GUIDE: Creating a Bootable ISO from your Sony Windows 7 Upgrade DVD for Clean Installs

Just a quick guide on how to make a bootable DVD using your Sony Upgrade Discs so you can do a clean install.

1) Insert your upgrade DVD into your DVD Drive and load up "Windows Explorer"

2) Browse to your DVD rom drive and expand it, there should be a bunch of directories, and you should have 2 that are called "Win7OS32" and "Win7OS64"
3) Now if you want the 64 bit version of Windows 7, right click on the "Win7OS64" directory, and select copy from the popup menu (if you want the 32 bit version right click on the "Win7OS32" directory)

4) Create a temporary directory for example lets say we create a directory in drive C: called "Win7DVD"

5) Browse to the newly created directory (Win7DVD) and paste the files you copied in step 3

6) Download "oscdimg.exe" (which is the WIndows Iso creator tool released by Microsoft with their Automated Installation Kits) I've uploaded it here for those who don't want to download the kit from MS
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BJORY9VO
but for the people who aren't confortable downloading something from me you can download the full WAIK from microsoft from the link below, but its almost a gig though
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c7d4bc6d-15f3-4284-9123-679830d629f2

7) Put the "oscdimg.exe" file into C:\Win7DVD (or whatever the directory you created is called)

8) Load up the command prompt(cmd) and run the following command
oscdimg.exe –bC:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64\boot\etfsboot.com -u2 -h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64 C:\Win7.iso

9) Once the process is complete you should have a file in your C drive called Win7.iso, burn this with Imgburn or your favourite ISO burning software.

There you have it, a bootable Win 7 DVD that you can use to format and do a clean install with.

NOTE: If you are going to install the 32 bit version replace "Win7OS64" with "Win7OS32" in the command line in step 8

 

Thanks for taking the time to post this great tip!

 

good job...

 

Well, I figured it would be helpful for people as I was actually looking for this too, and I didn't want to download any torrents just to be on the safe side. And it seems like a lot of people want to do a clean install and format as with most upgrades, you will have problems in the long run.

 

Does this include the Sony OEM branding as well?

 

No, this just creates a bootable install DVD.

 

Confirmed to work with Sony Windows 7 upgrade DVDs for my Z750D/B (Professional, 64-bit).

Thank you, eviltuna!

Product key worked without issues as well - I was half-expecting it to fail since the key is an upgrade key and (theoretically) not intended to be used with a (fully) clean install.

On a related note: the companion DVD with the drivers on it is pathetic. Only the very basic functionality installed and works correctly; for instance, my Stamina/Speed switch is not functional. I had to apply the BIOS update manually too, and that did not fix the issue. I guess this is what you get for wanting to clean install

 

Forgot to mention: there is a syntax issue with the command you provide. It should be:

For some reason, the - in your post are special characters (slightly longer: – vs. -).

 

That's wierd. Post edited.

 

Thanks for the guide! I haven't received my upgrade disc yet but I'm planning on doing a clean install as well.
Hmm. . . I thought it was confirmed that it is possible to do a clean install with the original Sony upgrade disc in the Windows 7 upgrade program thread. If that is true, then is making a bootable iso necessary?
Or is there a chance of failing by using the Sony upgrade disc because of the product key? Can someone enlighten me?

 

huangl, I think there is some confusion regarding the term "clean" install. In my opinion, a true clean install is one where you format the drive and then install Windows on it. For this, you will need to have a bootable disc. This thread will help you do that.

The other type of "clean" install, which the Sony DVD does let you do, is to install Windows 7 on an existing drive, but without formatting it first (and doing this through Windows, as opposed to booting into setup). This way, you don't lose your data and files - everything, including the old Windows files and any programs you had installed, are still on the drive but (from what I understand) inaccessible. I think this is a really "messy" option and I would not want to do it this way.

 

Hmm what I thought (or hope) was that the upgrade disc is bootable, so we will be able to treat it as a full version and do a clean (custom) install with it without keeping the old files and OS.
I understand what you are saying about the Frankenstein-like system you can get, however, that sounds like an "upgrade" to me instead of a clean install (please correct me if I'm wrong.)

 

after clean install, can I run the Companion disc? Will it work?

 

The upgrade disc isn't bootable, thats why I had to do this, would be kinda redundant to make a bootable DVD if the one you get was already bootable. Plus you can't format if you do the "clean" install without booting from the ISO. I just keep all my data on a seperate partition and format whenever I need.

