01
Nov 2009
226 Comments
Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool with custom ISOs

While Paul Thurrott was playing with the official Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, creating a bootable USB stick for his netbook upgrade, he ran into an interesting snag with certain discs. The tool, when directed to use an ISO dumped via ImgBurn, would error out. Everything was to UDF spec, so what was going on here?The selected file is not a valid ISO file. Please select a valid ISO file and try again. I’m not a UDF expert, hell not even a novice, but I skimmed through ECMA-167 and the reflected tool code. It appears there are two (possibly more) “navigation buoys” within UDF-formatted ISOs that point to important chunks of the image called Anchor Volume Descriptor Pointers (AVDPs). The first AVDP is somewhere near the top of the image. The last AVDP is located in what appears to be the last logical block of the image. (My guess is this is to support bi-directional reading.)

So assuming each logical block of the image is 2048 bytes large, one could also assume the last logical block is –2048 from the end of the file, right? Well, that’s what the tool assumes. It checks for the last AVDP at the start of the last logical block, doesn’t find it, and bombs out.

I haven’t read through the entire spec., but I doubt there’s anything in here regarding the container of the UDF formatted data.

While one could argue Microsoft Store-downloaded ISOs are comprised in a compatible manner and therefore this scenario is unsupported it wouldn’t have been hard to add some AVDP seeking code.Windows 7 ISO AVDP Copy Tool (Command Prompt)

As a quick hack to resolve this issue, I wrote a tool that merely finds the AVDP in your ISO file and copies it to offset (EOF-2048). This will allow you to use your own ISOs with the Microsoft tool. Microsoft.NET 2.x or higher required.

  • MDF

    What do you do if the ‘custom’ .iso is somehow marked ‘read only’? File->Properties does NOT list it as R/O?

  • Rafael

    Is the file open in another tool? Do you have the proper permissions?

  • MDF

    Not open in any other tool. ‘attrib’ shows only the archive bit set.

  • Zulali Khan

    Hi, I am regular reader of your blog. Please I insist you, If you can change some code in “Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool” so we can burn Windows XP and Windows Vista original and customs ISOs.

    Yours faithful reader
    Zulali Khan

  • Arnie

    An other way to create a bootable USB drive to install W7 from is:
    Format the drive from a Vista/W7 machine:
    CMD
    FORMAT F: /FS NTFS (where F: is of course your USB drive)

    Activate the first partition on tht drive:
    Start DISKPART
    LIST DISK
    SELECT DISK x (where x is the drivenumber shown from the previous command)
    SELECT PARTITION 1
    ACTIVE
    EXIT

    Mount your newly downloaded ISO from Microsoft with Daemon tools or other mount-tool
    Place a W7 bootsector on the drive:
    Z: (where Z: is your cdrom drive where the ISO is mounted)
    CD \BOOT
    BOOTSECT /NT60 F:

    Now copy all of the files of the mounted cdrom to the USB drive
    XCOPY Z:\ F:\ /S/E

    Now boot from the USB drive to install W7!

    • http://www.solutionrally.com/ Brij

      Thanks. This worked.

  • kevin

    It would be great if you could use the text of the error message as the ALT text to the image so it could be properly indexed by the search engines. I’m sure this page could be very helpful to many people if they can find it. Love your site; wish you’d post more often.

  • Roger

    Another insightful little piece from Rafael, combined with a convenient tool to fix the addressed problem. I tip my hat to you sir.

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  • http://usmtgui.ehler.dk Samoht Relhe

    USE UltraISO 9 !!!

    1. Simply insert your USB pen.
    2. Open any win XP, Vista or Windows 7 ISO in UtraISO,
    3. Select “Bootable” and “Write Disk Image”.

    REMEMBER to double check the drive letter ;-)

    Thats it !!
    And it also works on USB disks etc.
    Windows 7 installs in 7 minutes.

  • http://www.mzzt.net/ Dan

    Zulali Khan: Rafael is not in any way involved with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool so he can’t do what you asked.

    You can try doing it by hand, though. You would need to copy all the files from the DVD to a blank USB thumb drive, and then copy the bootloader. Then whatever computer that you wanted to boot from would need to use “USB-CD” as the boot type, since the bootloader is for a CD. I’m not an expert but that SHOULD work. However Windows XP/Vista setup may not function properly even if it does start up right; it’s possible that Windows 7 Setup had specific code changes to support installing from a USB drive, and that since XP/Vista were not made for it they simply might not work.

    However it can’t hurt to try.

