Can You Boot Windows 7 OS From A USB?

[iphonic]

I was wondering if it is possible to driectly boot windows 7 from a usb flash drive (not just install it) just like ubuntu's os can be ran direct from a usb flash drive and boot up and actualy be able to use full on windows 7 directly from the usb drive without having a hdd installed?
It would help if anyone could help

Thanks

[rg66]

Apparently Windows won't install onto a USB device. But, you can put a portable Virtual Box on it and run it from there.

[iphonic]

Apparently Windows won't install onto a USB device. But, you can put a portable Virtual Box on it and run it from there.

I thought i would look into windows 8 and running it straight from usb seen as there is a built in option on windows 8. Probably need approx 16gb usb flash drive to run i think not sure havent had a chance to go through the steps yet.

[rg66]

Ubuntu would be a live OS with an option to install. You can do the same with windows using Winbuilder.

For booting Win 8 from USB read this.

[cjohn]

yes u can put win7 setup in a usb flash then instal it from there.tho' u will have to set BIOS your computer to boot from usb. download this will help "WINTOFLASH"

[D1GG3R]

yes u can put win7 setup in a usb flash then instal it from there.tho' u will have to set BIOS your computer to boot from usb. download this will help "WINTOFLASH"

I think the OP wants to run it from a usb stick like a live CD.. not just install it.

[iphonic]

I think the OP wants to run it from a usb stick like a live CD.. not just install it.

Yes thats correct, but i have found ubuntu to operate directly and easily from a usb.

[phonsey10]

Yes thats correct, but i have found ubuntu to operate directly and easily from a usb.

try a vmware copy of windows 8 rtm u can get it from torrents etc

[slicer1967]

You can do it, but you will need at least a 32gb usb stick.

[iphonic]

You can do it, but you will need at least a 32gb usb stick.

Whats the process i have a 64gb usb flash drive

[whicko41]

yh u can just copy all files to formatted usb and install from fresh, make sure that you run from boot options

[rg66]

Ok, here's a tutorial for running (not installing) Win7 from USB.

[manxspud]

A nice read ... noted 2 things whilst having a read through:

A USB hard drive of at least 10GB (which will be wiped during this process). A Flash drive can be used but it will be slow!

You cannot just plug the USB drive into another system. If you want to move it to another system (once you have booted it on one system) then you need to sysprep it (see ADDENDUM at the end of this page). This is because on first boot, a fresh copy of Windows will detect what hardware is on the system and install the correct drivers (including the drivers for the boot drive). If you try to boot that USB drive on another system without running Sysprep, you may just get a BSOD (0x0000007B blue screen of death error)

seems a lot of trouble to go to when you can just take ubuntu from machine to machine ... just my 2 pennies worth