Create and Install Windows 8 from Bootable USB Flash Drive with ISO Image File

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by abidullah, Sep 14, 2011.

  1. abidullah

    abidullah MDL Novice

    Sep 12, 2011
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    The Windows Developer Preview is a pre-beta version of Windows 8 for developers released today.
    In this guide i will show you How to Create and Install Windows 8 from Bootable USB Flash Drive with an ISO Image File. This tutorial might be helpful for all those netbook users who want to test Windows 8 on their netbooks as these don’t come with DVD ROM.
    Things you need to have before following the instructions :
    1. Windows 8 ISO
    2. USB Flash Drive (Min. 4GB)
    3. MBRWiz (only Command line version is freeware)
    4. MagicDisc for ISO Mounting
    How to Create and Install Windows 8 from Bootable USB Flash Drive with an ISO Image File


    Step 1: Plug your USB Flash drive into computer and format it.
    Step 2: Now open command prompt by going to Start Menu,Choose Run and type CMD.
    Now type following command there


    convert j: /fs:ntfs (Where “j” is your USB drive letter)



    Step 3: Now Mount Windows 8 ISO as drive with Magic Disc
    Step 4: Again open Command prompt and browse for the directory where you have installed MBRWiz.
    Run following commands
    Mbrwiz /list (please note the disk number of USB flash drive)
    Mbrwiz /disk=X /Active (X is disc number of your USB flash drive)
    Exit

    Step 5: Now open another command windows and type the commands below:
    K: (Drive letter of Windows 8 ISO mounted with magicdisc)
    CD boot
    bootsect /nt60 Y: /mbr (Y is drive latter of your USB drive )


    Step 6: Now Copy files from Windows 8 ISO drive to disk drive and reboot your system and go to BIOS and select USB drive as your first boot drive.
    That’s it, Now complete the installation.


     
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  2. Nawzil

    Nawzil MDL Guru

    Jun 18, 2011
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    HyperLinks does not work!
     
  3. Dasus

    Dasus MDL Novice

    Jun 18, 2011
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    You can use free tool from Microsoft "Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool". This tool will work fine with win8 iso images. Only 4 steps to create bootable USB drive: Select ISO, Select drive (USB or DVD), Format drive and Create.
     
  4. abidullah

    abidullah MDL Novice

    Sep 12, 2011
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    can upload the links becoz it says i have to complete 20 posts. but if u want u can google it with then given names.
    and i tried microsoft usb tool but not working on 64bit iso, this is the only step it worked with.
     
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  5. Espionage724

    Espionage724 MDL Expert

    Nov 7, 2009
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    The only thing I did was, take my Sandisk 8GB flash drive, reformat it to FAT32, take the WDP disc image, open it with 7-zip, extract the contents of it on the root of my flash drive, rebooted, profit. No 3rd party software or anything (well, not counting 7-zip, but you could use any other extractor like WinZip and WinRAR)
     
  6. kldpdas

    kldpdas MDL Member

    Oct 21, 2009
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    #7 kldpdas, Sep 15, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Or this
    Start CMD(as administrator) in Windows 7 or vista
    Code:
    diskpart.exe
    list disk
    (locate usb drive)
    select disk x(x=usb disk no.)
    clean
    create partition primary
    select partition 1
    active
    format fs=ntfs quick
    
    Extract contents of iso using WinRAR into the USB drive.
    Boot from usb and install.:)
     
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  7. steph_t

    steph_t MDL Member

    Apr 10, 2011
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    Why not using Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool?
    Another simple solution would be to format as NTFS, copy the files and execute {Drive}:\Boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 {Drive}: /force
     
  8. Skylined

    Skylined MDL Member

    Nov 10, 2008
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    #10 Skylined, Sep 15, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    This method is the best, you can also use "format fs=fat32 quick" instead once you have no files bigger than 4gb
    The reason i like this is that after you use the flash drive, just delete the files from it (don't format) and you can always copy the installation files from any W7/W8 iso to it again and boot without going through the above steps again!
     
  9. lysy.lbn

    lysy.lbn MDL Member

    Apr 20, 2011
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    I used Ultra ISO, works fine
     
  10. steve2926

    steve2926 MDL Member

    Nov 13, 2010
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    You can also use RMPrepUSB (see website) - it also has a tutorial on how to install Win8 onto a USB drive and boot Win 8 straight from USB.