How To Create A Bootable Windows 7 ISO From ESD Files (.exe, setup1.box and setup2.box)

People who ordered Windows 7 through Microsoft’s online store partner such as Digital River, they didn’t receive the operating system in standard ISO format. Instead of ready-to-install Windows 7 ISO image, they received the operating system in ESD (Electronic Software Distribution) format. This was also with students who took advantage of Microsoft’s upgrade deal from win741.com. If you want to know how to convert the downloaded ESD files (one .exe file and two .box files) into standard disk image ISO format, you are on the right page. The process is easy, you just need to follow this guide. After that, you will have a backup for installing Windows 7 using the bootable ISO image file. You can even burn the ISO using your favorite disc burner software to bootable Windows 7 DVD disc.

Windows 7 ISO

Create Windows 7 DVD ISO From Files (.exe, setup1.box and setup2.box)

  1. Make sure that you have kept all the downloaded Windows 7 ESD files (the .exe, setup1.box and setup2.box) in the same folder.
  2. Right-click on each of these files, select Properties, and click on Unblock button. This will make the files accessible without any errors. Click on OK when done.
  3. Run the .exe executable as an administrator. It will then start to unpack all the files and will create a new folder called expandedSetup. The expandedSetup folder has all the necessary files you need.
  4. Exit from Install Windows wizard dialog box.
  5. Cut and paste the expandedSetup directory to the root of C:\ drive.
  6. Download oscdimg.zip. Extract the oscdimg.exe file to %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32 folder.
oscdimg.exe is included in Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) as part of WinPE. So if you have that installed, there is no need to download the file again. You can learn more about oscdimg here.
  1. Open the command prompt as an administrator.
Tip! In Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, type cmd into your Start Menu and press CTRL + Shift + Enter.
  1. Copy and paste the command in the command prompt and press Enter to run it.

oscdimg.exe —bC:expandedSetupbootetfsboot.com —u2 —h -m -lWIN_EN_DVD C:\expandedSetup C:\Windows7.iso

The command above assumes that expandedSetup folder is located at C:\ root directory. If it’s not, change so.

The -llabelname specify volume label, which can be changed, so do the output ISO file. Also remember that if the path has space, use quotation mark (“) to enclose the full path.

  1. A bootable Windows 7 DVD ISO image in UDF format will be created with the name Windows7.iso in C:\ or any folder you specified.

You can now burn the newly created ISO with a CD/DVD burning software such as Nero, ImgBurn, CDBurnerXP, or InfraRecorder. You can use the image in Windows 7 directly from Windows Explorer without using any third-party software. Simply, right-click on the ISO file and selecting burn image. You can also use the ISO image to install Windows 7 using a USB Flash Drive.

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