Vista - USB Bootable Vista Installation Flash Thumb Drive

No, you can create the x64 bit operating system install key in x32 or x64 bit WinXP, Vista or Win 7.
But the x64 bit setup.exe will not run in a x32bit operating system.

For a machine with other operating sysyems on various partitions (multi-boot).
If you wish to install Win 7 from a key and keep your drive assignments you must run the install from a x64 bit operating system.

If you boot from the key and install it to any partition it will always install with the drive assignment as C: whether it be any partition on the drive.
If you run the setup in a pre-existing running x64 operating system then you can do an upgrade install to that system and it will have the drive assignment of that system.
If you run the setup in a pre-existing running x64 operating system and install it to another partition then it will inherit the drive assignments you have for the operating system you installed it out of.

Hey Zaphire, thanks for the response.

Just to be sure though, so there isnt any confusion. Theoretically I could follow Brink's guide and within Windows XP 32 bit I could create a bootable USB drive for Windows Vista 64 bit, correct?

I read elsewhere that you cannot because 'bootsect.exe' differs between a 32 bit OS and a 64 bit OS.

I have always used the Ultra ISO method to make my keys and have successfully used this method to make a working x64 key from within Vista x32.
I have used this key to both 'upgrade' and do 'clean installs' of Win7 x64.

I cannot comment on the other method.

Hello Hhare, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You can create a 64-bit USB key in a 32-bit OS using METHOD ONE with Ultra ISO, but not everyone has been able to with METHOD TWO.

Shawn

Thank you very much for the help guys! I just recently bought a brand new computer, and it will be my first with 64 bit. Newegg is giving me a couple free USB sticks with some of the purchases I made so I thought I might do it this way instead of wasting a dvd. Thanks again!

You're welcome Hhara. Post back if you have any problems.

i wondering how about if i want to put windows xp, windows vista and windows 7 installation in one USB, since now many usb capacity is more that 10 gigs..

anyone have tried to do that?

this is 2 or more windows installation in one usb disb

Think the problem would be each os has its own boot files so not sure how you would manage it. Doesnt mean it can't be done just sounds impossible to me.

hi shawn
some people just do copy and paste vista or seven dvd contents in usb flash memory and they install vista or seven whit it.
why we are doing this steps
is there any reason?

Hello nonpasaran, and welcome to vista forums. The people your referring to, might copy the DVD contents to the USB drive and perform the install while still on the primary OS (eg: Perform the install from within XP). But the directly copied files are still there in the USB drive; but the USB drive isn't bootable. So if you need to boot from it (suppose you are using a newer version of windows you can't install an older one from within the OS) it can't be bootable. So you need to perform these steps.

Hope this helps