My CD ROM drive appears broken on my Laptop. I want to re-install Windows 7 Ultimate. I have the original Disc and Product Key and have confirmed that it is the same key as the one at present in my Laptop.

I have a second computer with a CD ROM drive that works, a 500GB UBS external hard drive and also a 16GB UBS Thumb Drive. Could someone point me in the right direction as the best way to go about re-installing please.

I have found this suggested method....can anyone confirm that it should work please. http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

All my win7 installs these days I do from USB with an issue.

I have found this suggested method....can anyone confirm that it should work please. http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

I don't see why not.

Having taken a quick glance at the instructions, it seems pretty straight forward.

I found the same link and it looks good to me too

Definitely make your thumb drive bootable and copy the windows install across.

The only thing to check is that your laptop has the ability to 'boot from a USB device' option in the BIOS, and that it is set as the first boot option once you are ready to proceed

Not having a lot of luck with that box are you John.

Simple instructions here http://www.crossy.co.uk/Handy%20Files/Make%20Bootable%20USB.txt (pretty much identical to the other links) it really is a piece of cake if you follow line by line.

Give me a buzz if you get stuck.

Easier to look here or here

Easier to look here or here

Handy for future reference JJ, thanks

Some more tips here

I see there is a guide to using the Microsoft tool within the OP's original link. It also has the original Microsoft Tool link. Microsoft Help here

Bu99er me, I didn't know MS actually had a tool. Excellent JJ

For those who want to use it, it only understands .iso files, many distros come as .img, simply rename .img to .iso and it works just fine.

Yes, I just tried it with my W7 (64) .IMG file

Crossy, is your W7 an original disc or a "copy", reason I ask is I could not get the MS tool to work with my "copy".

Crossy, is your W7 an original disc or a "copy", reason I ask is I could not get the MS tool to work with my "copy".

There are varied solutions to that problem within the links.

To answer the question, mine is a real site licensed (MS Partner) copy.

Please remember, we cannot discuss how to make the less-than-legal copies work.

One thing I did note, if you're trying to make a 64 bit bootable install using a 32 bit machine you'll need to run the 32 bit bootsect manually from your 32 bit CD / iso, the one on the 64 bit disk / iso won't run.