Creating a bootable Windows 7 x64 flash drive from within a 32-bit install of Windows is not as straight forward as it may seem. I recently had to go through this process myself, so I’ll document the steps below.
Things you’ll need
- Windows 7 x64 disc image
- Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
- 32-bit bootsect.exe
Create the installer
- Install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
- Extract the 32-bit bootsect.exe file to the directory that the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool was installed to. This is usually something like “C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Apps\Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool“.
- Run the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool and select your Windows 7 disc image. Follow the remaining steps in this tool and your image should be created successfully!
If you’ve followed these steps and your flash installer was created successfully then your next step is to, of course, install Windows 7! Don’t forget to change your boot options to load from USB!
This information is scattered on the web and slightly detailed on the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool page, but I was not able to find a guide laid out as simplified as the one I’ve provided above. In most tutorials they suggest that you download the entire 32-bit iso in order to get the 32-bit bootsect.exe application, but I’ve made that step a lot less troublesome. Hopefully this has helped you!
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Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/535.19 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/18.0.1025.140 Safari/535.19
Thank you for supplying the 32-bit bootsect file
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:15.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/15.0.1
Seriously, thanks a million! finding all the steps to complete this clean install has been a pain in the @$$.
you made it far easier 
TY.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0) AppleWebKit/535.19 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/18.0.1025.152 Safari/535.19
This was so great. I’ve been searching for the 32-bit bootsect file for so long, and I was just about to go ahead and download the entire 32-bit iso. Thankfully I found your page!
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 6.0; SLCC1; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; Media Center PC 5.0; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET CLR 3.0.30618)
Thank you.
It helps a lot!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.8) Gecko/20100722 Firefox/3.6.8
Thank you mate for providing the bootsect.exe file.. Thanks alot.. Much appreciated!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64) AppleWebKit/536.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/20.0.1132.47 Safari/536.11
amazing
thanks a lot for the painless process!!!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:13.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/13.0.1
I did everything you suggested everything goes great until the first restart and then it loops back to the beginning and wants to reinstall Win7 X64. Yes, the BIOS is set to see the USB stick as the first thing to load. Yes, all non-essentials are removed from the computer.
This is a clean install on a new HDD.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:13.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/13.0.1
You must remove usb pen on reboot or it will read usb again and go back to install
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/536.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/20.0.1132.57 Safari/536.11
THANK YOU SO MUCH ! Now, I can reinstall windows 7 on my broken PC
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0) AppleWebKit/536.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/20.0.1132.57 Safari/536.11
You’re an absolute lifesaver.
I’ve been skipping from place to place for five or six hours and when I saw your three step process laid out above… Well. I about died.
I bought a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium along with a new mobo and processor. The new board is SATA only and my DVD drive is IDE. I felt like such a tool until I realised I could put the install on a USB stick. Then I went back to feeling like an idiot when I couldn’t work out how to make a bootable USB stick.
Finally I found your page which has everything I needed to know set out clearly and succinctly! It’s a mini adventure and I’ve not even started trying to find 64 bit drivers…
Cheers!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:13.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/13.0.1
Thanks for the bootsect!! You have saved my day!!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:14.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/14.0.1
Thanks a lot. Your trick helped me do that easily.Now i can test windows 8 easily.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1) AppleWebKit/537.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/22.0.1201.0 Safari/537.1
You’re the man!!!
I have searched hours for this, and you didn’t even only provide the steps necessary to get this to work but also the necessary files.
Thanks a lot!
Rob
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 5.1; Trident/4.0; EasyBits GO v1.0; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.4506.2152; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; .NET4.0C; InfoPath.3)
I just want to offer my sincere thanks. I don’t understand why Microsoft don’t just do that. I have been chatting to them online and they directed me to a long and cumbersome process (despite the fact that getting to the point of recognising the missing bootsect.exe file was rather cumbersome in itself!). So thanks to all of you people who know what you’re doing and are willing to share your solutions with all the rest of us.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0; rv:12.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/12.0
Thanks so much! You saved my day!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/21.0.1180.79 Safari/537.1
Hey thank you for this guide. I had my doubts BUT it worked the first time when I followed your instructions exactly. Cheers
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0) AppleWebKit/537.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/21.0.1180.83 Safari/537.1
Awesome! thanks for this, it was super easy, and helpful.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:14.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/14.0.1
I did everything as said but I get the same error over and over: Copying files succesful, however, the bootsect didn’t work and the usb is not bootable.
I downloaded the bootsect, extracted it properly, I have the right .iso and the program to put it on the usb. Any ideas?
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:17.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/17.0
Lou
September 7, 2012 at 12:36 pm
using Firefox 14.0.1 Firefox 14.0.1 on Windows XP Windows XP
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:14.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/14.0.1
I did everything as said but I get the same error over and over: Copying files succesful, however, the bootsect didn’t work and the usb is not bootable.
I downloaded the bootsect, extracted it properly, I have the right .iso and the program to put it on the usb. Any ideas?
———
hello, i have the exact problem!
did you find the solution?
Opera/9.80 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en) Presto/2.10.289 Version/12.01
Will this work if I’m currently running Windows XP? If not, could somebody please explain how to create a bootable windows 7 x64 install flash drive from Windows XP? Is this possible?
Opera/9.80 (X11; Linux x86_64; Edition Next) Presto/2.12.378 Version/12.50
It will work.
