USB vs CD install Windows 7

[Jonathan Cave]

Historically i've always used a CD to install Windows 7 and i'm thinking of making a USB 2.0 boot disk.

few questions

1. USB 3.0 sticks are no good right ? it needs to be USB 2.0/1.0?
2. How much faster is it (2.0) vs CD install ?

Thanks.

 

[tambeshakunt]

1) Windows 7 natively supports USB 2. However, you can use a USB 3 stick in a USB 2 port. There will just not be any speed advantage of USB 3.
2) Quite a bit faster. I would say 1.5-2x faster than CD install in my experience.

 

[spafbi]

A USB 3.0 stick will work fine, you just need to have it in a 2.0 port for Windows to not barf on it. As for speed, USB installs are significantly faster.

 

[Jonathan Cave]

Thanks for the help fellas

so all i need to do is make the usb stick bootable via DISKPART then copy over the windows files from the cd and boot from usb device?

 

[teardroop]

It depends on the speed of your USB memory. Max USB2 speed is about 25 MB/s, if you're using cheap USB memory maybe it is slower than CD...

Note that the fastest USB3 memory sticks are the fastest USB2 too, for example:

Kingston HtperX

Corsair Voyager GT

 

[teardroop]

Thanks for the help fellas...

You can use the Windows 7 CD to USB tool..

 

[tambeshakunt]

Thanks for the help fellas

so all i need to do is make the usb stick bootable via DISKPART then copy over the windows files from the cd and boot from usb device?

No, its best not to copy over from DVD.

Best idea is to:
1) Download latest iso file for appropriate version from http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/
or http://www.techverse.net/download-windows-7-iso-x86-x64-microsofts-official-servers/

2) Once downloaded, use http://www.isotousb.com/
or http://rufus.akeo.ie/ to put it onto the USB and make it bootable.

3) Boot to USB and install.