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Using the Windows 7 USB Download Tool with ANY .iso file

  • Article

Randy Guthrie – Microsoft Academic Developer Evangelist
https://blogs.msdn.com/MIS_Laboratory

Update: Dec 15, 2014. The Microsoft published tool mentioned below has been updated so it works with more file types. It has also been renamed to just the "Windows USB Download Tool". 

As notebooks, netbooks and slates get thinner, smaller, and more power-conscious, optical drives that can read and write to a bootable DVD have now become a peripheral device rather than a built-in. This makes it difficult to install software from a DVD for devices that do not have an optical drive, and even more problematic when you want to wipe the device and install a new OS. For these devices, installing software that you download as a compressed .iso file from a SD card or USB flash memory device is fast and cheap and a great alternative to buying an external optical reader. This is particularly useful to developers since most (if not all) of the software available via MSDN and DreamSpark is only available for download in the .iso format. Unfortunately there are not a lot of turn-key tools out there for burning from an .iso to a USB memory device. 

Microsoft has created the Windows USB Download Tool which is really nice if your .iso is a Windows operating system, but it fails when you try to use it with any other .iso. While searching for a work-around, I found this great blog post by Rafael Rivera with an explanation for why the Windows USB Download tool won’t work with every .iso file:

It appears there are two (possibly more) “navigation buoys” within UDF-formatted ISOs that point to important chunks of the image called Anchor Volume Descriptor Pointers (AVDPs). The first AVDP is somewhere near the top of the image. The last AVDP is located in what appears to be the last logical block of the image. (My guess is this is to support bi-directional reading.)

So assuming each logical block of the image is 2048 bytes large, one could also assume the last logical block is –2048 from the end of the file, right? Well, that’s what the tool assumes. It checks for the last AVDP at the start of the last logical block, doesn’t find it, and bombs out.

Rafael wrote a tiny downloadable utility program that will “fix” any .iso file where the last logical block does not have the AVDP so that the Windows 7 USB Download tool will work. Basically, you download the .zipped utility program and extract it. Then copy the .exe file to the same directory as your iso file, then run the utility in command mode pointing to the .iso file. In a second or so, your .iso file will be “fixed” so that the last logical block is the same size as the rest and the Windows 7 Download Tool will work. I tested it with the Windows 8 Developer Preview .iso I had downloaded and it worked like a charm.

image

Once you have the utility unpacked and in the same directory as your .iso file, launch a command prompt and change the directory to the folder where your files are, and then run the utility pointing to the .iso file:

image

In a few seconds your .iso file will be fixed! Then launch the Windows 7 USB Download Tool pointing to your .iso file and your USB memory device will be formatted and your .iso file unpacked so it will act just like a DVD. If installing an application, just navigate to the setup file and double click. If you are installing an OS, then first you have to make sure your boot priority setting in your BIOS lists the USB device first, then DVD and finally your hard drive. Then restart your computing device and it should start booting from the USB device. As an added bonus, installing programs from flash memory devices, particularly USB devices goes MUCH faster than from DVDs.

Cheers!

Randy

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2012
    also read this www.verboon.info/.../using-the-windows-7-usbdvd-download-tool-with-custom-iso-files

  • Anonymous
    February 02, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 19, 2012
    when I run "c:usersufiadownloadsisoavdpcopy.exe Windows_7_Ultimate_64.iso" in "admin" cmd it gives me error that 'isoavdpcopy.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. tried isoavdpcopy with and without ".exe", but the result is same Both file are in same folder can you tell what am I doing wrong? vista ultimate SP2

  • Anonymous
    May 16, 2012
    I am running vista ultimate SP2 And it works but i move all of my files to c:isoavdpcopy.exe Windows_7_Ultimate_64.iso

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2012
    i dis as said. But when i click the utility program it just flashes and goes back tell me what am i doing wrong ......PLease Help

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2012
    I got an Error after "successful" Fix of the ISO-File with the last "Windows7-USB-DVD-tool" with Error-Message "The selected File is not a valid ISO-File"

  • Anonymous
    August 29, 2012
    Update: Windows 8 will now mount an .ISO file directly by right mouse clicking on the file, and then clicking "mount". You can then run the setup file directly from the OS without "burning" the .iso to a DVD or USB memory device. Win!