  • http://www.mzzt.net/ Dan

    Arnie: You should use FAT32 instead of NTFS for flash drives. FAT32 has less overhead as far as space used and speed of transfer AFAIK. In addition most of the features of NTFS over FAT32 aren’t very useful for thumb drives.

  • Dave

    ok I have an iso of windows 7 then i run this tool it says copied then i run the microsoft tool it still says not valid iso .. Nero or any other tool will allow me to burn as bootable dvd and it installs fine please tell me what step I am missing….
    Dave

  • anon

    19 years after Windows 95, Microsoft is up to the same lock down tactics. And yet people fall for them like anything.

  • Tom

    Um @anon, explain how this is a lock down tactic? This tool is documented and supplied by Microsoft as a tool to burn your copy of Windows 7 which you bought from the Microsoft Store, not one you created yourself/bought elsewhere. It serves its purpose, it does not promise anything it can’t do, I don’t see the “lock-down” problem.

    That aside, thanks Rafael, I have a custom ISO made from the Student Offer upgrade thing and this worked a treat :D

  • Dave

    Please go over procedure touse my custom iso with this tool then resave the image then use microsofts tool.Thanks,
    Dave

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  • Richard

    Tested it on 2 different images.
    Both completed succesfull and both are not usable in the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.

  • Dave

    gee at least I am not alone on that this tool does not work..

  • Rafael

    What did you create these ISOs with? This isn’t a cure all for broken ISOs…

  • Dave

    the iso themseleves work fine ..made with power iso

  • techie

    I created a custom ISO using oscdimg from the WAIK. The ISO I created was compatible with the Windows 7 USB Download Tool. Here is the command I used:

    oscdimg -lWindows_7 -u2 -bC:\DVD_Data\Boot\etfsboot.com C:\DVD_Data C:\Win7.iso

    An explanation of how to use oscdimg is here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749036%28WS.10%29.aspx

  • Mattmc

    Thanks for the right answer, techie. I created my ISO with the same tool you did. My only mistake was assuming “-?” would give all the switches….it doesn’t!

  • David

    Thanks samoht Coulter, it worked!

  • Dave

    nice bandaid but it does not address taking an iso made using custom settings etc for use with image deployment using the microsoft tool is there another tool that takes the iso and performs the same magic?

  • http://www.jiribrejcha.net Jiri Brejcha

    It seems that Microsoft has changed the URL of the tool. Link from your post is not working.

  • Steven

    Tool is b*llshit.

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  • Jerry

    The Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool has been pulled from the Microsoft Store. The link to it (http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool) now returns “Sorry, the page you are looking for cannot be found.” Evidently the tool violated the GNU’s General Public License (GPL) for using open source code —
    http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/11/microsoft-pulls-windows-7-tool-after-gpl-violation-claims.ars

  • http://www.cleveland.ac.uk Gary S

    I downloaded Windows 7 from the online shop (working in a college I got it for £30) I then used the Windows Automated Installation Kit to create a bootable iso that can be burnt onto DVD with any software. I used Image Burn and also use Magic ISO (both are free!). Although now having Windows 7 I have build it iso burning support :)

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  • mehmed

    thanks a lot. it works fine.

  • Nagendra

    no need to use any tool just open ur iso file in poweriso(full version) and go to file–>file properties than check UDF press ok and save ur file….now u can use this tool!!

  • Ergodroid

    Gteat!!! Yes, it works with PowerISO’s method!!!
    Thnx a lot to Nagendra

  • Osman

    PowerISO’s method is successful, thanks Nagendra .

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  • Isaac

    Hi you all !!! i download this iso en_windows_7_ultimate_x64_dvd_x15-65922 3.00 GB (3,224,686,592 bytes) and burn it with Windows7-USB-DVD-tool from microsoft store WITH NO ERRORS AFTER READY THE DVD , i try to install , its do the boot and come to the first part off install and its say that i start with the dvd install and i most restart and try again i do it but not work what is wrong ??
    wend i put the dvd on windows xp its open and ask to open this file sperr32.exe its say your computer can’t run this version of windows.you need an installation disc that’s compatible with your computer . for more information, check your computer’s system information . i have p4 3 ghz with 500 ram and nvidia 128 ram
    so what is wrong here the iso or my computer or how i burn this dvd or how i install it
    thank you all for your help

  • Isaac

    also tested on new lenovo laptop with vista busines and i think is not problem with x64 or x86
    plese help rafael

  • jrc

    @Isaac
    You can only install the 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista or Windows 7 if you have a 64-bit capable processor. Few of Intel’s P4 processors are 64-bit capable (only a select few of the 2005+ Prescott series as far as I’m aware) so it’s very possible that the computer is simply incompatible with this software.

