Why can't I create a bootable Win7 flash by simply dd'ing the .iso to /dev/sd*?

It so happens that I need to install Win7 on a PC with a brand new blank HDD (the old one failed). I have the needed .iso file (on my Android tablet) and the only place I can stuff a USB flash into is my ASUS router ;)
I presumed that if I simply telnet into my router (the .iso is on another flash) and perform

umount /dev/sdc

dd if=ru_windows_7_home_premium_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_676728.iso of=/dev/sdc

then it should create an exact copy of the iso with MBR and all, regardless of what OS is there. But no such luck: after dd completes (it takes quite a while) the USB is unbootable and unreadable. What am I doing (or thinking) wrong?

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

1

Remember that while your bios might be able to boot any media it likes (USB, CD, HDD) the thing installed on that media (windows installer) also needs the right drivers in all the right places to read from the media. If the windows bootloader is intended for a CD, it might not understand what a USB stick is.

– Philip Couling
Feb 18 at 14:25

I like the idea of installing Gnu/Linux, and Virtual Box, and putting MS-Windows in the box. It is easier, and safer.

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:06

add a comment |

umount /dev/sdc

dd if=ru_windows_7_home_premium_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_676728.iso of=/dev/sdc

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

1

Remember that while your bios might be able to boot any media it likes (USB, CD, HDD) the thing installed on that media (windows installer) also needs the right drivers in all the right places to read from the media. If the windows bootloader is intended for a CD, it might not understand what a USB stick is.

– Philip Couling
Feb 18 at 14:25

I like the idea of installing Gnu/Linux, and Virtual Box, and putting MS-Windows in the box. It is easier, and safer.

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:06

add a comment |

umount /dev/sdc

dd if=ru_windows_7_home_premium_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_676728.iso of=/dev/sdc

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

umount /dev/sdc

dd if=ru_windows_7_home_premium_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_676728.iso of=/dev/sdc

dd iso

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

edited Feb 18 at 20:01

Rui F Ribeiro

41.1k1480138

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

asked Feb 18 at 14:01

Marassa

1

Remember that while your bios might be able to boot any media it likes (USB, CD, HDD) the thing installed on that media (windows installer) also needs the right drivers in all the right places to read from the media. If the windows bootloader is intended for a CD, it might not understand what a USB stick is.

– Philip Couling
Feb 18 at 14:25

I like the idea of installing Gnu/Linux, and Virtual Box, and putting MS-Windows in the box. It is easier, and safer.

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:06

add a comment |

1

Remember that while your bios might be able to boot any media it likes (USB, CD, HDD) the thing installed on that media (windows installer) also needs the right drivers in all the right places to read from the media. If the windows bootloader is intended for a CD, it might not understand what a USB stick is.

– Philip Couling
Feb 18 at 14:25

I like the idea of installing Gnu/Linux, and Virtual Box, and putting MS-Windows in the box. It is easier, and safer.

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:06

Remember that while your bios might be able to boot any media it likes (USB, CD, HDD) the thing installed on that media (windows installer) also needs the right drivers in all the right places to read from the media. If the windows bootloader is intended for a CD, it might not understand what a USB stick is.

– Philip Couling
Feb 18 at 14:25

I like the idea of installing Gnu/Linux, and Virtual Box, and putting MS-Windows in the box. It is easier, and safer.

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:06

add a comment |

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

1> make your thumb-drive a linux-live drive (same procedure you said before)

2> boot your computer from that live linux

3> use your PC disk drive to burn 'windows' ISO onto a DVD

4> restart your pc with DVD in

Or easier:

1> Call a friend and ask to use his pc to burn your 'windows' dvd

2> start your pc with new dvd in

3> launch windows setup

4> offer a beer (or some vodka) to your friend and enjoy

5> reboot your PC

again:

1> Make a 'live linux usb' (same as 1st way)

2> Install linux on your pc

3> Install Virtualbox

4> Install windows into virtual machine

edited Feb 18 at 14:28

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

Wow, that sounds brilliant - I'm off to google up "linux-live" and where to get one ;)

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:24

I would have used the "easier" way if I were not down with a flu ;) Don't really want to leave home with a fever.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:27

Get well soon! 123

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:34

Must be still doing something wrong - got a Slax .iso (first to come up in search), used the same dd command (took much less time as Slax is much smaller than Windows) but still the PC won't boot off it and the router won't mount it..

