Update: This guide no longer works. Please follow the latest How to create multiboot USB flash drive with Windows 7 and Windows XP guide.
After reading our how to install Windows 7 from USB, and installing Windows 7 on external hard drive guides, several readers have been asking us about creating a multi-boot USB with XP and Windows 7 on it.
In this guide, we will show you how to create a multi-boot Windows USB flash drive with Windows XP and Windows 7. Once you have this multi-boot USB, you will be able to install XP and Windows 7 from the USB stick.
Required things:
1. A USB flash drive with a minimum of 4 GB space
2. Windows 7 installation DVD
3. Windows XP installation CD/DVD
Create Windows 7 and XP multiboot USB drive
1. Connect the USB flash drive to your Windows machine and move data present on the USB flash drive to a safer location.
2. Download WinSetupFromUSB Zip file, extract the contents to the desktop. Open the folder, right-click on WinSetupFromUSB (.exe) file and select Run as administrator option.
3. Once the tool launched, select the following options:
# Removable
# Windows will be installed in \WINDOWS
Also, make sure that your USB flash is shown in USB Disk Selection box. Once you are done with the above-mentioned tasks, click RMPrepUSB button.
4. This will launch RMPREPUSB tool. In this tool, you will need to enable the below-mentioned options.
A. Make sure that your USB flash drive is selected in the first box
B. Under Boot Options, select XP/BartPE bootable [NTLDR]
C. Under File System and OverRides section, select Boot as HDD (C:2PNST), and NTFS options
D. Select File –> USB option in Image Tools box
Finally, click Prepare Drive button to see a message from the tool. Click Ok button. Click Ok button on the next screen as well.
5. Wait for a few minutes till you get a Command Prompt message saying “Operation Completed”.
6. Close the PREPUSB tool.
7. Insert your XP CD/DVD into the optical drive. In the WinSetupFromUSB tool, click Browse button next to the Windows 2000/XP/2003 Source box to browse to the XP installation files present on your CD/DVD. Alternatively, if you have the XP installation files on a local drive, you can browse to that folder.
8. Click the Go button and wait for a few minutes to see the following screen:
Click Ok button. Remove the XP CD/DVD from the optical drive and insert Windows 7 DVD.
9. Select Vista/7 setup/PE/RecoveryISO option and browse to the Windows 7 installation files folder. Finally, click the Go button. Please note that this operation may take hours. Don’t close the application if you see “Not Responding” message in the title bar.
10. Wait for the Done message before you click the Exit button.
11. Now, it’s time to download another small file named Bootfiles from here. Extract the contents to the desktop. Copy menu.lst and winsetup.lst files to the USB flash drive and replace the old files with new ones. Click Copy and Replace option when you are prompted with the Copy File message.
12. Your multi-boot USB flash drive is ready. Reboot your machine and start installing XP or Windows 7 from the USB.
Note: When you select Windows XP setup in the boot screen, you will see two options:
First part of Windows XP setup
Second part of Windows XP setup
You should choose the first part of Windows XP setup, but on the following restarts you choose the second part of the setup.
Thanks to Jamal….
Update: This guide doesn’t work anymore. We have posted a new article with even more easy steps. Check out how to create multiboot Windows 7 and Windows XP USB flash drive article.
rey says
how about win7 and win8? still the same process?
Shovanlal Das says
It’s very good. Also use the upper version, like WinSetupFromUSB-1-2 and also use Windows 7 (Ulti.) & Win Xp SP_3. You properly follow those screen shot, you do not need the 11 no screen shot…….Good Luck……
M Kashif says
Here is the link of bootfile:
http://www.mediafire.com/?crwh66bb9wx7ixg
Loky says
thanks, it is working!
Tomb says
Awesome !!! I love it !!! Thanks a lot ………
dipu.m.g says
pls send me the link for downloading bootfiles
Steve Si says
Try my Easy2Boot Multiboot USB project. Just add all your Windows Install ISOs and go!
Michael Zach says
Yes!! it sill works, even without those two missing bootfiles.
I just installed dualboot xp + 7 successfully.
The only difference is to use “easyBCD” program in the very end instead those missing files. Don’t worry, it was easy:
You end up in win XP, and win7 probably wont work immediately.
