The following process can be used to create a bootable USB flash drive and install a copy of Windows 7 from the Dell supplied Windows 7 disc. This might be helpful to a user who has no optical drive available for their portable system.

Use the Microsoft Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool and the following process as necessary to install Windows 7 from a bootable USB flash drive.

1. Using any computer, convert your Dell supplied Windows 7 disc to an ISO file and save the ISO file to your hard drive. Freeware like "ImgBurn" can be used for this purpose if the customer does not already have burning software to use.
2. The following two steps (2a and 2b) are only necessary if the computer you are using has Windows XP installed.
   1. If the computer you are using has Windows XP installed, you must download and install Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0.
   2. If the computer you are using has Windows XP installed, you must also download and install Microsoft Image Mastering API v2.
3. Download and install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
4. Launch the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool and use the wizard to create a bootable USB flash drive from the ISO file created in step 1.
   WARNING: This process includes a format of the USB flash drive, so please make sure that all necessary files on the drive have been backed up.
5. If there is data on the system to be imaged, make sure it has been properly backed up because the hard drive will be formatted during the install process.
   Note: It is the responsibility of the user to make sure that all personal data has been properly backed up.
6. Reboot the system to be imaged and have it boot to the bootable USB flash drive created in step 3.
7. Use the bootable USB flash drive and the Windows setup process to format the hard drive on the system to be imaged and then to install Windows on the system to be imaged.
8. Boot to Windows on the system to be imaged and make sure that Windows has been properly activated.
9. Install drivers, Windows updates and any other necessary programs.

***HELPFUL LINKS***

Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

Upgrade a Netbook from Windows XP to Windows 7