    I would begin by instead trying to install a 32-bit version of Windows 7. Upgrading your RAM, though not absolutely necessary, is also highly recommended.

  • BT

    There is another way I have found that’s dead simple.

    Go and download 7-zip it’s free.
    Format your USB flash drive to FAT32
    Use 7-zip to extract the contents of the Win7 ISO to your flash drive.
    Boot from your flash drive and install.
    Thats it. I’ve used this method multiple times without fail.

  • Isaac

    jrc thank you for your help , but the problem is not x64 or x86 i try on new laptop lenovo and also same problem,i think this iso file maybe not good en_windows_7_ultimate_x64_dvd_x15-65922 3.00 GB (3,224,686,592 bytes) but what is strange that i burn the dvd with Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool and no errors ,( also burn wit nero and poweriso) in all tested pcs the same erro ,its do the boot and load files come to the first part off install and its say that i start with the dvd install and i most restart and try again i do it but not work , how can i verify this iso ? if its ok or no ?

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  • http://antarmy.com Dizzious

    I made an .iso of my win7 disc and opened it with isoavdpcopy, dos window pops up and then immediately disappears. My .iso file properties show that the .iso was modified when I opened it in isoavdpcopy, however, I still get the “not a valid iso” error when I try to open it using the Win7 USB DVD tool.

    I guess it doesn’t work for everyone.

  • Steve

    When running the isoavdpcopy tool and you get “ERROR: Specified ISO is read-only.” It may well be that you haven’t put in the correct location of the ISO. The tool spits out this error when it should actually say “Invalid file” or “can’t find iso”.

  • Tapple

    Guys, Arnie’s method of using DISKPART works fine. I just used a student ISO copy.

  • James

    Can i use windows vista download iso with this tool?

  • Mike

    Hello Raphael,
    I was wondering something off topic…
    I am trying to get someone to write a simple program for an online game. I live in Maryland and would trade some work for you to make this program for me. I could even pay you if you would rather. Its been about 5 years since this game came out and I need someone to program something for it. If you are interested please email me.

  • Doug

    Mate, you are an internet legend! I was tearing my hair out about this one, having used Imgburn to create my ISO.
    Many thanks from a grateful user.

  • Perry

    Hi I used this tool to try and make a usb boot but after reaching 5% it stopped with a message like ” This USB drive can not be used” and now my usb drive doesn’t even show up on pc is there a way of repairing this drive or is it nuked?

  • Sandeep

    For people who want to use Arnie’s diskpart method, and are NOT seeing the USB drive using “list disk”, all you need to do is flip an attribute (on the USB disk) which tells that OS that this disk is fixed. To do that, search for a utility – Lexar Bootit.

    Also, under WinXP, to format a USB drive to NTFS, you need to set its “policy” to be “optimize for performance”

  • http://www.ekaitpc.com ekaitpc

    god infi is here…thx for sharing

  • Breys

    Just wanted to say thanks :)

  • Avatar

    NOthing works…all sucks!!!

  • shags

    HI all,

    I get the ISO is read only error on the tool. It is not read only as far as I can tell. How do you fix this?

  • Timi

    Great.!!! Yes, it works with PowerISO’s method!!!
    Thnx a lot to Nagendra.

  • jasu

    I tried the PowerISO method, it worked – thanks guys!

  • Anonymous Coward

    Thanks Nagendra! The PowerISO method works great!

  • CoolBuddha

    Thanks Nagendra.. also works with UltraISO

  • DB

    is ultra iso freeware ?
    if not does anyone know of any free software to do this ?
    thanks :D

  • pmshah

    I have win 7 iso which works just fine in vmwareplayer – but does not have drivers for my Ethernet or USB.

    I normally extract any bootable installation iso to the hard disk. Extract the boot sector with bbie from Bart. Add my extras like software, hardware drivers etc. Then I create a bootable cd/dvd image which includes BCDW cd boot menu system including partitioning and formatting tools, a bootable hard disk boot manager and a live windows for emergency purposes.

    Unfortunately this method does not work with Win 7. The boot image extracted with BBIE does not boot. Can any one help in getting a working boot image for win 7 or creating this customized DVD? Any help will be highly appreciated.

  • pmshah

    I forgot to mention two thing.

    Looks like above methods create the image of the installed version of Win 7 and is specific to the machine on which it was created. I have different needs.

    I want to create a dvd for universal type of installation, that it should install on any new pc/ fresh install. Secondly I want to create this image/dvd on a winxp sp3 machine.

