Step-by-step: A faster Windows 7 installation 1. Prepare the files Before you create your own Windows installation, you need to copy the files from your Windows 7 DVD to your computer.

An external DVD drive makes the installation process simpler, but Microsoft has detailed exactly how to install Windows 7 from a USB thumb drive or some other form of external storage.

Installing Windows from a USB is okay, but have you ever considered installing multiple versions of Windows, like say, Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8,1, and Windows 7, from the same USB drive.

Related: In this article, you’ll learn how to make your own Windows 7 installation disc (or USB flash drive) and use the valid product key you already have to perform a fresh reinstallation.

If Windows 11/10 is not installing from USB, download and install the Intel RST driver for storage, change USB format to FAT32, etc. to resolve the issue.

If the system on which you plan to install Windows 7 is already running Windows XP, Vista, or en earlier version of Windows 7, you can start the setup program from within Windows.