Windows 7 Operating System Installation

Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation in only a few minutes.

Updating the OS Image

First you have to assemble your tools. You need a 4GB (or preferably larger) USB flash drive, an original Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation disc, the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS SP1 stand-alone installer, and a freeware utility called RT Se7en Lite (also available in a 64-bit version), which gives users the ability to customize the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installer files. I recommend using a higher-capacity USB flash drive to leave room for other installers, drivers, or applications, such as your favorite antimalware utility, graphics card drivers, or Web browser. Having all of your most commonly installed programs and drivers available on the same drive as the OS installer is another major timesaver.

Note that you must use like versions of Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS and SP1 for this process. A 64-bit Windows installation DVD requires the 64-bit version of SP1, for instance, and you cannot slipstream a 32-bit version of Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS with the 64-bit service pack. Also, you need to perform this process on a Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS COMPUTER AND LAPTOP with at least 4GB of free hard-drive space.

Grab your Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation DVD and download the correct stand-alone SP1 installer and RT Se7en Lite Beta version 2.6.0 (older versions of the utility will not work). 
Once you have everything downloaded and ready, install RT Se7en Lite. Then restart your system, and, as a precaution, clear the temp folder and temporarily disable your antivirus application, which could interfere with or slow the slipstreaming process.

RT Se7en Lite (2.6.0 or higher) has a built-in service pack integrator that automates much of the slipstreaming process.RT Se7en Lite (2.6.0 or higher) has a built-in service pack integrator that automates much of the slipstreaming process.

Next, create a new folder on the hard drive, insert the original Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation DVD, and copy its contents into the folder. (Note: The 64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS DVD requires 3.01GB of space.) Once all of the files are copied, launch RT Se7en Lite.

When the program opens, click the Browse button on the left and choose Select OS Path. A new window will open. In that window, select the folder on your COMPUTER AND LAPTOP into which you copied the original Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS DVD. Another new window will open with a list of operating systems. Choose the same version of the OS as your original Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation DVD, and check the box at the lower left labeled Slipstream Service Pack. 
Click OK, and the RT Service Pack Slipstream menu will open. Click the Browse button at the top of the window, and this time select the SP1 stand-alone installer file you downloaded earlier (windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe or windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe, depending on your version). Click Start.

At this point, RT Se7en Lite will begin integrating SP1 into the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation files. The process can take a considerable amount of time, especially on slower systems. On a quad-core test machine with 8GB RAM, the process took about 15 to 20 minutes. When the slipstreaming process has completed, RT Se7en Lite will report whether the operation was successful. If it was, simply click the Exit button and close RT Se7en Lite. Upon completion the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installer files should consume about 3.63GB of space.

With Service Pack 1 successfully integrated into a Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation image, you will have no need to download and install SP1 after a fresh OS installation. With Service Pack 1 successfully integrated into a Microsoft Windows 7 operating system OS installation image, you will have no need to download and install SP1 after a fresh OS installation.