Create a bootable Windows 7 USB drive from an ISO on a mac

jsu_aggie · 01-10-2013, 10:23 PM

I have a bootable ISO image of Windows 7 Professional. I am seeking the commands to create a bootable USB drive using the ISO and my mac. I know this can be done since this functionality is inherent to Bootcamp. I have tried the followingh commands in Terminal with no success:

sudo dd if=/dev/path to iso of=path to USB drive bs=2m

I have executed this command using a USB drive formatted as FAT32 and I have also used the commands with a drive formatted as free space. Neither booted my Windows PC. I have also partitioned, ran fdisk to select an active partition then formatted the active partition. I then ran the command above, selecting the active partition as the destination. Also, I have also tried the root level of the USB drive.

Nothing has worked. I know OS X can do this, what am I missing?

DeltaMac · 01-11-2013, 08:45 AM

Probably most important - is the partition scheme.
You can check that on your Mac in Disk Utility.
Info on the disk should show that the partition map scheme is:
Master Boot Record (MBR)

If the partition map is something else (like Apple Partition Map, or GUID partition table) most PCs won't boot, regardless of what is on the USB drive.

If you partition your USB drive while running Windows, then the MBR should be correct.
I try to format the flash drive on Windows.
If that's not an option for you, then run Disk Utility on your flash drive, Select the device in the list of volumes (that's the line with manufacturer's data, and not the partition name line) Go to the partition tab, and make sure to check the Option for Master Boot Record. You'll need to change the Volume Scheme (probably to 1 Partition) before you can select the Options.
I would likely choose MS-DOS(fat), although free should work, too.

fracai · 01-11-2013, 12:26 PM

What functionality do you think is "inherent to Bootcamp"? You're expected to bring your own installation media and Bootcamp just provides partitioning help and drivers.

Also, are you sure that ISO image is bootable? Did you create it yourself and have tested it by burning a disc that you've used to boot another machine?

How did you create the ISO? And if you got it from a vendor, did it include instructions on creating a bootable flash drive?

Dumping the ISO to the drive using dd would have been my suggestion as well, but note that that will blow away whatever partition scheme is already on the flash drive. If the ISO doesn't contain such information or it isn't a scheme that allows booting from a USB device, you're out of luck.

jsu_aggie · 01-11-2013, 08:04 PM

fraci,

I was referring to Terminal. I am assuming that bootcamp uses terminal commands in the background. The ISO comes from an image of my windows 7 pro disc. I have checked, and it is bootable.

I have partitioned the usb drive as MBR and used the dd command to copy the image to the USB. The drive still does not boot my system.

DeltaMac · 01-11-2013, 09:26 PM

It's unclear about how you intend to use that USB stick.
In your first post, you implied that you have a Windows PC, in addition to a Mac?
Are you trying to boot to a Mac? or to something else (meaning a non-Apple computer)
If a normal Windows PC, is the BIOS set to allow booting to a USB device.

If you already have a PC, why not just use that to make your proper USB bootable installer?

jsu_aggie · 01-12-2013, 01:47 PM

I am going to boot a Windows PC. The PC supports USB booting and is set to do so.

DeltaMac · 01-12-2013, 02:20 PM

This article appears to have everything you need to make a bootable Windows install on a USB flash drive - using Boot Camp Assistant.
http://kb.iu.edu/data/bciz.html
That process also lets you avoid using the terminal.
Can you get that to work (which means booting up your PC from your flash drive, eh?)

jsu_aggie · 01-14-2013, 09:59 AM

DeltaMac,

Thanks for the link to the article. My macbook does not support creating a bootable USB of Windows. It is an older model. I am trying to duplicate the functionality of Bootcamp using Terminal. I am hoping someone out there knows what commands Bootcamp is using to create the bootable Windows USB.

Anyway, thanks; we are headed in the right direction.

DeltaMac · 01-14-2013, 11:22 AM

I'm guessing that you didn't try that function in Bootcamp yourself (irrespective of the idea that you understand it's not supported by your hardware)?
Then, it follows that if the creation of the Windows USB stick is not supported on your hardware, then what would you hope to gain by trying the same operation through the terminal - that may still not work (because it's not supported by your present hardware)?

Finally, you really didn't answer my question, so I'll re-phrase...
If you have a PC - with Windows - why not just use that computer to make the USB Win installer stick? Microsoft apparently has a downloadable app to make that task simple - in Windows...
Or, is this all just a challenge that you have set for yourself?

jsu_aggie · 01-14-2013, 06:51 PM

DeltaMac

I know a windows PC could do it. I want to do it with Terminal. I am a mac guy. Oh, I did try Bootcamp on my Macbook, that's how I knew it wouldn't work.

You got it, its a challenge.