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:53

dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sdc conv=fdatasync Also check the distro you downloaded is UEFI-compatible

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:55

|
show 8 more comments

There are strange dependencies between file-systems, and storage media, in both MS-Windows, and PC firmware boot-loaders.

ISO images are for CDs, not usb-storage. Some ISO images are hybrid, but not all.

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

As for file systems, I presumed that dd would write on a lower level, wiping out whatever file system was there before and creating the whatever file system is part of the iso file. Your second point must be the reason - the problem is I have no idea how to check or make it "hybrid". There are articles on creating Win7 bootable flash drives on Linux, they all involve custom GUI software that obviously won't run on my router... Apparently this software exists for a reason and there is no easy way.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:21

ISO 9660, is a file-system, for CDs en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:04

add a comment |

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

Or easier:

again:

1> Make a 'live linux usb' (same as 1st way)

2> Install linux on your pc

3> Install Virtualbox

4> Install windows into virtual machine

edited Feb 18 at 14:28

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

Wow, that sounds brilliant - I'm off to google up "linux-live" and where to get one ;)

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:24

I would have used the "easier" way if I were not down with a flu ;) Don't really want to leave home with a fever.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:27

Get well soon! 123

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:34

Must be still doing something wrong - got a Slax .iso (first to come up in search), used the same dd command (took much less time as Slax is much smaller than Windows) but still the PC won't boot off it and the router won't mount it..

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:53

dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sdc conv=fdatasync Also check the distro you downloaded is UEFI-compatible

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:55

|
show 8 more comments

Or easier:

again:

1> Make a 'live linux usb' (same as 1st way)

2> Install linux on your pc

3> Install Virtualbox

4> Install windows into virtual machine

edited Feb 18 at 14:28

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

Wow, that sounds brilliant - I'm off to google up "linux-live" and where to get one ;)

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:24

I would have used the "easier" way if I were not down with a flu ;) Don't really want to leave home with a fever.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:27

Get well soon! 123

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:34

Must be still doing something wrong - got a Slax .iso (first to come up in search), used the same dd command (took much less time as Slax is much smaller than Windows) but still the PC won't boot off it and the router won't mount it..

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:53

dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sdc conv=fdatasync Also check the distro you downloaded is UEFI-compatible

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:55

|
show 8 more comments

Or easier:

again:

1> Make a 'live linux usb' (same as 1st way)

2> Install linux on your pc

3> Install Virtualbox

4> Install windows into virtual machine

edited Feb 18 at 14:28

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

Or easier:

again:

1> Make a 'live linux usb' (same as 1st way)

2> Install linux on your pc

3> Install Virtualbox

4> Install windows into virtual machine

edited Feb 18 at 14:28

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

edited Feb 18 at 14:28

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

answered Feb 18 at 14:20

DDS

22910

Wow, that sounds brilliant - I'm off to google up "linux-live" and where to get one ;)

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:24

I would have used the "easier" way if I were not down with a flu ;) Don't really want to leave home with a fever.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:27

Get well soon! 123

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:34

Must be still doing something wrong - got a Slax .iso (first to come up in search), used the same dd command (took much less time as Slax is much smaller than Windows) but still the PC won't boot off it and the router won't mount it..

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:53

dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sdc conv=fdatasync Also check the distro you downloaded is UEFI-compatible

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:55

|
show 8 more comments

Wow, that sounds brilliant - I'm off to google up "linux-live" and where to get one ;)

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:24

I would have used the "easier" way if I were not down with a flu ;) Don't really want to leave home with a fever.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:27

Get well soon! 123

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:34

Must be still doing something wrong - got a Slax .iso (first to come up in search), used the same dd command (took much less time as Slax is much smaller than Windows) but still the PC won't boot off it and the router won't mount it..

