Jun082010

How can I install Windows Server 2008 x64 from a bootable USB stick?

Nick asks:

I’m making a test server using Windows Server 2008 x64, which I obtained from Dreamspark as a .img/disk image. I want to transfer it to USB.

I’m running Windows 7 x64. All the programs I found last time I tried to make a bootable USB stick only worked for x86. Can you make a bootable USB drive that same way as with Windows Vista and Windows 7 by just copying over the files? Or is it more complicated like Windows XP?



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3 Answers -

0 votes

Mrg

June 9, 2010

Did you try WUDT (http://wudt.codeplex.com/)?
Is your Windows Server 2008 PC going to be real or virtual?
If it’s a virtual machine, you could most easily mount the image in the host and then configure the guest to boot from it.

pceasies

Real, I believe it uses the same boot loader method as 7/Vista so I can just install it that way

June 12, 2010
0 votes

jun

June 12, 2010

You can only create a 32-bit Windows USB key from within a 32-bit Vista or Windows 7.
You can only create a 64-bit Windows USB key from within a 64-bit Vista or Windows 7.

So in your case, you should format the USB drive using diskpart in your 64-bit OS and set the USB drive partition to be active. Then copy all the file in the image to the disk.
It should boot fine.

details: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

0 votes

Mike

June 12, 2010

You can also try WinToFlash, in case the WUDT tool is only for Windows 7, or you don’t want to use the CMD. It can create bootable usb sticks with Windows Vista/2008/7 32 and 64 bit versions, and even Windows XP. Hope this helps.