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I need to create a boot disk for Windows 8.1 on a USB. How?

Anonymous
2018-02-04T16:15:05+00:00

I need to create a boot disk for my machine. I am using Windows 8.1, the system was already installed and have no disk(s). I would prefer to do this via a USB/Flash Drive.

How do I do this? Went down the rabbit hole looking for an answer.

Thanks for all your help, it is always most appreciated!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Windows update

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-02-04T16:23:18+00:00

    Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File) - Microsoft

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

    create bootable copy:

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wik...

    You can use the built in Disc Image burning tool or Microsoft .iso to USB/DVD tool (https://wudt.codeplex.com/) to create a bootable DVD or USB (requires a blank DVD) or Rufus, a third party program that can create a bootable USB flash stick (requires at least 8 GBs).

    After downloading the .ISO file, right click it and click Burn disc image

    Insert a blank DVD

    Click Burn

    Windows 8/8.1 users can mount the .ISO file then start the upgrade automatically. Learn more here

    Important:

    If you are creating a bootable USB thumb drive, make sure the thumb drive is first formatted as FAT32.

    Connect the thumb drive

    Open Computer

    Right click thumbdrive

    Click Format

    Make sure FAT32 is selected as the file system.

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  2. DaveM121 868.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2018-02-04T16:17:02+00:00

    Hi Russell

    Click this link:

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

    to download the Media Creation Tool (Click on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 8.1 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 4GB) using that tool

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  3. Sumit 43,546 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-02-04T16:42:13+00:00

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Sumit 43,546 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-02-05T04:56:20+00:00

    Great-Yes this does not require a large flash drive.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2018-02-04T20:08:36+00:00

    Thank you for the information; am going to try this one first. I can always get a larger flash drive and do the previously suggested fixes which include the partitioned drive contents.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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