  • Anonymous
    October 01, 2012
    I am getting ERROR: Specified ISO is read-only.

  • Anonymous
    October 01, 2012
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    October 14, 2012
    hi! i tryed and ERROR: Specified ISO is read-only.

  • Anonymous
    October 26, 2012
    Attempted to use on a couple of different iso's without success. Process says "copy successful" but the Win 7 USB says not a valid iso. One of the iso's I used this on is for Win XP Pro. Too bad, would have been a very nice tool/fix if it worked.

  • Anonymous
    October 29, 2012
    Looks like either the utility or some other part of the process has changed. Since I didn't invent the utility, I can't "fix" it or comment on why it doesn't work. The good news is that Windows 8 at least lets you mount iso files directly, and you can run most installs now from the OS, including upgrades.

  • Anonymous
    November 06, 2012
    Worked like a charm here, on a heavy modified .iso of windows vista business with sp2 and a 8gb corsair usb drive.

  • Anonymous
    November 18, 2012
    :P

  • Anonymous
    January 02, 2013
    My question is why you would need a program for this in the first place.  I have installed operating systems, from Windows 2000 through 8 (and all kinds of Linux), without using a single program.  All that you need to do is extract the .iso to a removable disk, reboot, and boot from the disk.  Why do you need a program?

  • Anonymous
    January 14, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 18, 2013
    great dude. Worked for me on the first attempt itself. What about windows xp? is there any tool like this?

  • Anonymous
    March 05, 2013
    To install windows 7 through pen drive no need to download any tools please folly the steps and make usb disk as bootable step 1 go to command prompt in windows 7 system type DISKPART then type LISTDISK anb select the disk which you make it as bootable  now type CLEAN. Now the type CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY and format the disk using command FORMAT =  FS  NTFS QUCIK and finally ACTIVE

  • Anonymous
    March 14, 2013
    Great! I solve some issues with this tool. Thanks

  • Anonymous
    March 16, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    March 23, 2013
    DURAISAMY your solution worked for me. Thank you.

  • Anonymous
    April 15, 2013
    "Unfortunately there are not a lot of turn-key tools out there for burning from an .iso to a USB memory device." Sure there are. They're just only available on Unix-like operating systems. When is Microsoft going to add this- yet another feature that Unix-like operating systems have had for over 20 years- to the standard available tools?

  • Anonymous
    April 22, 2013
    The link to the file is dead. As mentioned by others, no need to use all these tools. Format the pen drive with NTFS quick format. Simply extract the .iso file by using PowerISO into the pen drive. Boot normally and choose USB-HDD in boot menu.

  • Anonymous
    May 30, 2013
    The solution for ERROR: Specified ISO is read-only is delete the space of iso file

  • Anonymous
    July 05, 2013
    in cmd said copy successful but in MS usb tool still says same error....

  • Anonymous
    July 21, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    July 24, 2013
    for those to whom it said error read only, dont worry, it has already worked jus transfer it now

  • Anonymous
    July 28, 2013
    the download link is dead, please fix that or remove the link and instruct the reader to Google for it

  • Anonymous
    July 29, 2013
    Fixed the link. Thanks!

  • Anonymous
    September 06, 2013
    First and foremost, I am NOT a computer novice by any means.  However, in attempting to perform the required steps using the iso workaround tool, I simply have a command prompt that reads " Windows 7 ISO AVDP Copy Tool v0.1 Copyright (c) Rafael Rivera Within Windows - www.withinwindows.com".  I have no clue what my next step is.  In order to REACH this step, I had to r-click on the iso file and choose "Open with...." and then choose the iso copy tool.  I am still getting the "iso file is not a valid image file" message when trying to use the windows 7 usbdvd download.  What am I missing here?  And please bear in mind, I DID specify I am not a novice........................