  • Ben

    Unfortunately isoavdpcopy.exe did not help me. Although it says it has successfully fixed the iso, the windows download tool still claims that the ISO is invalid.

  • Tup

    I manage to put iso on stick, boot, but after first screen appear nothing happen…

  • Win7 for free

    I created an image, using UltraISO9, of my legitimate Win7-disc. The image I created was actually to my surprise accepted directly by the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool from Microsoft (the one I created with ImgBurn wasn’t), and thereby I manage to let the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool do the job automatically while I waited (just a short time). I didn’t have to fix or convert the UltraISO-created image and then transfer it manually to the USB-drive, which was great news for a novice user like myself. So use UltraISO9 to create your custom images from your own (legitimate) Win7-disks, by utilizing the “make CD/DVD image” option under the Tools-meny (using default settings), and you’re good to go.

    Rgds,

    Novice Windows-user

  • http://desire4music.com VPA021

    # Samoht Relhe November 3, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    USE UltraISO 9 !!!

    1. Simply insert your USB pen.
    2. Open any win XP, Vista or Windows 7 ISO in UtraISO,
    3. Select “Bootable” and “Write Disk Image”.

    REMEMBER to double check the drive letter ;-)

    Thats it !!
    And it also works on USB disks etc.
    Windows 7 installs in 7 minutes.

    All those steps worked FLAWlESSLY!!!

  • Jp

    Ok… amaizing! Nice job! I had the problem with the stick … but with your own app it solve! Thx!

  • http://www.tvillingliv.se Martin

    How long is this process supposed to take? Been w8ing forever with no clue whats giong on.?

  • Brandon

    PowerISO method worked a treat. Thanks Nagendra. :-)

  • Eric

    Great !
    it’s work fine
    Thanks a lot

  • Agatha

    What should i do to make the iso work in win usb download tool?
    Just execute your tool???

    Thanks,
    Agatha

  • Chris

    Tool worked great!
    Thanks Rafael !

  • Vaskeklut

    Guess i have to play the role as fool here. I have an ISO and the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool. Downloaded your tool, but what now? I unzipped it and ran it. Cmd shows for half a second, and nothing changes.

    How to use your tool? It’s not idiot-proof at all!

  • http://www.justinfreid.com Justin Freid

    Awesome tool! You were the first Google result for “the selected file is not a valid iso file windows 7 usb” with good reason.
    Thanks.

  • Isaac

    Thanks! The ADVP tool worked for me! You may not be a UDF expert, but you sure do have the knowledge and ingenuity to create a solution to problems. I salute you — you truly are an inspiration.

  • Mila

    Hi, thanks a lot!
    but i have a problem, because i don’t understand how this application works! :ouch
    i create a iso of win7 with vlite, and when i tried to burn it into a disk with microsoft tool it says me that it’s not a valid .ISO file; so i tried to use your software but….how it works???

    after i open the iso with deamon tools….wath’s the next step???

    thxs! <3

    Mila

  • Jacky

    Use Ubuntu Live CD
    Do following steps in a terminal

    1. sudo fdisk -l you’ll see your usb-stick like /dev/sdb (the disk), /dev/sdb1 (the partition)
    2. sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb/ bs=1M count=1
    3. sudo blockdev –rereadpt /dev/sdb
    4. usb-creator-gtk

    then you can choose your dvd-rom where the windows 7 cd in there, and the usb stick to write with.
    That’s all.

  • Jacky

    in step 3 there are two “-” before rereadpt

  • MIKO

    OK EVERYONE

    POWERISO WORKS!!

    AFTER SAVING NEW ISO, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE WINDOWS 7 USB-DVD TOOL
    YOU WILL GOING TO BROWSE THE NEWLY SAVE ISO THAT YOU CREATE USING POWER ISO

  • cikaraone

    Use Free MagicIso to make an ISO image

    then use WINDOWS 7 USB-DVD TOOL

    MagicISO created identical Windows 7 ISO image that you download from microsoft MSDN.

    I failed with PowerISO

  • Nicholas

    Thanks so much! I needed this to get a 7 repair ISO on my USB drive and it helped A LOT.

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  • Roberta

    If you don´t want to complicate Use UltraISO9
    Check this out spanish ppl!: http://www.tecnozip.com/2009/04/crear-usb-bootable-con-ultraiso.html

    ;))

  • kevin

    i can’t get the nagendra method to work for the Asus PC boot disk,… the windows 7 tool goes one extra step till it gets to the formatiing USB stage of the process, stays at 0% and then says “unable to copy, check usb and the selected ISO and try again”

  • Cannabit

    THX Nagendra…with PowerISO works fine…..

