I know there's a guide to making Windows 7 installer USB disks. Is there a way to make a large (8GB) flash drive into a permanent Windows 7 hybrid x86/x64 installer on one partition, while still retaining the ability to store data on another partition in the FAT32 filesystem for Mac compatibility?
![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
Permanent Windows 7 Installer on USB
- Thread starter Sovereign
- Start date
GushpinBob
2[H]4U
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2007
- Messages
- 2,721
Um, both versions DO get along on the same disc/flash drive. You just have make sure that you're using the 32-bit boot loader/installer to get it to work. I have a USB stick with both x86 and x64 editions of Windows 7 and I've never had a problem installing either edition on some of the computers I own (some have 64-bit CPUs while others have 32-bit only CPUs).
Anyway OP, I don't think it's possible to make a multi-partition USB flash drive and expect it to install Windows. There is, however, an ongoing project that brings NTFS compatibility to OS X. Google "NTFS-3g for Mac".
DeaconFrost
[H]F Junkie
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2007
- Messages
- 11,582
I've been looking for a guide for this for some time now. I know I've seen screenshots that let you select not only which version, but which platform...in the same installer.
Hi, Sovereign and DeaconFrost,
Check extide's thread to see if that might meet your needs.
Hope this helps.
Chuklr
They work for clean installs, but not for Repairs (at least not 64-bit Repairs). Incomplete functionality = don't play nice.
staknhalo
Supreme [H]ardness
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2007
- Messages
- 6,924
Check MSFN, they have a guide to do what you want exactly there for Vista. Should be almost the same for 7. Sorry for lack of links, blame the vodka making me lazy 
Oh, I jumped in without reading the fine print once again. I have a link for what he wants. Or has that already been posted?
http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/12/-the-usb-flash-drive.ars
Only in part.
YES, it is possible to do a dual 32/64-bit installer. That I did not know, thank you.
It has not yet been determined whether this installer can be sequestered off onto a partition so the other half of the drive can be formatted as FAT32 and used for data only.
YES, it is possible to do a dual 32/64-bit installer. That I did not know, thank you.
It has not yet been determined whether this installer can be sequestered off onto a partition so the other half of the drive can be formatted as FAT32 and used for data only.
I have used an external USB harddrive to make an install partition, then the rest NTFS, it seemed to work OK.
If you want to make a single all version install disk or USB flash drive, you can use imageX or GimageX (I would recommend GimageX)
I have an 8GB memory stick with both English and Chinese Windows 7 in 32 and 64bit, + Server 2008 R2 64bit, I'm pretty sure you could even include Vista on the same installer too, I havn't bothered though...
If you want to make a single all version install disk or USB flash drive, you can use imageX or GimageX (I would recommend GimageX)
I have an 8GB memory stick with both English and Chinese Windows 7 in 32 and 64bit, + Server 2008 R2 64bit, I'm pretty sure you could even include Vista on the same installer too, I havn't bothered though...