 

Yes, you can run the companion DVD after, it worked fine for me on my FW390.

 

Thanks for clarifying. I had the impression that the upgrade disc is bootable from the Windows 7 upgrade program thread. Yes, it would be really redundant if the original disc is already bootable.
Just wondering, how big is the ISO file for 64-bit Windows 7? And can I delete the old partitions (the recovery and Vista OS) and create a new partition for Windows 7?


EDIT: Thanks again for clarifying and creating this guide. I already burned the recovery DVDs and I think I won't be reverting back to Vista if Windows 7 is better.

 

I think the ISO is around 3gigs don't remember to exact size. And yes, you can delete your recovery partition, but remember if you do that, you wont be able to restore Vista unless you have recovery DVDs.

 

hey eviltuna

i followed your guide but i think i may have done something incorrectly?

when you use windows explorer to view the contents of the bootable dvd you just made, are all the files suppose to appear in the root directory of the dvd drive? so you click on the icon and there should be all the files?

cause currently, i have a folder within the root directory and within that folder are the contents of the dvd. basically, that folder is the Win7OS64 that i copied over.

should i not have done that? should i have copied over the files WITHIN the win7os64 folder rather than the folder itself?

currently, when i try and boot from the dvd, it gives me a bootcd: cannot find bootmgr error message

thanks!

 

Great Guide, really appreciated your help, You made my day

Will

 

any tips or help with my question above?

 

Yes, the files should be in the root directory.

 

I made a mistake with my instructions and fixed it now, you can just copy the Win7OS64 or 32 folder itself with the fixed command on the first post

 

I can do a clean install windows 7 with sony upgrade disc.

Can someone tell me what is benefit from doing this ?

Ps.Mine is z46sd asia model

 

Great Guide.

How do you include the drivers to your Sony Vaio on that Bootable DVD so it those installed them in the proces.

 

Thanks for the guide dude.

 

First you'll run the clean install and then install the Companion disc, IMO.

 

is the companion disc needed? can't windows 7 just locate all the drivers for you?

btw, for those wondering, all the files in WinOS64 (for the 64 bit version) should just be copied over to the newly created Win7DVD folder that you made.

it worked this way, stupid move on my part kind of. but in case anyone follows the original guide verbatim, make sure you copy the contents of WinOS64 and not the actual folder like it says

 

Can you format the drive that has windows while you do your upgrade?

 

Asia and Europe got Windows 7 Upgrade Discs from Sony that are bootable and allow a clean install.

It's on the website. Use US peeps got the shaft....until EvilTuna came along. Thanks kid

 

The cmd tells me f......you.
No, sorry, the cmd says "oscdimg.exe is not recognized as an internal or external command....................."
So, I could not finish the job.
Any idea ?

 

The guide looks great and I'm pumped to be able to run a clean install, but I receive the same message in cmd.

" 'oscdimg.exe is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."

Thanks

 

Can anyone help me?

 

You need to download that file.... the error simply say it cannot find it.
See post 1.

Then in command prompt you will need to navigate to the directory where the oscdimg.exe file sits then run that command.

This process is called "Slipstreaming", basically adding drivers or even service packs into the default windows 7 installation.

There is 2 ways of doing it:
1. If you are technical enough you can modify files and add it in manually.
2. You can use vLite which provides a gui interface to automatically do the slipstreaming for you.

You can get vLite from here:
http://www.vlite.net/

You will also be required to install Windows 7 WAIK, which is at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...65-9F76-4177-A811-39C26D3B3B34&displaylang=en

(This is a differently link to the first post, first post one is for Vista, this one is the real Win7 version WAIK, Vista version if you have it should work, but i haven't tried)

vLite will allow you to EASILY slipstream stuff into your installation, and make it easier to automate the installation if you are wanting to do so.

 

Thanks for the help, but I do have the application installed.
Although when I click to open the applications (oscd) i just get a brief glimpse of cmd.
I don't know what to do.

 

You dont install it.
OK, do the following.....
Copy the file "oscdimg.exe" to your C:\... for example it will look like C:\oscdimg.exe

Then run this command:
C:\oscdimg.exe –bC:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64\boot\etfsboot.com -u2 -h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64 C:\Win7.iso

The file you downloaded isnt meant to be installed, its meant to be RAN using the correct parameters or options. Which is why you must run it within the same directory that the file exists in, or else it won't know where to find the file from.