Opera/9.80 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en) Presto/2.10.289 Version/12.01
When I attempt it I get “NTLDR is missing”
Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Ubuntu; Linux i686; rv:15.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/15.0
hello, I can’t Create a Bootable Windows 7 x64 Install Flash Drive from 32-bit virtual Windows xp.
my main system is ubuntu 12.04, virtualbox is running inside, VB run windows xp, where I’ve downloaded all the files for bootablelity I’ve tried to do the same with a linux usb bootable creator but not into my virtual windows xp
help, please
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:16.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/16.0
Bootsect looks safe according to virustotal: https://www.virustotal.com/file/8d9cc60f938a4ea6a66c7b8cf383be97843adf6f120c2c47ef91b9b8e1f01c72/analysis/1349121947/
I’m gonna test this right now, wish me luck!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0) AppleWebKit/537.4 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/22.0.1229.79 Safari/537.4
Yo, thnx for savin’ my day and night. Cheers bruv!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1) AppleWebKit/537.4 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/22.0.1229.94 Safari/537.4
Thank you so much! The bootsect.exe trick worked beautifully! You saved my day!
Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; MSIE 9.0; Windows NT 6.1; Trident/5.0)
Big thanks!!! I read a lot of rubbish before I found out this… It works perfect! Thanks again!
Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; MSIE 9.0; Windows NT 6.1; Trident/5.0)
What a star – it’s taken me ages to get a solution – thank you very much! Jeremy
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.4 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/22.0.1229.94 Safari/537.4
awesome !! thought it wouldnt be possible ..ut u made a gem of atrick to install from 32 bit
kudos !
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1) AppleWebKit/537.4 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/22.0.1229.94 Safari/537.4
Thank you so much …….
Micro$oft sucks
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/23.0.1271.64 Safari/537.11
I think that I LOVE YOU
you´ve saved my life THANK YOU
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/23.0.1271.64 Safari/537.11
Thanks original poster! It worked wonderfully. I had to search many places before I found your easy solution.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:16.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/16.0
thx a looooooooooooooooooooooot u made my day best one eeeeeeeeeeever
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:2.0.1) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/4.0.1
thxa lot .
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1) AppleWebKit/537.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/23.0.1271.64 Safari/537.11
i have windows xp 32 bit.i searched everywhere for C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Apps\Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool.i cant find that location.i have this C:\Documents and Settings\chendog\Start Menu\Programs\Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1) AppleWebKit/537.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/24.0.1312.52 Safari/537.17
-Open “Start Menu”
-Right click on “Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool”
-Select “Properties”
-Left click “Find Target…”
That will take you to the file location in Windows Explorer
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0) AppleWebKit/537.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/24.0.1312.52 Safari/537.17
This path on my computer was a SHORTCUT to the tool not the installation directory:
C:\Documents and Settings\chendog\Start Menu\Programs\Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool
The actual installation directory was as follows, so copy the bootsect.exe. file here
C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Apps\Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0; rv:17.0) Gecko/17.0 Firefox/17.0
Why doesn’t Microsoft make it this easy?
Thanks a lot, this was really helpful and I couldn’t find the bootsect for this (or what I found wasn’t trust worthy).
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/23.0.1271.95 Safari/537.11 AlexaToolbar/alxg-3.1
I have a question.
Thank you for all these, but what is when i have an installed system, like Win7 Home premium 32 bit.
I wanna install Win7 64bit, will my files stay on hdd or it will be deleted everything?
I dont have a partition, its everything C:\
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:17.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/17.0
Thanks for the trick and the bootsect app.
I found more than 10 tuto explaining it’s not possible to create a mixed bootable key (OS64 on a 32bits host)…
A big thank you again
Didier
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.2) AppleWebKit/537.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/23.0.1271.97 Safari/537.11
Thanks dude!!!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:17.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/17.0
Great! Thanks for your help.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:17.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/17.0
I’m grateful for your help
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/23.0.1271.95 Safari/537.11
You are a lifesaver, thanks!
Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 8.0; Windows NT 5.1; Trident/4.0; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.30; .NET CLR 3.0.4506.2152; .NET CLR 3.5.30729)
you should be in charge of Microsoft mate, thanks
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1) AppleWebKit/537.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/23.0.1271.97 Safari/537.11
Thanks, saved me the hassle of downloading and extracting that exe.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:17.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/17.0
DUDE!!! This save me a lot of time!! I’ve been walking around in circles tryin’ to figure out how I can make this pendrive… So many errors… There was the .iso error too, and this one? This is really a pain in the @ss… Thank you a lot!! Best Regards from Brazil!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.2; rv:18.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/18.0
thx a lot (hello from brazil:P)
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/24.0.1312.52 Safari/537.17
Thanks a lot, I couldn’t find that damn bootsect.exe file! Now I’ll see if I’ll be able to reboot from USB without the ‘invalid partition table’ error. Fingers crossed!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/24.0.1312.52 Safari/537.17
thanks very much yaar….
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; rv:18.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/18.0
It boots up and loads the files but it restarts itself back to the bios screen. Then tries again to load the USB and it restarts once again as it loads the windows files.
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/535.12 (KHTML, like Gecko) Maxthon/3.0 Chrome/18.0.966.0 Safari/535.12
Thank you!
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1) AppleWebKit/537.17 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/24.0.1312.57 Safari/537.17
Thanks very much! https://twitter.com/adamralph/status/297700443067412480