Create Windows 8.1 Installation Media

[Joe A.TT]

I'm aware some of our members are on Windows 8.1 just like me and I would like to share this news with them.

Finally, there's a way to create Windows 8.1 installation media. Credit for this goes to this ghacks' article where I first learned about it.

Personally, as a user of the OEM version of Windows 8.1 I've always felt uncomfortable without installation media. However, that is so no longer. As I write this I'm in the process of downloading an ISO. I hope this makes other Windows 8.1 users happy as it does me.

[Remah]

Thanks. This will be real handy.

[v.laurie]

I just wrote about this at http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...windows-81.htm

[Joe A.TT]

That's okay Vic. We all make boo boos.

Okay, I did some more investigation and here's what I found.

° You must be logged in as an Administrator in order to run the Media Creation Tool.

° Whether you create an installation flashdrive or burn a disk both are bootable in a Windows UEFI computer. However, you have to select which drive to boot from in the Boot Options menu of the firmware. On my own computer I have to tap F12 on startup to get to Boot Options. You may have to use a different key on your computer.

[Anupam]

I had seen this on Ghacks earlier, and I meant to post about it today. But, Joe and Vic beat me to it

Anyways, this should be really helpful for the users, and it's a good step by Microsoft.

I had bought an OEM version of Windows 8 on a CD, but I always wanted to have an ISO of 8.1. It was always in my mind that if I had to do a reinstall of Windows, I would have to again download and install Windows 8.1.

There was an earlier method of creating disc for Windows 8.1, which is covered in Ghacks, but it required inserting a key first, and the key was not accepted for OEM versions, which was quite a setback.

I don't know if the OEM key will work with this too. But, I still downloaded the ISO last night. Although it was said to have 4 GB of space for the ISO, still, the downloaded ISO has a size of 2.47 GB.

Joe, what's the size you got for the ISO?

Now, how do I test if this downloaded ISO will work with the OEM version of my Windows 8?

Also had another query in mind... about how this ISO will be used. It will be used to install Windows 8.1 update after installation of Windows 8?

Or, is it a Windows 8.1 in itself, meaning, it will install Windows 8 with the 8.1 update, without the need for original Windows 8 CD?

About downloading the ISO, it's an easy process. You have to choose the location where the ISO will be saved, and that's it. It will start downloading the ISO. After the ISO is downloaded, you have to option to either finish the process and exit, or there's an option on the windows to create the disc.

[Joe A.TT]

Anupam, I downloaded Windows 8.1 without the "N" designation and it's 3.20 GB. I'm assuming you downloaded the ISO with the "N" designation? The ones with "N" don't have any media options such as Windows Media Player and Skype, but still I find that's a sizable difference.

As for your other questions, I don't have any answers. All I did was boot the installation from both a flashdrive and DVD to see if they booted. I just exited and didn't go any further. I guess the only way to know if it will accept a Windows 8 OEM key is to back up your entire disk and run the installer. I don't know if you are willing to go that far.

[Anupam]

Thanks Joe.

Same as you, I downloaded Windows 8.1 without the N designation. That is the first choice, among the listed editions. I also chose the language to be English (US). Did you choose the same?

There seems to be some difference in the ISO sizes that we both have got. Don't know why is that.

I downloaded the ISO on laptop with Windows 7, but I don't think that should make any difference.

Yes, I won't go that far with my current Windows installation, but I might try it on a spare hard drive that I have.

[Joe A.TT]

Yes, I chose English (US) for language too. Anupam, did you download the 32-bit version? I think that may be the difference in our ISO's because I downloaded the 64-bit version.

Oh, I should mention that in the past I've always used 3rd party software to burn my ISO's. This time I decided to try the native feature in Windows to see how it works. I'm pleased to say that everything went smoothly and the disk came out fine.

[Anupam]

Oh yes, correct, you got it! That's the difference. Yes, I downloaded for 32-bit version. That's why the difference .

[Anupam]

I used the disc created to install Windows 8.1 on a spare hard drive that I had.

It accepted the OEM key that I had without problems. That's quite a relief, which I was worried about.

It is a full installation CD, meaning that using this disc, you can install Windows 8.1 on the system. So, it's not a Windows 8.1 update disc, a doubt I had.

So, now I have two alternatives with me. First is the original Windows 8 CD, and now this disc.

Had no issues installing Windows.

However, I did encounter what would be an issue for me, and for others too.

If I remember correctly, with my original Windows 8 disc, it was possible to create a local account. But, with this disc, there was no choice to create a local account. I had to sign in with my hotmail account, without which the installation would not proceed.

This is what I did not like. I was forced to sign in with my Hotmail account. There should have been a choice to create a local account.

This is definitely a good step from Microsoft. Although, this might be coming quite late, as Windows 10 will be released next year.

I hope they do provide an ISO image for that one soon

Now I am thinking that I will have to remove the Hotmail account and create a local account, otherwise, I guess I might have a problem if I use my original Windows 8 on the other drive. It might create problems, because it will think that this key is already being used on another system.