Windows OS is one of the most sorts after OS for computers. Windows gives users more options and these options are flexible. However, Microsoft doesn’t limit this to that, the company also gives users the ability to create a bootable ISO file on a USB DVD to install Windows OS from a flash drive and a DVD.
To make it versatile, users are allowed to create a compressed Windows ISO file into a single folder and use it to install the Windows OS. This is what Microsoft referred to as the Windows USB/DVD download tool.
You can choose to download the Windows ISO file and burn the ISO file on a detachable device such as a flash drive, or DVD. Users can also use the Windows Media Tool to download Windows ISO file directly from the Microsoft website and use it to update the existing Windows OS.
Downloading Windows updates using the Windows MediaTool can also be used to download complete Windows update with the walk-around shared in this guide.
The Windows USB/DVD Download tool is a mere easy way to compress all Windows ISO file into a single folder so that users can easily transfer it from one device to another as an alternative to creating bootable ISO files on USB/DVD.
Whether you prefer the bootable ISO file on USB/DVD or the Windows USB or DVD download tool, both options allow you to install the version of the Windows OS on your USB or DVD on your computer the moment you power on your computer.
Basic Requirement to use Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
Before you are allowed to use the Microsoft DVD/USB download tool or create a bootable DVD/USB with the Windows ISO file here is the basic requirement for your PC.
- Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit)
- Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster (300MHz is recommended)
- 50MB of free space on your hard drive
- DVD-R drive or 4GB removable USB drive
- Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 must be installed for Windows Vista
- Microsoft Image Mastering API v2 must be installed for Windows Vista
How to Install Windows USB/DVD Download Tool
The first approach is to download the Windows USB/DVD tool from the Windows CodePlex Archive. The USB/DVD download tool allows you to create a bootable USB/DVD and turn your removable to a Windows installer.
- Go to the Microsoft page to download the Windows USB/DVD tool. When you get to the page you can read the information provided for more enlightenment and you can skip it and move to the next step.
- Under the “Windows USB/DVD Download Tool” select your preferred language. The default language is English language and can change it to another language of your choice and click on the download button.
- Choose the download you want from the new page that pops up. For the English language, select “Windows7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool-Installer-en-US.exe“. For other languages, look through the download file and tick it. To download the Windows USB/DVD download tool as a zip file tick “wudtsource.zip” and click on the “Next” button
- The Windows7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool-installer-en-US.exe” will start to download. Once the download is complete the download file will be made available in your download folder. On the other hand, if the Windows USB/DVD download tool download doesn’t start automatically, click on the manual download link to download the file manually.
- Go to your Windows download folder and click on the Windows USB/DVD tool and run it. You can either double-click on it and right-click on it and run it as administrator.
- You will see welcome the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool setup wizard. Click on the next button to the bottom right
- You will be taken to another page that says “ready to install Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool. Just click on the “Install” button to begin installing the Windows USB/DVD tool.
- Wait until the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool is successfully installed. The whole process should last for a couple of minutes depending on the strength of your network connection. Once the installation process is completed click on the finish button.
You can install the Windows USB/DVD download tool on Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. While compiling this tutorial, the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool is installed on Windows 10.
How to use Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
The Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool is very easy to use to create a bootable ISO file on your USB drive or DVD. To start with, you need the Windows ISO file. If you want to burn Windows 7 ISO file on your USB/DVD you need to download the Windows 7 ISO file. Also, if you want to burn Windows 8 ISO file on USB/DVD, you first need to download Windows 8 ISO file.
Here is a step-by-step to download Windows ISO file from the Microsoft website.
- Click on the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool from your computer’s desktop. You will be asked to grant an administrative right, do just that by clicking on the “OK” button.
- Browser for file source and select the Windows ISO file from your computer directory and click on the “Next” button
- Insert your USB/DVD drive into your computer and select the USB or DVD drive name to create a copy of the Windows ISO file on the selected drive
- Select “Begin burning” from the drop menu to start burning the Windows ISO file on the select device (USB or DVD)
When your Windows ISO file is copied to your USB or DVD depending on your choice, you can now install the Windows by moving to the root folder of your DVD or USB drive.
When next you want to install the Windows ISO file on another device using the USB/DVD double-click on the “install.exe” or “right-click” on the install.exe and run as administrator.