Windows 7 install from USB 3.0 stick?

Arthalen · 6 Oct 2010 at 22:02

Anyone tried the above combination yet on say a AMD 8 series board or a X58 with additional NEC controller?

Been running some nice tests with a 8GB fash drive and installing Win7 from it, and since I'm very soon to get an X58 board was wondering if anyone had managed it from a USB 3.0 stick for even faster install?

SiriusB · 6 Oct 2010 at 22:08

Assuming Windows 7 has, or you add in, some USB 3.0 drivers then it should be pretty quick. Though to be honest, copying the files over to the PC is a very small part of the install process.

redshadows · 6 Oct 2010 at 23:21

Yeah, installing on a faster drive (SSD) or even raid0 is the bit that speeds it up the most.

But talking about it I done this for the first time a few days back, usb install rocks.

Arthalen · 7 Oct 2010 at 08:46

Thanks for the comments.

Will be installing to a Sandforce based SSD, just wondering if a USB 3.0 stick is worth the hassle or just get a cheap 4GB USB 2.0 Stick for this.

Small advantage to the USB 2.0 route is I can put a cable inside the case with the USB stick on it, attached to a motherboard USB header. Then when I do a reinstall, no hunting around for a lost install disk!