  • Rss

    ERROR: Specified ISO is read-only.

    I used Microsoft.Windows.7.ULTIMATE.x86.Integrated.February.2010.OEM.DVD-BIE’s iso.

    Any solvation? I’m trying now ultraiso method :)

  • Marco

    I tried to use this tool but I still got the message “The selected file is not a valid ISO file” although isoavdpcopy says it has successfully copied the iso.

    BT, I have tried your way with 7-zip and it didn’t work either.

  • Jeff Mueller

    I had an ISO copy of Dell OEM Windows 7 Professional that I acquired. Don’t know how it was created but it is 4.87 GB so a standard 4.3 DVD won’t work. I tried to use Linux to burn the Dual Layer twice but when I tried to use it I could not complete the install. I put the ISO on an NTFS partition and used the MS-DiskPart utility to ready an 8 gb usb drive. (not all drives are compatible I found so use a major name brand. Sandisk and PNY’s seem to work really well.) Now I have a multi-version 7 on PNY, and Dell OEM 7 Pro and UBUNTU on sandisks. Zoom Zoom!

  • http://tets winarko

    The Microsoft tools works very fine, make sure you find API (less than 1 MB ) and install it, and 32BIT-ISO (less than 1 MB) put it on users\blabla\blabla\mirosoft-tools folder, you can easily find those two files with google.

    I’ve tried Power-ISO or Ultra-ISO, it boot but often brings error, files WIM not found etc..etc…

    I’ve tried many program Winflash, BartPE-builder,FlashBoot

    The Microsoft Tools works very good and flawless.

  • http://seanys.com Sean S

    Thankyou! I was baffled as to why the Win7 tool didn’t like the ISO. Problem solved.

  • Tere

    MANY PRAISES TO VPA021!!! I’ve been trying to get Windows 7 on my computer, that decided to break down after the Windows update, for about a month now and finally found something that works!! THANK YOU!!

  • Surge

    This tool is garbage, it doesn’t work on five different ISOs I made.
    Windows tool still says invalid iso.
    I then stopped bothering with this tool and downloaded UltraISO and it worked perfectly.
    Don’t waste your time with this tool — get UltraISO and follow the instructions above posted way up there.
    It’s a free download.

  • http://tutecnology.blogspot.com Sebastian

    Thanks you very much!

  • http://tutecnology.blogspot.com Sebastian

    Thanks you very much. This work perfectly

  • http://www.justinfreidmedia.com Justin Freid

    Great tool! My issued were solved.

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  • RRT

    Thanx to Samoht and Surge. I was about to violently trash my pc, but this worked like a charm, and saved my day

  • http://N/A guroo13

    10 Thumb up for following solution, this is the only solution worked on ZOTAC MAG (ATOM 330). The best and solid solution

    Thanks alot arnie!!!!
    “Arnie

    November 2, 2009 at 6:18 am

    An other way to create a bootable USB drive to install W7 from is:
    Format the drive from a Vista/W7 machine:
    CMD
    FORMAT F: /FS NTFS (where F: is of course your USB drive)

    Activate the first partition on tht drive:
    Start DISKPART
    LIST DISK
    SELECT DISK x (where x is the drivenumber shown from the previous command)
    SELECT PARTITION 1
    ACTIVE
    EXIT

    Mount your newly downloaded ISO from Microsoft with Daemon tools or other mount-tool
    Place a W7 bootsector on the drive:
    Z: (where Z: is your cdrom drive where the ISO is mounted)
    CD \BOOT
    BOOTSECT /NT60 F:

    Now copy all of the files of the mounted cdrom to the USB drive
    XCOPY Z:\ F:\ /S/E

    Now boot from the USB drive to install W7!

  • Alex Monroe

    I cannot use your tool. The moment I run it, it closes. Please fix/help. Thanks.

  • Alex Monroe

    currently I am using the UNEt bootin thing to fix it. Hopefully.

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  • Alex Monroe

    Help. I finally got the tool to open, but i run it. It says

    > Copy successful.

    But then i run the Windows 7 USB / DVD Download Tool and it again gives the “The selected file is not a valid iso file” error. What do i do now?

  • http://dfghdfgh PLEASEEEEE

    i always download the flipping tool ….i always come acrooss this damn site …would you put how to use the god damn tool !!!! ????

  • Faizan

    Skip read only file error?

    “”

  • mavgink

    i’m trying your app… but how long would it take normally to fix my iso… because it’s been 15 minutes already… and nothing happens?

  • Dave

    I tried using PowerISO to click UDF, and UDF was already checked and it didnt work, the program located here wouldnt even open on windows 7.

