How to Create and Make Bootable Windows 7 ISO from EXE Plus Setup1.Box and Setup2.Box Files
For many people who order Windows 7 through online store such as Digital River, the download of Windows 7 ESD installation files (or 64bit Windows download links) is not in a single ISO image format, but as electronic digital distribution files. Instead, users will download and get an executable (.EXE) which name differs depending on the edition of Windows 7 ordered, plus Setup1.Box and Setup2.Box.
For example, the 3 files may be as follow:
Windows 7-HP-Retail-en-us-x86.exe or Windows 7-HP-Retail-en-us-x64.exe or Windows 7-P-Retail-en-us-x86.exe or Windows 7-P-Retail-en-us-x64.exe
setup1.box
setup2.box
For people who wants the ISO images (Windows 7 ISO can also be downloaded directly) instead, just follow the easy instructions below to create and make a bootable ISO image out of the downloaded files, which can be burned to a DVD disc for a bootable Windows 7 DVD disc.
- Put all 3 downloaded files (the .exe, setup1.box and setup2.box) in the same folder (for this tutorial, let’s assume the files are put on C:\ else you need to modify the path accordingly).
- Right click on each of three files, select Properties, and then click on Unblock button to prevent files from unable to be accessed. Click OK when done.
- Run the .exe executable as administrator. It starts to unload the box (extract and unpack the installation content), and will create a new folder called expandedSetup, and will populate the folder with all necessary Windows 7 setup files, as shown in figure below.
- Exit from Install Windows wizard dialog.
- Download Oscdimg CD/DVD Premastering Utility: oscdimg.exe
Put the downloaded oscdimg.exe into %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32 folder.
Note: oscdimg is included in Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) as part of WinPE. So if you have that installed, there is no need to download the file again.
- Open an elevated command prompt as administrator, and run the following command:
oscdimg.exe –bC:\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com –u2 –h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\Win7.iso
Above command assumes that expandedSetup folder is located at C:\ root directory. If it’s not, change accordingly. The -llabelname (note: it’s a small L, not 1) specify volume label, which can be changed, so do the output ISO file. Also remember that if the path contains space, use quotation mark (“) to enclose the full path.
- A bootable Windows 7 DVD ISO image in UDF format will be created as Win7.iso in C:\ or any folder you specified above. Burn the newly created ISO with a CD/DVD burning software such as Nero, Ashampoo Burning Studio or Alcohol 120%. In Windows 7, burn the ISO direct from Windows 7 Explorer without third-party software. It’s also possible to create bootable Windows 7 USB flash drive with Windows 7 DVD/USB ISO Tool.
The created ISO is identical to official Windows 7 ISO for both full and retail version, and can be used to clean install Windows 7 with a upgrade license.
Update: Digital River is now also offering direct download of Windows 7 ISO.
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- Workaround to Upgrade from 32-Bit (x86) to 64-Bit (x64) Windows 7 Operating System
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Entries (RSS)
February 9th, 2010 10:17
Hi, I’m using Windows 7 Ultimate OS. I have a Windows 7 Ultimate Installation files in my computer which I used to upgrade my OS and i want to make convert it to a bootable iso so that I can clean install it to other computers ‘coz what i’m doing right now is always upgrading.. the steps you’ve given is not working.. it converts successfully and when i tried to burn it into the dvd, i got only the same files and folders and it’s not bootable iso. i still need to click the setup.exe…..please help me
February 6th, 2010 10:30
Went through the steps, tested the iso through a VM and works!! This saved me quiet a bit of time..thanks for sharing!!!
January 17th, 2010 16:08
Very cool, came in very handy tonight.
I had to make a new partition and set up the OS, just for fun haha
January 17th, 2010 02:05
This worked for me
oscdimg -bC:\expandedSetup\boot\bootsect.exe -h -u2 -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\win7.iso
This didnt
oscdimg.exe /bC:\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com /u2 /h /m /lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\Win7.iso
January 16th, 2010 10:52
On XP Pro, this command worked:
oscdimg -u2 -bC:\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com -h C:\expandedSetup C:\Win7.iso
Thanks!
January 13th, 2010 21:25
Instructions on how to convert your downloaded copy of Windows 7 Pro (upgrade) were explicit and easy to follow. Worked perfectly! Thanks!
January 13th, 2010 07:00
Post #106 is useful if you have errors enumerating files. Thanks fella!
The correct code to try is:
oscdimg.exe /bC:\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com /u2 /h /m /lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\Win7.iso
January 11th, 2010 02:48
Thank you so much for this nice post, its very great.
thank you again for usual co-operations.
Best regards for all staff.
December 26th, 2009 01:18
first i want to say thanks for this nice post, its very great. but if any one of you want to make bootable dvd i recommend you to use imgburn. i have try this amazing software and it work very good without problems and its very easy to use, 100% working. see how to??? with imgburn here i hope this will be help thanks
December 17th, 2009 09:34
XP users commands are:
Code:
cd /d C:\windows\system32
Code:
oscdimg -u2 -b”C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Desktop\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com” -h “C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Desktop\expandedSetup” C:\7.iso
Hope it helps
December 7th, 2009 03:25
Thank you so much “someone” for your post (post #106) This solved my issues with that error. OP please update your guide to include this fix. Thanks
December 3rd, 2009 20:20
error access is denied
pleassse help
December 1st, 2009 02:35
Thank you ever so much! I needed to save the new ISO file elsewere as for some reason, even though I am the administrator, I was not able to save it on c:\
November 30th, 2009 00:04
thanks a lot!
November 28th, 2009 21:41
[...] Win 7 installation files (Setup1.box, Setup2.box and Win7-P-Retail-en-us-x64.exe) as described here to make a clean installation, or did you always perform upgrade installations ? P.S.: Please [...]
November 28th, 2009 02:09
This is so fantastic, i was searching for this technique, i got it from this site and when i applied it….bang! it hit right on the nail.
Very detailed, very informative and if done exactly as shown and said, surely works!
November 27th, 2009 19:23
for Error like this:
Scanning source tree
ERROR: Failure enumerating files in directory “C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ûBC:\USERS\username\DESKTOP\WIN7\EXPANDEDSETUP\BOOT\ETFSBOOT.COM\”
Error 123: The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.
try use / than – for option
exam:
oscdimg.exe –bC:\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com –u2 –h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\Win7.iso
use:
oscdimg.exe /bC:\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com /u2 /h /m /lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\Win7.iso
November 22nd, 2009 23:56
Hi.. Thank you very much for this nice post.
But when I try to make the ISO image the command prompt says the location is incorrect. But actually I have pointed the correct location.
Can you help me… I am using a windows vista 32 bit os. But my system is 64 bit compatible. So please help me to solve this problem.
Thanks…
November 19th, 2009 03:59
oscdimg -bC:\expandedSetup\boot\bootsect.exe -h -u2 -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup\ C:\win7.iso
This is correct for now…
November 19th, 2009 02:45
Thank FREAKING god somebody posted something of use online about this. I’ve made 2 coasters and spent 2 hours trying to install Win7. Why the hell would they not make the installation files in ISO format from the get-go?! Frick!
I finally have a pretty pretty installation screen. SWEET!
November 18th, 2009 02:51
[...] http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/10/23/how-to-create-and-make-bootable-windows-7-iso-from-exe-plus... [...]
November 16th, 2009 08:52
[...] order to upgrade from XP (unless Digital River fixed it) to Window 7 you have to create an ISO out of the download. Which is completely un-user friendly. Then take that disc you made and boot into the install, wipe [...]