Windows Multiboot USB Key - WinSetupFromUSB

I have decided to post something different today instead of posting the 3rd installment of my current certifications. As I am doing a complete reinstall of my desktop system to help me study for this certification, I thought it might be interesting to document some of the rebuilt process.

As part of the first exam covers Windows 7 and Windows XP and the fact that I much prefer to use USB keys these days to install from, I wanted to created a single USB key which I could boot from and install either Windows 7 or Windows XP from. So I went searching for a utility to create a multi-boot USB key.

I have used UNetBootin for a a number of years to created single OS bootable USB keys. Late last year, a colleague of mine introduced me to YUMI (Your Universal Multiboot Installer) and I got interested in multiboot USB key tools. The main problem I hate with YUMI is the way it handle multiple versions of Windows.

Since I had not seen what other multiboot USB key tools there was, when I came to creating my bootable USB key for this project I did another search specifying Multiboot USB Key Windows. I came across a result that interested me here: Create Multiboot USB Drive: Install Windows 7, XP From Same USB Drive.

This lead me to WinSetupFromUSB, which from the review looked like it would do exactly what I wanted, it had the added bonus for adding other bootable media. Here is a screenshot of the utility:

So far I am only used it the RMPrepUSB button to prepare a USB key and created a USB key with both Windows XP and Windows 7 setup created. So far the only thing I found a bit disappointing about it was it's inability to read ISO files. I used another utility to open the ISO file and pointed WinSetupFromUSB and the data files.

It did find my USB key automatically once I inserted it in my laptop. It does have a nice progress bar and shows which files it is copying during the copying process. Although I haven't used any of the additional features, I do like the different options and will investigate them another time.

The disc boots up to a grub4dos screen to give boot options. I am very familiar with Grub from my Linux experience. It seems to be a fully functional version as you are able to edit the boot lines which I can only be from the discs boot.ini file. I will at some point try and get some more screenshots of the boot sequence.

Graham Burgess

I don't wanted to get into a flame war about which utility is the best so please be professional in any comments or replies. Have you used any mutliboot usb installers like this? If so, which?