    After all that failed i downloaded UltraISO
    and i made an iso file check UDF in properties and it worked.

    Make sure UltraISO is registered or it wont let you save the new ISO.

  • Quentin

    Thanks, it’s very usefull. Work with PowerIso image.

  • http://www.state.nj.us/it/oit/over/ ttyp00

    This is a hugely helpful tool that doesn’t work 100% of the time, but in every clutch situation that I desperately needed it, it has come through for me. I used this tool with images saved via Roxio Creator 10 Business Silver Edition. Tested and approved for use on Windows Server 2008 & Server 2008 R2, both x86 and x86_64, Windows 2003 x86 and x86_64.

    When this tool fails, I usually try unetbootin (http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/). Both tools provide a solid 98% success rate.

    Thanks Rafael!

  • http://www.amansaini.com Amandeep Singh Saini

    PowerISO method is the BEST!!!

    Don’t look for anything else. The tool surely works. Try it!

  • http://pspthemesfree.net/ Nophex

    It’s working with powerIso, thanks Nagendra……

  • TryllaG

    hi,

    This is what I did…format the USB as NTFS and copy/extract files to USB n chnge boot sequence to USB and VOILA !!!…You are ready to install via USB

    • Kboriecf

      Thanks, that made it really easy for me. All this other stuff isn’t worth the time.

  • TryllaG

    hi,

    This is what I did…format the USB as NTFS and copy/extract files to USB n change boot sequence to USB and VOILA !!!…You are ready to install via USB

  • Dave

    I get the same error as kevin posted “i can’t get the nagendra method to work for the Asus PC boot disk,… the windows 7 tool goes one extra step till it gets to the formatiing USB stage of the process, stays at 0% and then says “unable to copy, check usb and the selected ISO and try again”” i have got 2 sperate versions of the img file neither work and i went out and bought a usb so i dont think its that,anyone have a solution?

  • Dave

    In response to my own question and kevins i found a website and i was able to use the windows tool.

    “Here is what you have to do. Launch a command prompt with admin rights and run the diskpart tool:

    diskpart
    list disk
    select disk #
    clean
    create partition primary
    select partition 1
    active
    format quick fs=fat32
    assign
    exit

    The “list disk” command will show you the connected drives and with “select disk”, you can choose your USB stick. Be careful to select the right drive or else your day won’t have a happy end. The crucial step here is the “clean” command. It overwrites the MBR and the partition table (thereby, deleting everything on the stick). My guess is that WUDT misses this step and only formats the flash drive. It appears my memory stick had some odd partitions (which is not uncommon). When I tried WUDT again with this prepared stick, the Open Source tool mastered its task without further murmur.”

    Hope that helps

  • Philippe

    This tool works great! Thanks a lot!

  • http://none xtreme

    Suppeeer. With PowerIso (UDF) the windows tool works very fine. You can do the same with UltraIso :) !

    thx for you comments.

    cya

  • haISO

    Nagedra RockS! Power ISO worked for me

  • Gymi

    Stick CORSAIR BOOT WINDOWS 7 ? …NO BOOT : SYSTEM: Motherboard – ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe ………STUPID NOOOO BOOT WINDOWS7 FROM STICK . SORY Gyandarmul@yahoo.com .
    plsssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

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  • Rstefan

    The link seems to be down at the moment. Please fix it :)

  • Joe

    Link down?

    • http://www.withinwindows.com Rafael R.

      I’ll get it fixed tonight or tomorrow

      Sent from my Windows Phone From: Disqus
      Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 4:24 PM
      To: rafael@withinwindows.com
      Subject: [withinwindows] Re: Use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
      with custom ISOs
      ======

      • Skythra

        still down?

  • It’s a secret.

    I’m sure you’re aware that the link is down, looking forward to making use of it once it’s back in action though.

  • Hutianlai

    why i can not down load it??? i am in China.

  • It’s a secret.

    right click, save as… we’re idiots. Thanks Rafael.

    • Xyz

      Doesn’t work for me ;)

  • It’s a secret.

    nvm, doesn’t work… I’m an idiot. Please fix this link, I’m desperate here and there’s no where else online hosting this crucial tool.

  • It’s a secret.
  • Daredaivl
  • H2onic
  • http://www.usbpromos.com/ Custom USB

    i am not able to download it

  • http://www.withinwindows.com Rafael R.

    My download link works fine, fixed it today.

