Cannot select source file for Windows 7 USB Tool...

Question

Good morning,

I'm trying to use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from the Microsoft Store to make my new 16 GB USB Flash drive bootable to install a fresh W7 to a new SSD. I am trying to make this for a laptop w/ W7 Home Premium, 64-bit, SP1 with the official built in OS that came with the HP Pavillion G7-1227nr. I lost the CD it came with so I need this to work. I want to eventually get the W10 update for free after.

When I try to select the ISO file, nothing happens when I either type the file path/file name or when I try to locate it manually through Windows Explorer. I tried downloading it over and running it again, nothing. The "browse" and "next button" won't press down when I click it. I can only click "online help" and minimize/exit works, that's it.

I have tried restarting. I will now try uninstalling/ using CC Cleaner/reboot/download/install/reboot/try USB tool.

If this work, I'll report back.

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

There should be a recovery partition, even though you had a disk

1. You can't make Bootable media from the Windows 7 installed operating system.

And you don't make it from the recovery partition the way you are trying to do it.

That Tool is if you had a downloaded Windows 7 ISO file, which you don't as Microsoft won't let you get one as your operating system is preinstalled.

2. HP has their way for you to make recovery media from their recovery partition:

HP PCs - Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a ...

Or:

HP – Press F11 repeatedly at Boot to reinstall the OS

HP PCs - Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 7) | HP ...

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You can also contact your Laptop/Computer Manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of Recovery Disks.

They should do that for a small cost, IF they still have them available.

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You can also borrow the exact same edition of Windows 7 Pro Retail DVD and use your Product Key on the COA sticker to reinstall the operating system.

The COA sticker is either on the underside of the Laptop or in the Battery Compartment.

With a Desktop it is either on the side, rear or top of the Computer Case.

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About Windows 10:

The free upgrade to Windows 10 offer from Microsoft expired on the 29th July, 2016.

But Microsoft has a number of exceptions in place for users that missed out on the free upgrade and they have currently not stated any end date to these exceptions (except for Assistive Technologies which has ended), but will adjust as necessary.

You will have to contact MS support and they may be able to assist you with a free upgrade to 10..

Also read this information:

All the Ways You Can Still Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

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Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ - Windows Help - Microsoft Support

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But first make sure that you have the correct system requirements and that your Computer Manufacturer supplies the correct Drivers for 10.

"Windows 10 System Requirements"

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/3884/windows-10-system-requirements

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-specifications#sysreqs

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If/When Microsoft withdraws the exception/s:

How to buy Windows 10:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en\_US/cat/Windows/categoryID.70036700

Cheers.

Answer 2

Thanks you for your help, I will be reaching out to see if an exception can be made for the W10 upgrade.

Answer 3

There was more than one option:

2. HP has their way for you to make recovery media from their recovery partition:

HP PCs - Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a ...

Or:

HP – Press F11 repeatedly at Boot to reinstall the OS

HP PCs - Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 7) | HP ...

____________________________________________________________

You can also contact your Laptop/Computer Manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of Recovery Disks.

They should do that for a small cost, IF they still have them available.

____________________________________________________________

You can also borrow the exact same edition of Windows 7 Pro Retail DVD and use your Product Key on the COA sticker to reinstall the operating system.

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You are all over the place in what you are doing.

I swapped out the CD drive for a 500GB HDD using a drive caddy. I will clone the 750GB, down to the partitions to make either one both bootable. Once that is done, I will attempt to upgrade Windows after I have another working drive I can restore from if something goes wrong. If you have a better idea to clear up some HDD space, I'd love to hear it. I am formatting the 500 GB HDD now. After, I will back up Windows to an external.

Why clone that with all its problem?

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Use this free Program to see what is taking up the space.

http://www.jam-software.com/treesize\_free/

Here is how to understand Treesize Screenshots:

http://www.jam-software.com/treesize\_free/screenshots.shtml

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Also check to see how much space System Restore is using:

https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/335-system-protection-change-disk-space-usage.html

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You can clean up your Hard Drive using these two methods.

"Delete files using Disk Cleanup"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delete-files-using-disk-cleanup#delete-files-using-disk-cleanup=windows-7

Using the Free CCleaner Program (I see that you have already tried this program):

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Under NO condition use the Registry cleaning Option in CCleaner

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And download, install, update and scan your System with the free version of Malwarebytes AntiMalware:

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes\_free

And Norton Backup, if you are using Norton, can do strange things with filling up Hard Drive space.

Cheers.

Answer 4

I have no idea where all the storage is being used up. I ran CC Cleaner to clean HDDs, uninstalled almost everything, checked for big files, nothing came up. Must be tons of updates. This is a friend's laptop which he got 6+ years ago and he never took care of it.

Download and run TreeSize Free (run as administrator).  If there's not enough space to install it (it doesn't need much), download the portable version and run that from a USB flash drive.  https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

There may be a simple solution to getting the space back without requiring a reinstall of Windows.

On the other hand, if you've managed to obtain a Windows 7 ISO and just want to make a bootable USB flash drive from it, forget about the Microsoft "tool" and use Rufus:  https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Answer 5

So I tried the first method but I am missing those features/options. I have nearly 750 GB HDD packed and almost no programs, Office, documents, etc. I even uninstalled most of the HP pre-loaded software thinking I could clear 8GB to upgrade to W10, I have less than 4 ATM.

I have no idea where all the storage is being used up. I ran CC Cleaner to clean HDDs, uninstalled almost everything, checked for big files, nothing came up. Must be tons of updates. This is a friend's laptop which he got 6+ years ago and he never took care of it.

I swapped out the CD drive for a 500GB HDD using a drive caddy. I will clone the 750GB, down to the partitions to make either one both bootable. Once that is done, I will attempt to upgrade Windows after I have another working drive I can restore from if something goes wrong. If you have a better idea to clear up some HDD space, I'd love to hear it. I am formatting the 500 GB HDD now. After, I will back up Windows to an external.

I was almost done upgrading my personal laptop today but there was an error during the install at 98%. I had to restore using Macrium as Windows kept going into a loop after the Windows logo. Nothing is ever easy.