How To Install Windows 8 From Flash Disk
1. Create an ISO
file from the Windows 8 DVD. 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.
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.
2. Click Browse on
the Step 1 of 4: Choose ISO file screen.
3. Locate, and then select, your Windows 8 ISO
file. Then click or touch Open.
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.
4. Click or touch Next.
5. Choose USB
device on the 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.
6. On the Step 3 of 4: Insert USB device
screen, choose from the drop-down box the flash drive or USB-connected external
hard drive 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.
7. 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.
8. On Step 4 of 4:
Creating bootable USB device, just wait for the Windows 7 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 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.
9. 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 7 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 booted from.
10. Boot from the USB device 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 boot order changes in the BIOS. See How To Change the Boot Order in BIOS
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 my How To Clean Install Windows 8 or 8.1 tutorial, you can return
there now to continue the walkthrough of that process.
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