account. 14. Now, Boot to winRE again, and click on the Command Prompt option. 15. Type the following commands and press enter after each one: C: CD Windows\system32 ren magnify.exe cmd.old ren cmd.exe magnify.exe ren cmd.old cmd.exe exit 16. Restart the computer – system logs on to the User account without asking for password provided there is only one user account.

Change the User Account password

User Account Password - Change from WinRE How to Change the User Account Password if Unable to Login to Windows Published by Dinesh 01-20-2010

User Account Password - Change from WinRE How to Change the User Account Password if Unable to Login to Windows    Information This tutorial will help you remove the existing user account password and set up a new password incase you have forgotten the user password using WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) Here's how: 1. Boot to WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment). 2. Click on the Command Prompt option. 3. Type the following commands and press enter after each one: C: CD Windows\system32 ren cmd.exe cmd.old ren magnify.exe cmd.exe ren cmd.old magnify.exe 4. Restart computer.  5. Click on Easy of Access centre left side bottom à Choose Magnify option. 6. A Command prompt opens up 7. Type: net user administrator /active:yes and press enter. 8. Restart the computer. 9. Logon on administrator account and then using User Accounts page in the Control Panel, remove password for the other account. 10. Type Magnify.exe in Start Menu search box and press enter and open it. 11. Command prompt opens up 12. Type: net user administrator /active:no and press enter. 13. Restart the computer NOTE: This will disable the administrator account. 14. Now, Boot to winRE again, and click on the Command Prompt option. 15. Type the following commands and press enter after each one: C: CD Windows\system32 ren magnify.exe cmd.old ren cmd.exe magnify.exe ren cmd.old cmd.exe exit 16. Restart the computer – system logs on to the User account without asking for password provided there is only one user account.

How can I run two Skype accounts on the same computer?

How can I run two Skype accounts on the same computer?
For Skype 4.0 and later
For Skype 3.8 and earlier
For Skype 4.0 and later
In order to use more than one Skype account on the same computer at the same time you need to start a new instance of Skype:

From the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run (or press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time)
In the Run window, enter the following command (include the quotes) and press OK:
"C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary

If you get any error messages, please copy and paste the exact command from this email and try again.

Please keep in mind that if you have changed the installation path for Skype then you need to enter the correct path for the Skype.exe file.

If this solution fails, you can try another option:

Find the Skype executable file (Skype.exe) in: C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\
Right click on it and choose: Send to > Desktop (create shortcut)
Locate the shortcut on the desktop, then right-click on it and choose Properties
In the Target field, add: /secondary. The Target field should now be: "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary
Click OK. You can now start a new instance of Skype every time you double-click on the new shortcut.
For Skype 3.8 and earlier
Requirements: Windows XP, Two Skype User accounts

First, create a new Windows user by going to the Control Panel and clicking on User Accounts. Choose Create a new account and follow the steps to set permissions. We also suggest setting a password for the new user by clicking on the newly created user and choosing the Set Password option. The new user will also require admin rights on your PC.

Next, create a shortcut to Skype or make a copy of the shortcut that is already in the Start menu. Right-click this new shortcut and choose Properties. On the bottom of the first page there is a button labelled Advanced... . Click this button and select Run with different credentials. Select OK, and then select OK again to close the Properties dialog.

You're all set. Whenever you use this new shortcut it will ask for a Windows username and password. Enter the Skype Name and password of the user you created earlier by choosing The following user: option. Click OK and you'll have a second instance of Skype. It will require that you sign in with your Skype Name and password the first time.

To help automate the Run as trick you can create a second desktop icon for Skype and modify its properties. Click the Advanced button and check the box Run with different credentials. After clicking on the modified icon it will ask you to sign in as another user. Changing the icon graphic also helps ensure you click on the correct icon.

If you have multiple USB headsets or USB Phones you should be able to set up both instances of Skype to use a different sound device.