So google EasyBCD, download it to your flash, run it from your XP (it requires NET framework 2.0 or higher to work, so download that one too)
I ran it from XP, clicked “BOOTLOAD ORDER” and “ADD WIN7 TO MBR” (or something like that). Then I clicked “ADD RECORD TO BOOT.INI”, “ADD WIN XP”, “ADD WIN7”
Only one error came up, so I booted into Win7, and added the second record into boot.ini from win7. Then it was ok. Thats all. Works great now.
Dan says
It says:
Update: This guide no longer works
Does this tutorial work or not?
Nihat YASAR says
Please send me the link for bootfiles
Nihat YA?AR says
Where is the link for menu.lst and winsetup.lst?
bigboss1517 says
please update the file of “menu.1st” and winsetup.1st” and bootfile link is expaired.
bigboss1517 says
Where is the bootfile?
sinnasamy says
send me the link for bootfile
thanks
azad says
plz tel me/send me the link to download
menu.lst and winsetup.lst file…..
kabuto66 says
please update the file of “menu.1st” and winsetup.1st”
mEdium says
Good guide, but
> “…download another small file named Bootfiles from…” WHERE?!
Roberto Bentoy says
i am using WinSetupFromUSB_0-2-3, I have successfully boot in UFD and able to do windowsetup. After this window setup installation i can not find the right hard drive to install. It ALWAYS appear the path of USB not the HDD that i am going to format. Whats wrong with my bootable USB?
Your help is highly appreciated.
Anik says
Plz provide me the boot files…
Tuseefi says
what is the bootfiles and where from i can download it?????
admin says
@ Chris
No, I didn’t. I had written this post back in 2010 and the ehow guide was posted in 2012. So, you can guess who copied from who? :-)
Chris says
Did you copied that tutorial ?
http://www.ehow.com/how_8357164_make-multiboot-flash-drive.html
satish kumar says
its really cool process for installation of win 7 form usb
thaks for providing such part…
thanks a lot …
admin says
It displays options to boot to both Windows XP and Windows 7.
Tigermoody says
If you load a Win 7 disk to the flash drive, when you go to install 7, does it give you every Operating System to choose from? Or just one?
geek says
Where is the link for menu.lst and winsetup.lst?
NIKUNJ says
It’s an amazing software.
And solid 100% success.
eugene says
where can i download you new menu.lst and winsetup.lst???
mark says
,your link on media fire regarding your file there for WinsetupfromUSB..,is already gone can u give us another link or tell us where to download it as an alternative..?
cris says
i forgot to do the “rmprepusb” part and now i can’t access my usb is there any thing that i can do to fix my usb?
Nick says
Okay.. I’m waiting for.. around 3-4 hours now for the second step(adding Windows7), Its ‘Not Responding’.. How long does it take ?
suryam says
i can insytall win 7 by this process but cant get xp
its telling that some file is missing….
thn how to make it possible again
sameer says
Hi,everyone.
This excellent tutorial. I have prepared flash drive with WinXP SP3, Win7 SP1 all versions!! Best one in all I tried before.
Sharad Choudhary says
thanks for the share but Win-7 installation is very slow as compared to win-Xp………….Any suggestions plzzz?????
Kiru13 says
update links please!
sniper says
ahhaha i have found it….but is there another software where i can instal win xp 32 and 64 bit and win7 32 and 64 bit.thxx
sniper says
if i install win7 half way it ask to restert how to go further becouse it goes back to de red screen???????????????
krishan says
thanks you lot.i am very happy to make your information useful for making a multiboot usb pen drive.
MacksJulian says
This is the Shiznit. Thanx a $.million $’s.
Juergen says
You can add any bootable .iso with this tool to your usb-drive! I already did it with al lot auf bootdiscs.
Chumscrubber says
great tutorial, thanks a lot for sharing.
one question: can i also add backtrack using this programs?
Rachman XCreative says
Thx… 1000% WORKED & Success !!
anthony says
hey thank you so much, i wanted to do this for a very long time now. i appreciate it.
Ice Hewlette says
11. Now, it’s time to download another small file named Bootfiles from here. Extract the contents to desktop. Copy menu.lst and winsetup.lst files to the USB flash drive and replace the old files with new ones. Click Copy and Replace option when you are prompted with the Copy File message.
THIS DOWNLOAD LINK IS DEAD!!! pls update the link… thank you.