  • Anonymous
    September 06, 2013
    P.S.  Please be very detailed in instructions.  

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    September 12, 2013
    FYI: The direct link to isoavdpcopy_0.1.zip tool is broken but it still can be downloaded from Rafael Rivera original blog post.

  • Anonymous
    November 13, 2013
    I tried to do the same for my WindowsXP 64 bit installation. I tried to make a USB bootable drive using my pen drive and a WindowsXP 64 bit *.iso file. I am running Windows7 64 bit right now. I got the msg that copy successful and then I started using Windows7 USB too. It started copying files but at the 96% it failed and msg came "ss". I tried again a few more times and exactly at the same location 96% I got the mesg ever time I tried. So my job is not done. Can you please suggest what could be the reason for this. thanks in advance

  • Anonymous
    November 13, 2013
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    December 20, 2013
    I kept getting the error "ERROR: Specified ISO is read-only using the rafael utility The only thing I did correct this was rename the iso to WINDOWS7A then press enter. Ran the Rafael Rivera tool an it worked. said copy successful

  • Anonymous
    January 14, 2014
    Hi Guys, found the tool on the old forum as the link here is dead. Put my ISO in a folder with the tool double clicked, black window appears quickly, then vanishes, ISO still wont work with Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool. Any advice on how to get this going? Kindest regards Aedan

  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2014
    Thanks! Spent 4 hours on this and found nothing to help. This did it. Much appreciated.

  • Anonymous
    February 06, 2014
    ran the program but didn't do anything.  I then dragged the iso file onto the isoavdpcopy.exe file and it did its thing. now it works. hope this helps someone.

  • Anonymous
    March 05, 2014
    The "specified ISO is read-only." error happened to me when i didn't typed .iso at the end of the command. Try to put it, it worked for me.

  • Anonymous
    March 13, 2014
    Link to the fix in this article is dead.  Download link avail here withinwindows.com/.../use-the-windows-7-usbdvd-download-tool-with-custom-isos

  • Anonymous
    March 31, 2014
    Do you realize that your image of the command prompt names the file as a ".edu" file? When I changed it to ".exe" it worked. I am a novice, but I assume this was an error.  

  • Anonymous
    April 18, 2014
    Worked well. Thanks. Person who had the read only error has to right click the iso and uncheck the read only property attribute.

  • Anonymous
    May 16, 2014
    im desperately in need of help in reguards to this tool.

  • Anonymous
    June 28, 2014
    Didn't work for me I'm afraid.  Windows 7 32 bit iso created with IsoCreator.  Did process the ISO and modify it but still "Selected file is not an ISO".  Will try another ISO program and report back.

  • Anonymous
    August 30, 2014
    run it in command window or drag the iso to the tool, but nothing happen except that the cursor is flashing. can anyone help '

  • Anonymous
    September 22, 2014
    Link to the tool at Microsoft http://wudt.codeplex.com/

  • Anonymous
    December 12, 2014
    Its seams that link to your tool is not working any more.

  • Anonymous
    April 23, 2015
    Keeps telling me the ISO is READ ONLY Its not. I have tried all kinds of attributes, and tried from all kinds of sources, and filesystems. ???

  • Anonymous
    June 23, 2015
    Hi, It didn't work for Windows XP iso. I put the both iso file and isoavdpcopy.exe in a same folder, as soon as I run the .exe file, it pops up and then disappears, getting the same error by Windows 7 USB tool. On an another article, I read to change the properties of iso file to UDF enabled with both Joilet enabled and disables, I've also done that Windows XP iso but the error persists

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2015
    The link has not been updated and the download tool is still from 2009 and doesn't work....

  • Anonymous
    October 12, 2015
    Thank you :D

  • Anonymous
    December 27, 2015
    Links to the tool download and the original blog post do not work.