  • Mta64pk

    Use PowerISO and Re save the ISO image while puttinf a Tick mark on UDF in image proprties and after saving the image use it. 100% working…Tanveer

    • Fbi

      thank u alooooooooooooot
      this worked 4 me

  • B1944

    I may be a newbie but after using this tool I get the message “Copy successful”. And then what? Win 7 download tool displays the same error message.

    • pach problem

      and at me  ( win7 sp1 integrated April ) 

      or the patched .iso are at the other place?

      • Fbi

        yes if u use this method
        Use PowerISO and Re save the ISO image while putting a Tick mark on UDF
        in image properties in power iso and after saving the image use it. 100%
        working…Tanveer
        the UFD is the fix

    • darren

      it works for me

  • Nabinp

    yeah..!! this worked for me..thanks mate

  • Vivithemage

    awesome tool, thanks! I posted this if his download link goes down again. http://uploadland.com/?d=4DDFBA7D1

  • Ja

    its not working

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  • Anhgv

    Works like a treat, Thanks.

  • LebsirSoft

    i was download it … but the probleme how to use it

    • Freax

      thnx pabloz.. thnx lovemaker94.. your suggestion worked perfectly.. :D

  • Macdomerocker

    fails to open?!

  • Pabloz

    How to use it? I have unpacked isoavdpcopy in a folder with Win7 iso, when I write in command line isoavdpcopy Windows 7.iso I get a message: “ERROR: Specified ISO is read-only.”. What’s wrong?

    Sorry for my bad english.

    • Pabloz

      I have found other solution, isoavdpcopy is unnecessary.

      1. Open the ISO using PowerISO
      2. Go to File -> File properties
      3. Check UDF and save the ISO.

      Sorry for my bad english.

      • Mustafa Aun Ali

        Good Work man !
        Thanks

      • Treps

        This solution was a perfect one :D
        Thx for the help man :D:D:D

      • Noorsat

        Very good Pabloz, your souloution is very right

      • BluEiS

        Thanks you very much, Pabloz ! Your solution is great ! :)

      • drsilviu

        it worked! the tool above didn’t! so i guess your the winner :)

  • http://www.matrixn13.c.la LoveMaker94

    I used UltraISO and I made it so fast!
    I unchecked the “Recompile ISO When Saving Directly” and Enable Super Restore From Options > Tab “Save”
    Then File > Properties > Check UDF > OK
    then File > Save / CTRL + S
    it worked for me perfectly!

  • LoveMaker94

    I used UltraISO and I made it so fast!
    I unchecked the “Recompile ISO When Saving Directly” and Enable Super Restore From Options > Configuration > select the tab “Save”
    Then File > Properties > Check UDF > OK
    then File > Save / CTRL + S
    it worked for me perfectly!

    • Matrixbudz

      It worked man… Thank you so much….

    • Irfan

      perfercto, thanks alot brooo

    • Theofanooo

      you did it with out the extra tool?only with the ultraiso?

    • Theofano

      omg!it worked!thank you soooo much!! :)

    • PUmal

      You R The Hero it works thank you very much

    • Fakesideofme

      thanx man it worked

    • thanks

      You are DA MAN!!!! IT WORKED!!!!

    • Conrado Andrade

      THANKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

    • Grateful Reader

      Following the original post by the owner of this website didn’t work – adding your steps inside got me past the initial error when trying to open it with Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. THANKS!! :)

  • KC

    PLEASE HELP!  PowerIso was able to create the Windows 7 recovery boot flash usb which is working however it is failing to find the correct driver files and repair my windows installation!
    I don’t know what is wrong because it is/was all there and now I don’t know why it cannot find it!
    I had a dual boot drive and told it to make the primary drive for linux logical and then told it to reboot, after that I could NOT get it to boot at all!
    So now I have created the windows 7 flash usb repair drive but it’s still failing to restore my windows and boot!
    Please help, what is going on wrong?

  • Hjvjzgvuzvgzuv

    your fuckin’ tool is fuckin’ useless!

  • Esquilax

    Worked fine for me. Thank you!
    I used the tool on Vista x64 with a iso from a Win 7 Prof 64 System Builder DVD created with ImgBurn.

  • Aaa

    thanks!

  • Sonaldbigj

    when I run this command, it says your iso file is read only… what should I do? plz help..

    • TKS

      Copy your iso file to your HDD C: or maybe at your desktop. It may solve this problem make shure that u its not read only changing the name of the file. If you cant, right click with the mouse at the file and go to property change the Read only atribute ;)

  • Logo

    Good Work man !Thanks

  • Ciulor

    got a problem.

    when i start your tool it automaticly close in about 1/2 sec. i have no idea what`s wrong ;/

    • TKS

      Try to use the Command Prompt, just type cmd and hit enter at the Run window. GL

      • Patfan14

        what do i type after opening the cmd prompt?

