Yes, you've read it right. Microsoft Windows 7 will be available via USB flash disk for users without a DVD player. This was announced by Windows 7 Team at the same time Windows 7 was released worldwide on 22 October.
The exact words from Brandon LeBlanc of Windows 7 Blog:
The Microsoft Store will be providing a tool called the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (rolls right off the tongue doesn’t it?) – or WUDT for short. For netbook users without DVD drives, the WUDT will take an ISO image and create a bootable USB device that can be used to install Windows 7. The WUDT can also create a Windows 7 installation DVD from the ISO file as well.The most important thing is that WUDT will run on Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7. How? Just configure your BIOS to boot off the USB flash drive, which means that the device should be in first boot priority to run.
How to set BIOS to boot from USB | How to install Windows 7 via USB flash drive
- When you start the computer press Del or F2 and enter Setup. Change the BIOS boot sequence to ensure that the USB device option is first priority.
- Attach the bootable USB device to a port in your computer.
- Restart your computer.
- Usually, you will be prompted to 'press any key' before the computer will boot the USB flash drive.
- Your computer should now boot from the USB flash drive (Windows 7).