Microsoft today released the Open Sourced Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool (WUDT) under the GPLv2.

The tool is available for free and allows users to create a botable USB drive in order to install the downloadable version of Windows 7 (ISO image).

The project is now hosted on CodePlex.com, Microsoft's Open Source software project hosting repository, and the code can be found here.

The tool can also now be downloaded from the Microsoft Store here.

Originally Microsoft had aggregated together additional files, which are separate freestanding executables:

(a) .NET Framework
WUDT is written in C# which requires the Microsoft .NET Framework to run.

(b) IMAPI
The tool uses IMAPI to burn DVDs.

(c) Bootsect.exe
This is part of the Windows 7 bits (found in \boot\bootsect.exe) and allows a USB device to be marked as bootable.

It is important to note that these files were not linked with the original WUDT in a programmatic sense but, instead, were launched via a command line. Microsoft has now separated these files for clarity as they are separate programs under different licensing terms.

The new release provides full instructions for users on how to install .NETfx and IMAPI prior to installing WUDT. Bootsect.exe will be part of the Windows 7 ISO download on the Microsoft Store.