I just did a Windows update only including 4 updates on a Windows 7 machine. I then went to my kitchen for a moment while the system re-booted. I just about freaked when I came back as the Windows install screen was up and active. My first thought was that the upgrade to Windows 10 had gotten through. Nope, not the answer. It was not the Win 10 install screen but rather the Win 7 install.

Now I'm just totally confused and baffled. Then it hit me...

I have been experimenting a little with setting up a USB device to install Windows 7. LOL! The USB device was still connected and booted just like it should.

BTW, As to booting from a USB device it need not actually be a flash drive. In this case it was a spare 4GB memory card for my camera mounted in a USB card reader.

_________________

Hmmm, this is actually a bit interesting.

Just for grins I plugged the SD card from my camera that holds the install for Win 7 into the card reader on my printer. On my desktop the printer is connected via USB. Again it booted to the Windows 7 install.

That same printer is connected wireless to my laptop. I'll have to get around to trying a laptop boot with the install media in the printer. I fully expect that it will fail as I don't think that I actually have wireless until Windows and drivers load but who knows...

_________________