Microsoft released a USB DVD download tool that allows you to grab an ISO file from Microsoft’s own store and then put it onto a USB stick, but it won’t let you use a custom ISO file or it will simply give you the error message “selected file is not a valid ISO“.
According to withinwindows.com, the Windows 7 USB download tool was using open source code and Microsoft had to remove it. By now, after some bug fixes the tool is available again as open-source.
Selected file is not a valid ISO file
You will receive the error “The selected file is not a valid ISO file. Please Select a valid ISO file and try again”, when you try to use a custom ISO file:
In order to use a custom ISO file, withinwindows.com wrote a neat, handy tool that locates and copies the AVDP file of your ISO that is needed:
Install Windows 7 without burning a DVD!
Ok, I am not saying that the Windows 7 USB DVD download tool is useless, but for most people it will be way easier to simply boot from the ISO file. There are many tools available that allow you to mount a virtual drive and boot from it.
So, if you are looking for a quick and easy way to install Windows 7 without actually burning a DVD, then read our tutorial: