Update (November 2014): A new official method from Microsoft has a bootable flash drive - Installation Media Creation Tool. Informal programs and methods are described below in this instruction.
How to make a bootable USB flash drive 8 Microsoft
This method is only suitable for users who have a legal copy of Windows 8 and the key to it. If you, for example, purchased a laptop or DVD drive with Windows 8 and want to create a bootable USB flash drive with the same version of Windows 8, this method for you.
Download and run this Windows 8 SETUP program from the official download page on the Microsoft website. After starting the program, you will be asked to enter the Windows 8 key - do it - it is on the sticker on the computer or in a box with a DVD distribution.
After that, a message appears with a message about which version of this key corresponds to and downloading Windows 8 from the Microsoft website, which may take a long time and depends on what your Internet speed you have.
Windows 8 download confirmation
After the download is complete, you will be prompted to create a bootable flash drive to install Windows 8 or a DVD disk with a distribution. Just choose a USB flash drive and follow the instructions of the program. As a result, you will receive a ready-made USB media with the licensed version of Windows 8. All that remains to do is to install the download from the flash drive in the BIOS and install.
Another "official way"
There is another way that is suitable for creating a Windows 8 boot flash drive, although it was made for the previous version of Windows. You will need a USB / DVD DOWNLOAD TOOL utility. Previously, it was easily found on the Microsoft website, now it disappeared from there, and I don't want to give links to unverified sources. I hope you will find. You will also need an ISO image of the Windows 8 distribution.
The process of creating a bootable flash drive in USB / DVD Download Tool
Further, everything is simple: you run the USB / DVD Download Tool, specify the path to the ISO file, specify the path to the flash drive and wait for the completion of the program. That's all, the loading flash drive is ready. It is worth noting that this program for creating loading flash drives does not always work with various "Windows assemblies".
Windows 8 boot flash drive using Ultraiso
A good and proven way to create installation USB media is Ultraiso. In order to make the boot flash drive in this program you will need an ISO file with the image of the Windows 8 distribution, open this file in Ultraiso. Next, follow these steps:
- Select the menu item "Self-loading", then - "Write a hard disk image".
- Specify your flash drive letter in the Disk Drive, and the path to the ISO file in the Image File field (image file), usually this field is already filled.
- Click the "Format" button (Format), and at the end of the formatting of the flash drive - "write an image" (Write Image).
After some time, the program reports that the ISO image was successfully recorded on a flash drive, which is now booting.
WINTOFLASH - another program to create a bootable flash drive of Windows 8
Also a very easy way to make a bootable flash drive for subsequent installation of Windows 8 - the free WinToflash program, which is downloaded by reference http://wintoflash.com/.
Actions after starting the program is elementary - in the main program window, select the Advanced Mode tab, and in the "Task Type" field - "Transfer of the Vista / 2008 / 7/8 installation program to the drive", after that - just follow the instructions of the program. Yes, in order to create a bootable USB flash drive 8 this way you need to choose from:
- CD with Windows 8
- Mounted in the Windows 8 distribution system (for example, ISO connected via Daemon Tools)
- Folder with WINE installation files
Otherwise, the use of the program is intuitive.
There are many other ways and free programs to create bootable flash drives. Including with Windows 8. If the items listed above are not enough, you can:
- Get acquainted with the review Creating a bootable flash drive - the best prorammas
- Learn how to create a Windows 8 bootable USB flash drive on the command prompt
- Read how to make a multi-load flash drive
- Learn how to install download from a flash drive in BIOS
- How to install windows 8