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:53

dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sdc conv=fdatasync Also check the distro you downloaded is UEFI-compatible

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:55

Wow, that sounds brilliant - I'm off to google up "linux-live" and where to get one ;)

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:24

I would have used the "easier" way if I were not down with a flu ;) Don't really want to leave home with a fever.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:27

Get well soon! 123

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:34

Must be still doing something wrong - got a Slax .iso (first to come up in search), used the same dd command (took much less time as Slax is much smaller than Windows) but still the PC won't boot off it and the router won't mount it..

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:53

dd bs=4M if=input.iso of=/dev/sdc conv=fdatasync Also check the distro you downloaded is UEFI-compatible

– DDS
Feb 18 at 14:55

|
show 8 more comments

There are strange dependencies between file-systems, and storage media, in both MS-Windows, and PC firmware boot-loaders.

ISO images are for CDs, not usb-storage. Some ISO images are hybrid, but not all.

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

As for file systems, I presumed that dd would write on a lower level, wiping out whatever file system was there before and creating the whatever file system is part of the iso file. Your second point must be the reason - the problem is I have no idea how to check or make it "hybrid". There are articles on creating Win7 bootable flash drives on Linux, they all involve custom GUI software that obviously won't run on my router... Apparently this software exists for a reason and there is no easy way.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:21

ISO 9660, is a file-system, for CDs en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:04

add a comment |

There are strange dependencies between file-systems, and storage media, in both MS-Windows, and PC firmware boot-loaders.

ISO images are for CDs, not usb-storage. Some ISO images are hybrid, but not all.

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

As for file systems, I presumed that dd would write on a lower level, wiping out whatever file system was there before and creating the whatever file system is part of the iso file. Your second point must be the reason - the problem is I have no idea how to check or make it "hybrid". There are articles on creating Win7 bootable flash drives on Linux, they all involve custom GUI software that obviously won't run on my router... Apparently this software exists for a reason and there is no easy way.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:21

ISO 9660, is a file-system, for CDs en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:04

add a comment |

There are strange dependencies between file-systems, and storage media, in both MS-Windows, and PC firmware boot-loaders.

ISO images are for CDs, not usb-storage. Some ISO images are hybrid, but not all.

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

There are strange dependencies between file-systems, and storage media, in both MS-Windows, and PC firmware boot-loaders.

ISO images are for CDs, not usb-storage. Some ISO images are hybrid, but not all.

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

answered Feb 18 at 14:06

ctrl-alt-delor

11.9k42260

As for file systems, I presumed that dd would write on a lower level, wiping out whatever file system was there before and creating the whatever file system is part of the iso file. Your second point must be the reason - the problem is I have no idea how to check or make it "hybrid". There are articles on creating Win7 bootable flash drives on Linux, they all involve custom GUI software that obviously won't run on my router... Apparently this software exists for a reason and there is no easy way.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:21

ISO 9660, is a file-system, for CDs en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:04

add a comment |

As for file systems, I presumed that dd would write on a lower level, wiping out whatever file system was there before and creating the whatever file system is part of the iso file. Your second point must be the reason - the problem is I have no idea how to check or make it "hybrid". There are articles on creating Win7 bootable flash drives on Linux, they all involve custom GUI software that obviously won't run on my router... Apparently this software exists for a reason and there is no easy way.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:21

ISO 9660, is a file-system, for CDs en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:04

As for file systems, I presumed that dd would write on a lower level, wiping out whatever file system was there before and creating the whatever file system is part of the iso file. Your second point must be the reason - the problem is I have no idea how to check or make it "hybrid". There are articles on creating Win7 bootable flash drives on Linux, they all involve custom GUI software that obviously won't run on my router... Apparently this software exists for a reason and there is no easy way.

– Marassa
Feb 18 at 14:21

ISO 9660, is a file-system, for CDs en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9660

– ctrl-alt-delor
Feb 18 at 20:04

add a comment |

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