Windows 10 Users: See for an easier way of getting a ISO image to a USB drive for installation of that. If you want to install Windows 8 from a USB device, you'll need to get those setup files from the DVD to the USB drive. Unfortunately, simply copying them there won't do. Windows 8 is also sold as a downloadable which, if you choose to buy Windows 8 that way, requires similar steps to get it properly copied to a USB drive. Regardless of whether you have a Windows 8 DVD you need to get on a flash drive, or a Windows 8 ISO file with the same goal, the following tutorial will help you get the Windows 8 installation files properly copied to a flash drive so you can get on with the installation process.

Difficulty: Average Time Required: Getting the Windows 8 installation files onto a flash drive or other external USB device will take between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on what format your copy of Windows 8 is in right now and how fast your computer is. Important: If you have a Windows 8 ISO file and want that on a flash drive, start with Step 2. If you have a Windows 8 DVD and need that on the flash drive, start with Step 1. How to Install Windows 8 or 8.1 From a USB Device •. This is the procedure by which you create a single file, called an ISO image, that contains all the data stored on the Windows 8 setup DVD disc. Once you have an ISO image created from your Windows 8 disc, come back here and continue on with this tutorial which will explain how to get that ISO file onto a flash drive.

Note: If you already know how to create ISO files with your favorite program, often called 'ripping,' then do so in whatever way you're used to doing it. However, if you've never created an ISO image, or don't have a program installed right now that does it, please see the linked tutorial above for complete instructions on doing so with a free program. • from Microsoft and then install it. This free program from Microsoft properly your flash drive and then copies the contents of the Windows 8 installation ISO file you have to that flash drive.

Note: This program works perfectly well with Windows 8 ISO files and can be used in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP. • Start the Windows USB DVD Download Tool program. You should be able to find the shortcut on the Desktop, as well as in your Start menu or on your Start screen, depending on which version of Windows you installed the program on. • Click Browse on Step 1 of 4: Choose ISO file screen. • Locate, and then select your Windows 8 ISO file. Then click or touch Open.

Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade to all Windows 8 users, but you normally can’t install Windows 8.1 with a Windows 8 product key. Luckily, you can get around this. May 12, 2017 As a measure to deter piracy, Microsoft doesn't allow to install Windows 8.1 without a product key. Fortunately, we can add a skip option, with ei.cfg.

Note: If you downloaded Windows 8 from Microsoft, check your Downloads folder or your Desktop for the ISO image. If you created an ISO image from your Windows 8 DVD, the ISO file will be wherever you created it to. • Click or touch Next. • Choose USB device on Step 2 of 4: Choose media type screen.

Note: As you can see here, there is also a DVD option. While it doesn't do us much good in this case, since the end game is to get Windows 8's setup files on a flash drive, you could also use this tool to burn a Windows 8 ISO image to a DVD or BD disc. • On Step 3 of 4: Insert USB device screen, choose from the drop-down box the flash drive or USB-connected you want to put the Windows 8 setup files onto, and then touch or click Begin copying. Tip: If you haven't yet plugged in the USB storage device you're planning on using, you can do that now and then touch or click the blue refresh button to make it show up in the list. • Click or touch Erase USB Device if you're prompted to do so on a Not Enough Free Space window.

If you don't see this, don't worry, it just means that your flash drive or external hard disk is already empty. Important: If this message didn't make it apparent, you should know that whatever data you might have on this drive is going to be erased as part of the process of getting the Windows 8 setup files copied.

• On Step 4 of 4: Creating bootable USB device, just wait for the Windows USB DVD Download Tool to prepare the drive and copy the Windows 8 installation files to it. The first Status you see will be Formatting, which will take anywhere from a few to several seconds, depending on how large the USB drive is that you're using.

Next will be Copying files which could take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, possibly longer, depending on which Windows 8 ISO file you're working from, as well as on how fast your flash drive, USB connection, and the computer is. Tip: Don't worry if the percentage indicator jumps ahead quickly but then sits on a single number for a very long time. While it might not make a lot of sense to behave that way, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong. • Assuming everything went as planned, the next screen should say Bootable USB device created successfully with a Status that says Backup completed. You can now close the Windows USB DVD Download Tool program window.

The flash drive, or other external USB drive you're using, now has the necessary files on it to install Windows 8 and is also properly configured to be from. • that you just created to start the Windows 8 install process. Tip: If the Windows 8 setup process doesn't start, it's very likely that you'll need to make changes in the. See if you need help doing that. Tip: If you have a UEFI based system and you still can't boot Windows 8 Setup from the flash drive, even after setting the USB device first in the boot order, see Tip #1 below for help. Note: If you came here from our tutorial, you can return there now to continue the walkthrough of that process.

Tips & More Information • The Windows USB DVD Download Tool formats the USB drive as, a that many UEFI-based computers will not boot from when on a USB drive. To work around this issue, do this: • After Step 11 above, copy all of the files from the flash drive to a folder on your PC. • Format the flash drive manually, using the older file system. • Copy all of the files from the folder you made in Step 1 back to the flash drive. • Repeat Step 12 above.

• There is an alternative method for getting a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO image properly onto a USB drive. See for a walkthrough. I prefer the procedure I've outlined above, but if you have trouble with it, that general ISO-to-USB procedure should work as well. • Still having trouble installing Windows 8 or 8.1 from a flash drive or other USB device? See for information about contacting me on social networks or via email, posting on tech support forums, and more.

Cummins Incal December 2012 Sat. By 2012-11-08 17:46:09 UTC is so new and different, many users aren't sure if they really want to abandon Windows 7 for it just yet. But you, dear Mashable reader, can have both at once. I'll show you how to keep your Windows 7 installation as it is, and have the option to boot into Windows 8 on the same machine, giving you the time and experience to make an informed choice between the two. You've been able to dual-boot previous versions of Windows for years, but now with Windows 8 it's easier than ever. Manual Do Solton Ms 100 Arrangers. There's good news, too: Microsoft is offering until January 31, 2013, and I'll show you how to use that version to dual-boot between Windows 7 and Windows 8. Using the regular Windows 8 Pro download saves you $85.01 by ignoring urging you to buy the $125 Windows 8 Pro System Builder software if you want to dual boot. However, if you want to try Windows 8 for a while before activating — an option available with Windows 7 — you can't legally install Windows 8 unless you have a valid product key.

SEE ALSO: Follow along and I'll show you how to download the software, put it on a DVD, and then install it on your machine without breaking anything, giving you the freedom to boot into either Windows 7 or Windows 8 at your whim. Before we get started, be sure your PC has the for Windows 8 and that you have at least 20GB of free space on your hard drive. Then you'll be ready for this fresh install of Windows 8, side-by-side with Windows 7. Keep in mind that a disadvantage of loading a fresh install rather than an upgrade of is that it won't transfer all your settings and applications you've so carefully curated. However, you will have a better chance at long-term stability if you freshly install a copy of Windows 8, and with this dual-boot setup, if it turns out you don't like it one bit, you can have your machine boot by default into Windows 7 and forget the whole thing. Dual-Booting Windows 7 and Windows 8 •.