 

You need to follow eviltuna's instructions, but let me add some clarification:

7) Put the "oscdimg.exe" file into C:\Win7DVD (or whatever the directory you created is called)

ADDED: See next item.

8) Load up the command prompt(cmd) and run the following command
oscdimg.exe –bC:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64\boot\etfsboot.com -u2 -h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64 C:\Win7.iso

ADDED: You need to execute the script from the command window (not by clicking the oscdimg.exe file). Click the Start Icon, then typing cmd in the Search Programs and Files box, then hit enter. A seperate DOS like window will open. Most likely the prompt you'll see will be your C drive, Users Folder and the sub folder that is your computer's name. For example, if your computer's name is Computer, the command window will probably open to: C:\Users\Computer> If you run the script from that prompt, you have to have the oscdimg.exe file in that directory. If it's not there, you'll get the error you mentioned.

9) Once the process is complete you should have a file in your C drive called Win7.iso, burn this with Imgburn or your favourite ISO burning software.

ADDED: Important that you use a program like Imgburn as simply copying the file to a DVD will not make a bootable DVD with an operating system.

Hope this helps.

 

I really appreciate the help guys, and I promise I'm not totally incompetent here, but I'm still getting the same result.

I think I've followed the directions correctly.
I used the same directory names that eviltuna reccomended.

So I have
C:/Win7DVD/
and in that directory I have Win7OS64 as well as the oscdimg.exe

When I run command prompt it is
C:/Users/Joe
or when run as administrator
C:/Windows/System32

Any more suggestions before I give up?
I really do appreciate the help everyone

 

Use the CD (change directory) command to get to the directory where oscdimg.exe resides then run the command....

A quick example of what to do:
cd .. = go back a directory
Therefore if you are in:
C:\Users\Somename > ....
Use CD command twice, this is waht you will see:
C:\Users\Somename > cd ..
C:\Users > cd ..
C:\ >

Then just simply CD into a directory you have the oscdimg.exe, if that file is within "C:/Win7DVD/ " then simply type CD Win7DVD and you will get into that directory then run the command given.

 

Windows 7 will locate most of the drivers for you, but it is better to run the companion DVD or install your own drivers as most of the times you will get newer/better drivers on the companion dvd/downloading them yourself. Its just 1 extra step, but it'll save you the headaches in the long run.

 

Thanks caudex.
So now I'm getting somewhere (and feel ignorant), but I now get this message when I enter
oscdimg.exe –bC:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64\boot\etfsboot.com -u2 -h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\Win7DVD\Win7OS64 C:\Win7.iso
into cmd


ERROR: Could not delete existing file "c:\win7DVD\Win7OS64"
Error 5: Access is denied.

 

Any suggestions?
haha this is really eating me up.
I just can't figure it out.

 

For those of you having problems, I had the same problem but I got it solved now (by trial and error for 5 mins.)

move the oscdimg.exe to the C:\ root and use the following command instead

eviltuna had a syntax error again (the - again), unfortunately. Well this works for me, hopefully it will work for you guys too. I'm gonna install my Windows 7 now!

 

Thank you so much.
I'm so bad. I couldn't have done it without you.

 

Thanks very much this worked great. I was able to make my boot DVD and wipe Vista's recovery partition and load Windows 7.

 

alright, so for someone who is only average in computer literacy, is this process easy as long as you follow directions, or tricky? i want to reformat (to get rid of vista) and install windows7, then run the recovery dvd i made to install the original sony drivers.

 

Its fairly easy if you know how to copy/paste file and can follow instructions. And know what the command prompt is. You don't want to run the recovery DVDs after as those would be the Vista drivers, its probably better to run the Companion DVD as that should have the Windows 7 drivers for your laptop.

 

ohh i thought by companion dvd you guys were referring to the recovery discs that we had to make. i haven't opened the W7 package yet so i guess the companion dvd is something that's included, cool.

 

Could you post a screenshot of your cmd (DOS-like window)?
Thanks

 

I'm still getting an Error 5: Access is denied after the most recent tips. (Thank you all, by the way! I'm actually less frustrated now than I was when I got the disc! )

Anyway, it loads the exe, scans source tree, computes directory info, give me a byte size for the image file, and then says:

ERROR: Unable to create file C:\Win7DVD.iso of 3242131456 bytes
Error 5: Access is denied.

 

Try running cmd in administrator mode, and check to make sure you have enough space, or save the iso into another location.