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It is a common Microsoft practice to limit what editions of Windows can be used with each disc. For example, with Windows XP, the Home edition and the Pro edition each required their own disc. Not only that, there are different discs for retail discs and OEM discs. The result is that someone who may need to re-install Windows XP now needs 4 different discs. This is very annoying because the only difference between each disc is one file which tells the installer which edition and being used. Every other file was the exact same and found on all the discs. Windows Vista did away with this requirement. So it was hoped that Windows 7 would as well. As it turns out, this is not the case.

But there is good news. You can make your Windows 7 discs universal. All you then need are 2 discs, one for the 32-bit version and one for the 64-bit version. This tutorial will show you how to make a master Windows 7 disc. You still an appropriate product key for each edition. This will not allow you to get Windows 7 for free.

You will first need to obtain a download of the Windows 7 disc or actually have one on hand. The best way to get a download is straight from Microsoft through their MSDN or TechNet program. You will also need to download and install ImgBurn and a program that can extract files from an ISO file such as 7-Zip. Alternatively you can burn the ISO file to DVD and just copy the needed files that way.

Step 1: Create a temporary folder on your hard drive and copy all the Windows 7 files to it.

Step 2: Delete the sources/ei.cfg file.

(Optional step): If you wish to upgrade your Windows 7 beta or Windows 7 release candidate version to the final build, then edit the cversion.ini file. Replace the line that says MinClient=7233.0 to MinClient=7000.0. Note that the original MinClient value may be another number than this.

Step 3: Open ImgBurn. At the main menu click Create image file from files/folders. In the new window that comes up, type in the source folder of the files you extracted earlier on in the Source box at the top. Then click the green + symbol. Then in the Destination box, type a file name that ends in .iso. Make sure you specify which disk and folder the file will be in.

Step 4: Click the Advanced tab. The click the Bootable Disc sub-tab. Check Make Image Bootable. At the Boot Image box, browse to and select the /boot/etfsboot.com file. Make a note of the file size of etfsboot.com. If the file size is 2 KB, enter 4 in the Sectors to Load box. If the size of etfsboot.com is 4 KB, enter 8 in the Sectors to Load box. Make sure the Emulation Type is None (Custom), the Developor ID box is Microsoft Corporation, and the Load Segment box is 07C0.

Step 5: Click the Options tab. Make sure the File System is ISO9660 + UDF. The UDF Revision should 1.02.

Step 6: Click the Labels tab. Give the disc the label GRMCHPXFRER_EN_DVD for both the ISO9660 and UDF box.

Step 7: Click the big Build button at the bottom right. Say Yes or OK at every prompt.

After the process is done, you now have a universal Windows 7 image file. Burn it to a DVD and enjoy.