George says
I’ve tried many other multiboot usb prrograms, but only this Tutorial works ! Thank you very much. This is perfectly what i need.
Sunil Vishwakarma says
How would I go about making a flash drive with XP, Vista, and Windows 7 with all motherboard supportable. If it is possible so PLZ tell me.
Kazi Kalam says
This is better. But has a problem, that setup with WinXP installation.
Raaz says
i tried but when xp is installed in device priority if boot device is usb disk then only my system boots to winXP else i get error
poteto kizartma says
dont work it finish the installation boot the from usb disk/pen drive an error etc.browes media or files for install.work work work but dont work.pls thats work it.
Abdul says
Hi, I am new to this multi boot world. I’ve read a lot on the internet but couldn’t understand how to do it in my way. I want bootable USB drive with the follow options.
1. Install Windows XP
2. Install Windows 7
3. Run Chrome OS
4. Boot Normally
When I select option 1 it should start installation of XP on my hard drive (not running Live XP on my USB).
When I select option 2 it should start installation of Win7 (again not running Live Win7 from Windows 7).
When I select option 3 it should start RUNNING (not installing) chrome os from USB (i.e. just like a live image of any OS).
When I select option 4 it should proceed to boot normally i.e. whatever is installed on my hard drive.
Thanks in advance for your help.
zopfan says
Hi friends, pls keep in mind that this chat is not a PLACE FOR requests for new features/bootable drives.
Let us keep discussing the above guide and its features and thank the writer.
Nearly all of us, including me, have diverse needs. But for that part, google is always there. Lets not over-crowd THIS ARTICLE by submitting new requests here.
shashank says
its really cool process for installation of win 7 form usb
thaks for providing such part…
thats i thought from u…..
thanks…
tristan_1925 says
nice one… thanks to uploader..
John says
I want to add the ubcd4win that I have. I see the option but are there instructions for adding to the menu.lst to add that option?
mukesh says
Very good tutorial buddy.. nice explaination. I’m trying it right away. :)
sparco says
At last! i finally found this perfect guide! it nearly damage my usb following other guides. Wew! thanks for this useful information. Works for me cheers!
Srinivas says
Hi to all,
Excellent article. Earlier I try to make multi boot DVD( windows XP and 2003 Sever) with the help of Magic ISO. but it shows NTLDR missising while booting after select the os to installation. But its amazing to read this article. Let us know if we want to remove the 2nd os image from bootable usb..
Adminnivas
Krishna says
I am also wondering what .iso or .bin image I should be pointing the software to in step 4D. I am encountering two errors when using the flash drive to install XP. On desktops with SATA drives I receive a blue screen immediately after loading the drivers and going to start windows. On two laptops I am able to start setup but the only drive that shows up is the flash drive. Any ideas? Thank you so much for creating this!
venkatesh says
i am created 2003,xp,7
i want to remove 2003
how can i do that
Andoni says
You say
“D. Select File –> USB option in Image Tools box”
When i click on “File -> USB” one windows apera, what to chose thare? http://i52.tinypic.com/npgcph.png
kashan says
i am getting the error while installing the win7 from usb, blue screen error, plz tell me soluttion
akarta says
use google:)
Michelangelo says
Hi,
I think that this is a good tutorial. But if i want add also a Linux image? How can i modify correctly the
files of 11th step?
Muhammad Siddiq says
hi guys do any body knows how i can add hirens boot and backtrack also..
any idea..
do reply me..dud..
Mao says
how about making windows xp bootable only?
kocis says
Sorry, but no DVD USB :-)
kocis says
Can one multiboot DVD using Windows XP Pro, Windows XP Home and Windows 7? Please step by step instructions on how to make this DVD. Thank
scott says
is it possible to just install 7, without xp?
Techrockz says
@Techland
You are absolutely right !! Instead of having two separate DVDs, now we get a single USB to install either Win 7 or XP.
Techland says
Did I get something wrong? This article is not about a ‘Multiboot’ USB stick, it is a multi-installer USB stick, if at all…
Nathan says
Just to add to my above comment…
I would also like to add FreeDOS to the list, for a quad-boot flash drive, is this possible?
If it is, it would save me so much time, and be a very useful tool.
Nathan says
How would I go about making a flash drive with XP, Vista, and Windows 7?
I would really like to know this.