Create Win 7
Install DVD with Multiple Versions
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| In one of the
installation scenarios (scenario two) I used a
custom Windows 7 DVD as the installation media that
contains a number of different versions to choose
between when the Windows 7 installation is being
started. I've received a number of inquiries asking
how to make one, so I'll go through the procedure I
used as well as talk about some of the advantages as
well as limitations of the DVD. |
| There isn't anything
overly mysterious about this custom DVD. Matter of
fact, if you've ever downloaded beta versions of
Windows 7 you may have seen something similar where
a number of different operating system versions were
available from a single menu. When the product moves
from beta to final release, the code is tweaked a
bit to limit what you actually see to the version
you have purchased, and a product activation key is
supplied to support that purchased version. All that
has happened in this case is the file that specifies
which version should be displayed has been removed
so that all the different versions appear. |
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| Why would you want to create a
DVD like this with the different versions available? Lets
say you want to try out a different version of Windows 7 for
compatibility or testing purposes, or you do tech support,
or you even run a website like this one and do more full or
partial installs for testing in a month than most users do
in a lifetime. Having all the different versions available
is very handy. |
| As handy as the DVD can be, it isn't a free ticket to every
version of Windows 7 available. It doesn't mean you buy one
version and then install all of the versions available and
use the same activation key repeatedly. For example, the x86
DVD I created here was based on a Windows 7 Home Premium
Upgrade version I purchased at a brick and mortar store.
That comes with one activation key for a single Windows Home
Premium Upgrade install and nothing else. You can play with
the other versions, but you can't activate them without
purchasing an appropriate activation key. There's additional
information available at the end of this tutorial in the
[Additional Comments] section. |
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| Creating the DVD |
| Let me say
right from the beginning, there are a
hundred different ways to do this procedure
and end up with the same result. I know
this, you know this, so let's just agree
that if you want to save some steps, use
different programs, make additional changes
or whatever else comes to mind, that you'll
just go ahead and do it your way. My purpose
here is to illustrate one method that works
and is easy for the average user to complete
without any technical hassles or wizardry.
Thanks. |
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| You obviously need to have a Windows 7 DVD to
work from initially. In this case I'm going to use a
Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade package as the basis
for the custom DVD. This is the same item that can
be purchased from any of the brick and mortar or
online software retailers. There is nothing special
about it in any way. |
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For this tutorial I'm going to use a licensed copy of
gBurner, which allows you to create data, audio and video
CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, make bootable data discs, and
create multisession discs. gBurner is also a disc image file
processing software, which allows you to open, create, edit,
extract, convert and burn disc image files. There is a
30 day free
trial version with no limitations available for
download, or at least there was when this tutorial was
created.
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Step One
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Once you have the source media for Windows 7 and gBurner
or some equivalent program, open up gBurner and pop the
Windows 7 DVD in the drive. On the left side of the screen
switch to the [Copy] tab and then click [Make Image] in the
options.
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- Make sure the Windows DVD is in the DVD drive.
That's the DVD that's going to be imaged.
- Set the output file location and give it a name. The
name makes no difference, nor does the location. I
called it W7_64Bit_Image.iso and put it on the desktop
for convenience.
- When you have everything set, click the [OK] button
to get the .iso file image creation started.
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Step Two
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- Once the .iso file in step one has been created,
switch to the [Data] tab in the left hand menu.
- On the menu bar at the top, select [File] and then
[Open...]
- Browse to the location where the .iso file was saved
in the previous step.
- Select the .iso file and then click [Open]
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Once the steps above have been completed you should see
something similar to what is shown below. The two right hand
columns display the contents of the .iso file created
earlier. Notice at the top of the center column, the name of
the file in this example is GRMCHPXFRER_EN_DVD. You may have
expected the name to be the same as the name that was given
to the .iso file, but that won't be the case. The name is
drawn from the original DVD name that was used to build the
.iso file. The name will vary depending on what version of
Windows 7 DVD was used.
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Fig. 04 |
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Step Three
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- In the far right hand column, double click the
[sources] folder as shown in Fig. 04.
- Scroll down the file listing until you locate the
ei.cfg file as shown in Fig. 05.
- Right click the ei.cfg file and then click [Delete]
to delete the ei.cfg file.
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Fig. 05 |
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 I
should have known better in the step above to just
say delete the ei.cfg file without giving some
explanation of what it is and what function it
serves. For those inquiring minds that wanted to
know, it's a configuration file that specifies what
version of Windows 7 will be the default install
selection.
As you can see in the attached screen capture it's a
tiny file that lists the edition and a couple of
other pieces of information. Deleting the file
removes the specified version and allows all the
versions on the DVD to be available for
installation. |
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Step Four
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- The only thing left to do at this point is to burn
the new DVD.
- Look at the bottom of the middle column and be sure
you see [Bootable] listed.
- Drop a blank DVD into the drive and either use
the menu to select Action then Burn - or - just click
the Burn icon.
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- The [Burn] window will open. If you want, click the
box to [Verify Written Data] though it isn't required.
- In a few minutes the burn process will complete and
the new DVD will be ejected, ready for use. Enjoy.
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Additional Comments
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- When you buy a full or upgrade version of Windows 7
through the retail channel like I used in this tutorial,
the package contains two DVD's. One contains the 32 bit
(x86) versions and the other the 64 bit (x64) versions.
If you want both the 32 and 64 bit versions available
you'll have to create two separate DVD's. They can't be
combined on one. The procedure doesn't vary depending on
which versions are selected.
- The point behind making one of these DVD's is not so
you can use Windows 7 illegally. No matter what you
install from one of these custom DVD's, it requires a
legitimate activation key if you use the installation
past the 30 day non-activated use period. For example, I
used a Vista Business x86 system, booted from the CD
made for this tutorial with Win 7 Home Premium Upgrade,
performed a clean install of Windows 7 Professional x64,
and then tried to activate it with the activation key
that came with the Home Premium Upgrade package. The
result is shown below. As you can see, you either have
to reinstall Home Premium or obtain a legitimate Windows
7 Professional activation key.
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- This last comment is very similar to the previous
one about activation, but the question was asked, is any
one upgrade or full version preferable for following
this procedure. The answer is no. Any retail version
will work. It makes no difference. What does matter is
that eventually, after you settle on a version, you're
going to want it activated. If you buy a Home Premium
version and then decide what you really need is Windows
7 Professional, you're out of luck unless you can sell
the incorrect, non-activated version to somebody and
apply the money toward what you really need.
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