01-10-2013, 10:23 PM	#1
jsu_aggie Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 24	Create a bootable Windows 7 USB drive from an ISO on a mac I have a bootable ISO image of Windows 7 Professional. I am seeking the commands to create a bootable USB drive using the ISO and my mac. I know this can be done since this functionality is inherent to Bootcamp. I have tried the followingh commands in Terminal with no success: sudo dd if=/dev/path to iso of=path to USB drive bs=2m I have executed this command using a USB drive formatted as FAT32 and I have also used the commands with a drive formatted as free space. Neither booted my Windows PC. I have also partitioned, ran fdisk to select an active partition then formatted the active partition. I then ran the command above, selecting the active partition as the destination. Also, I have also tried the root level of the USB drive. Nothing has worked. I know OS X can do this, what am I missing?

01-11-2013, 12:26 PM	#3
fracai MVP Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,012	What functionality do you think is "inherent to Bootcamp"? You're expected to bring your own installation media and Bootcamp just provides partitioning help and drivers. Also, are you sure that ISO image is bootable? Did you create it yourself and have tested it by burning a disc that you've used to boot another machine? How did you create the ISO? And if you got it from a vendor, did it include instructions on creating a bootable flash drive? Dumping the ISO to the drive using dd would have been my suggestion as well, but note that that will blow away whatever partition scheme is already on the flash drive. If the ISO doesn't contain such information or it isn't a scheme that allows booting from a USB device, you're out of luck. __________________ i am jack's amusing sig file
$fracai is offline$

01-12-2013, 01:47 PM	#6
jsu_aggie Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 24	I am going to boot a Windows PC. The PC supports USB booting and is set to do so. Last edited by jsu_aggie; 01-12-2013 at 01:50 PM.

01-14-2013, 06:51 PM	#10
jsu_aggie Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 24	DeltaMac I know a windows PC could do it. I want to do it with Terminal. I am a mac guy. Oh, I did try Bootcamp on my Macbook, that's how I knew it wouldn't work. You got it, its a challenge. Last edited by jsu_aggie; 01-14-2013 at 06:55 PM.

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01-11-2013, 08:45 AM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	Probably most important - is the partition scheme. You can check that on your Mac in Disk Utility. Info on the disk should show that the partition map scheme is: Master Boot Record (MBR) If the partition map is something else (like Apple Partition Map, or GUID partition table) most PCs won't boot, regardless of what is on the USB drive. If you partition your USB drive while running Windows, then the MBR should be correct. I try to format the flash drive on Windows. If that's not an option for you, then run Disk Utility on your flash drive, Select the device in the list of volumes (that's the line with manufacturer's data, and not the partition name line) Go to the partition tab, and make sure to check the Option for Master Boot Record. You'll need to change the Volume Scheme (probably to 1 Partition) before you can select the Options. I would likely choose MS-DOS(fat), although free should work, too.

01-11-2013, 08:04 PM	#4
jsu_aggie Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 24	fraci, I was referring to Terminal. I am assuming that bootcamp uses terminal commands in the background. The ISO comes from an image of my windows 7 pro disc. I have checked, and it is bootable. I have partitioned the usb drive as MBR and used the dd command to copy the image to the USB. The drive still does not boot my system.

01-11-2013, 09:26 PM	#5
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	It's unclear about how you intend to use that USB stick. In your first post, you implied that you have a Windows PC, in addition to a Mac? Are you trying to boot to a Mac? or to something else (meaning a non-Apple computer) If a normal Windows PC, is the BIOS set to allow booting to a USB device. If you already have a PC, why not just use that to make your proper USB bootable installer?

01-12-2013, 02:20 PM	#7
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	This article appears to have everything you need to make a bootable Windows install on a USB flash drive - using Boot Camp Assistant. http://kb.iu.edu/data/bciz.html That process also lets you avoid using the terminal. Can you get that to work (which means booting up your PC from your flash drive, eh?)

01-14-2013, 09:59 AM	#8
jsu_aggie Prospect Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 24	DeltaMac, Thanks for the link to the article. My macbook does not support creating a bootable USB of Windows. It is an older model. I am trying to duplicate the functionality of Bootcamp using Terminal. I am hoping someone out there knows what commands Bootcamp is using to create the bootable Windows USB. Anyway, thanks; we are headed in the right direction.

01-14-2013, 11:22 AM	#9
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,957	I'm guessing that you didn't try that function in Bootcamp yourself (irrespective of the idea that you understand it's not supported by your hardware)? Then, it follows that if the creation of the Windows USB stick is not supported on your hardware, then what would you hope to gain by trying the same operation through the terminal - that may still not work (because it's not supported by your present hardware)? Finally, you really didn't answer my question, so I'll re-phrase... If you have a PC - with Windows - why not just use that computer to make the USB Win installer stick? Microsoft apparently has a downloadable app to make that task simple - in Windows... Or, is this all just a challenge that you have set for yourself?