How To Create Windows 8 Bootable Usb

In keeping up with tradition, Microsoft has launched Windows 8.1 in both digital and concrete form. Users tin install the new operating arrangement by using either a downloaded ISO file or the provided DVD. Just what happens when neither option is right for you lot? You lot can apply a USB bulldoze.

There are a number of major benefits to using a USB drive for this process. Information technology'due south compatible with nigh every device that is meant to run Windows, forgoes the need to have a spare DVD and the burner effectually and is much easier to store and deport with you wherever yous may go. A USB drive can also be faster than any DVD, shortening the fourth dimension needed for the install, and, chances are, yous probably already take ane lying around. Besides, compared to ISO files which tin can but be leveraged from Windows, USB drives can be used with no software installed on the device.

Requirements

To create a bootable Windows 8.1 USB drive you will demand the following:

four GB or larger USB drive;
Windows 8.1 DVD, ISO file or product fundamental;
A device that is running Windows.

What If I Have a Windows eight Product Key?

If y'all have a Windows 8 production key, you can download the Windows 8.1 ISO file straight from Microsoft's servers, and create a bootable USB drive every bit well. My colleague Wayne Williams has already written a guide which details all the steps that you accept to go through. Delight note that you demand a Windows PC for this task.

How Does the Windows 8.1 Production Central Help?

Patently, you cannot install Windows 8.1 using simply the product cardinal. Simply, you tin use it to download the ISO file direct from Microsoft's servers. Please note that the default Windows partition (commonly "C") has to have at to the lowest degree v GB of free storage. You lot volition have to follow these steps adjacent:

Download and open the Install Windows 8.1 setup file from Microsoft;
Type in your Windows 8.one product cardinal and initiate the download;
After the download completes, select Install by creating media;
Select USB flash drive (it should be the default pick) and insert the USB drive;
Accept any prompts to erase the contents of the USB drive in order to kicking off the process.

If yous prefer a visual step-by-stride guide, you can look at the screenshots posted beneath. [portfolio_slideshow id=193058 size=large autoplay=false random=false centered=true carousel=true navstyle=graphical navpos=bottom pagerstyle=thumbs pagerpos=bottom]

How Tin I Create the USB Drive From a Windows 8.1 DVD or ISO file?

If y'all already have the Windows 8.one DVD or ISO file, you lot volition start have to re-create the contents of the DVD or ISO into a binder on the internal storage of the device. You tin can employ 7-Zip or WinRARto excerpt the contents, if the file cannot exist mounted. Delight make sure the location you cull has more complimentary space available than the size of the media -- more than 4 GB should suffice. After yous have copied or extracted the contents, follow the next steps:

Open up the Control Prompt. This can be done by triggering the Run -- Windows Key + R -- feature, and opening "cmd".
Blazon "diskpart" to open up the deejay partitioning software. Accept the UAC security prompt, if asked.
Insert the USB bulldoze.
Blazon "list deejay". The program will so show y'all a listing of all the concrete drives (HDD, SSD, USB, etc.) that are attached.
Place the disk number of the USB drive (it tin can be recognized past looking at the size column; it's usually the last listed deejay) and type "select deejay Ten", where "X" is the disk number of your USB drive.
Type "clean". This volition erase the contents of the USB drive, so make sure you have the contents backed-upwards beforehand.
Type "create partition primary". This command will create a primary partition on the USB drive.
Type "select partitioning 1". This command will select the created partition.
Type "active". This command will make the selected segmentation active.
Type "format fs=ntfs quick". This command will format the created partition as NTFS.
Type "assign". This control will assign a alphabetic character to the USB drive, which will make information technology show under Windows Explorer.
Copy the contents of the Windows 8.one DVD or ISO from the created folder on the USB drive.

Below is a visual step-by-step guide featuring all the commands presented above. [portfolio_slideshow id=193131 size=large autoplay=fake random=false centered=true carousel=true navstyle=graphical navpos=bottom pagerstyle=thumbs pagerpos=lesser]

What Should I Practise Side by side?

You lot have now created a bootable Windows 8.1 USB drive. To install the operating system from it y'all will have to ready the device to boot from USB, correct after powering information technology on. After, deport on with the process as you would normally.

Photo Credit: You lot can more/Shutterstock