This can help speed up a server installation, and does not require a blank DVD to be written with the DVD ISO that has been downloaded from Microsoft Technet or MSDN. The same procedure can be used for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.
Prerequisites
- Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
- Microsoft Windows Server 2012 ISO
- 4GB USB Flash or Thumb Drive (minimum)
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Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
Using an Internet browser of your choosing download the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool from HERE. Although this software product is designed to work with Windows 7, I have also tested with Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012 to create a bootable USB flash drives of Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012.
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Install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
Double Click the Windows7-USB-DVD-tool.exe in your download folder and proceed to install the software product.
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Start the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool application
Start the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool application by double clicking the following icon on your Desktop
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Choose the ISO file you have downloaded
The following screen will appear, browse to the location of the Windows Server 2012 ISO file you have downloaded from Microsoft.
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Choose media type
Ensure the USB flash or thumb drive is connected to the computer and select USB device.
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Insert USB flash or thumb drive
Select the USB flash or thumb drive you want to prepare as a bootable copy of Windows Server 2012. Please exercise caution when selecting the USB device, the device will be formatted, and all the information will be lost.
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Creating bootable USB device
Sit back, grab a cup of coffee, whilst the USB flash or thumb drive is formatted, and the files are extracted from the ISO and copied to the flash drive.
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Bootable USB device created successfully
Safely Remove the USB flash or thumb drive from your computer.
You have successfully created a Windows Server 2012 bootable usb flash drive to install your operating system.