      • Anonymous

        wow if you don’t know how to nagivate in a command prompt you really shouldnt be doing this.

      • Cmrpc

        In windows go to your user directory and make a folder called .Place the ISO and the tool in a new dir called . Then go to run and type cmd ,then type cd from there you will see the two files type isoavdpcopy …Hit Enter

  • TKS

    Thank you so much! ;)

  • Artur_r

    Thanks, this works perfect. MS should fix their program or add your functionality, this has been annoying me for months.

    For people having issues, you don’t just double click this and expect to get a GUI, you need to open your command prompt, Start -> Run -> CMD [enter]
    Navigate to where you saved the file, then enter command line “isoavdpcopy ISOIMAGE.iso”

    • Daniel Vashchilenko

      Unless you absolutely unfamiliar with MS’s policy, you should see a connection between official ISOs working and altered ones causing an error.

  • gonosz

    ERROR: Specified iso is read-only

  • noffline

    How long will it cast to fix a DVD?  I run it last more than one hour ,and did not got anything response.

  • http://peppeuz.wordpress.com peppeuz

    Thanks man, your tool worked perfectly :)

  • Gary

    worked perfectly!

  • ovidio lamparelli

    i am using other method

  • Jamie

    This tool worked perfectly thanks!

  • Layonard

    u r my new hero!!! many thanks!!!!!!

  • Rentna

    well, i tried about for a day now to make this work without success, this is what the command prompt says:

    When I try to open the iso file (which is originally named en_windows_7_with_sp1_debug_checked_build_x64_dvd_619601) with the windows 7 usb/dvd tool still the same message pops up telling me that the ISO file is not valid.

    What can I do?

    • Rentna

      seems like the image didn´t load… after all i get to read “> Copy successful.”

  • Oltcit

    Don’t work…

  • Engr Ishtiaque

    used your tool within the directory where iso file existed. “the file is read only” was rhe massage in return. checked the file’s properties, the iso file was not read only.

  • Anonymous

    谢谢了,真是个好东西。

  • http://nestorov.net Vlad

    This was great help, thank you so much for your effort. 

  • hotmatrixx

    thank you for the tool. it works on most factory images for me, will not help with N-Lite ones, or WinXP ones, though. It returns a “read only” error. I can certainly tell you they are not read only. But works fine on a couple of the images that I have. Thank you for the tool, hopefully there is some way to debug these errors.

  • Barron

    appreciate

  • Luis Tobon

    Thanks, your tool works great.

  • Smart609

    how to use it please describe.

  • sum12

    shit…doesnt work…

    • sum12

      image is read-only as all iso files are

  • Adsf

    not working :(

  • SEO

    now it is working my dear :)

  • James Flattery

    How long should this tool take too work? It’s just sitting here in the terminal and it doesn’t look like its doing anything.

  • Somethingnormal

    didnt work for me either

  • Doon2000

    MY SOLUTION to the read only issue: I figured that the long file name with the blank spaces might be causing the problem. So I copied the ISO file, renamed it to something shorter, win7_32.iso, checked the file attributes and tried the tool again. Bam! Worked like a charm.

  • Mvh_hc

    wow…. it’s work. thank you very much…. :)

  • B3455855

    Worked perfectly, thanks!

  • Quin

    Nice Job, I put both my iso file and isoavdpcopy to C:, and the “Read Only” error was gone. Thx again.

  • rdx

    can u please elaborate the method of how to use this isoavdpcopy
    ?

  • pol6

    for rdx & others asking how to use: put to app to same directory as the iso file, open terminal window (cmd) and type isoavdpcopy

    thats it

  • Cricket1one

    ‘isoavdpcopy’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
    operable program or batch file.

  • kld

    worked fine! Thanks for the tool!

  • Mini

    Not doing anything…underscore keeps blinking.

  • Mini

    Okay, so it did something. Now, though, i can’t find the iso that works with the microsoft tool. The original still has no effect whatsoever.

  • User

    tools work clean and is easy to use.
    Tanks

  • Stebog

    Fabulous!  Thank you.

  • Benjamintakemoto

    How the balls do i get this to work?
    do i need to put the iso directly onto C: or what?

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  • Gausmann

    Works perfectly. As @d5938bed2c7b3dc99c8afa9542cf5bc3:disqus said:

    Put to app to same
    directory as the iso file, open terminal window (cmd) and type
    isoavdpcopy That’s it.If you are experiencing any trouble, try running cmd as Administrator. Cheers! =)