Create Windows 8 Installation Media

Creating a Windows 8 Installation Media

The process of upgrading to Windows 8 differed significantly from prior operating system versions. Notably, the upgrade could be completed entirely through an online download.

Many users opted to minimize upgrade expenses by foregoing the purchase of a backup DVD. This guide details how to generate your own installation media.

Downloading the Installation Files

To begin, you must download the necessary installation files. Navigate to the Windows Order Summary page and complete the required form with your purchase details.

It’s possible you may not have all the information readily available, especially if you didn’t print your order confirmation email after the initial purchase.

Locating your order details is simple; search your email inbox for ‘Thanks for ordering Windows 8’ to quickly find the relevant message.

Upon submitting the form, you will be directed to your order summary. Here, you’ll find an option to order a backup disc, though you can alternatively create your own media at no cost.

Initiating the Download

At the bottom of the order summary page, a download link for Windows 8 will be presented. Clicking this link will initiate the download of a small installer file.

Double-click the downloaded executable file, then enter your valid Windows 8 product key and proceed by clicking ‘Next’.

The system will then verify that the correct version of Windows 8 is detected for your system. Confirm the version and click ‘Next’ to continue.

The required setup files will now be downloaded. Allow sufficient time for this process to complete before proceeding.

Creating the Installation Media

Once the download is finished, select the option ‘Install by creating media’ and click ‘Next’.

You will then be presented with a choice: create a bootable USB flash drive or create an ISO file for burning to a DVD.

If you have a USB drive with at least 3GB of free space, select ‘USB flash drive’ and click ‘Next’.

Choose your USB drive from the displayed list and click ‘Next’. Remember that all existing data on the selected drive will be erased, so ensure you have a backup.

After the data is cleared, the installation files will be copied to the USB drive.

Burning to DVD

Alternatively, if you prefer a traditional installation DVD, select the ‘ISO file’ option and click ‘Save’.

Choose a location to save the ISO file, click ‘Save’, and wait for the image creation process to finish.

Once the ISO file is created, insert a blank DVD into your optical drive. Click the ‘Open DVD burner’ link, verify your DVD burner is selected, and click ‘Burn’.

Finally, after the disc has been burned, clearly label it to identify its contents.