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How to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8 Developer Preview
Habib Heydarian [MSFT] 14 Sep 2011 2:10 AM
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Like many folks, after watching the BUILD keynote this morning, I couldn't wait to get home and install Windows 8 Developer Preview on my laptop. The instructions for installing Windows 8 are simple enough. The only fly in the ointment is that installing Windows 8 requires a DVD to create an install package. Of course, since I haven't used an optical drive in years, I didn't have a blank DVD and I didn't want to wait until the morning to buy some. But I did have a USB flash drive and so I decided to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8. To create a bootable USB flash drive the easy way, you can download the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool from the Microsoft Store. If you feel adventurous and are comfortable with command line tools, below are the step-by-step instructions for installing Windows 8 Developer Preview from a USB flash drive. But be warned, if you are not comfortable with command line tools, downloading the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool is a much better option and will save you the effort of reading the remainder of this blog.
Step 1: Mount the Windows 8 Developer Preview ISO image on your computer
The first step is to mount the ISO image on your computer. Since Windows 7 doesnt have the capability to mount an ISO image, youll have to use a 3rd party tool. 1. Download the Windows Developer Preview ISO image (choose one of the three available) 2. Using your favorite ISO image software, mount the ISO image on your computer To check that the ISO image mounted successfully, you should be able to browse the Windows 8 files, as shown below.
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3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
DISKPART> list disk /* shows list of active disks */ DISKPART> select disk # /* # is the number for your USB flash drive */ DISKPART> clean /* deletes any existing partitions on the USB flash drive */ DISKPART> create partition primary /* create a primary partition on the USB flash drive */ DISKPART> select partition 1 /* select the newly created partition */ DISKPART> active /* make the new partition active */ DISKPART> format FS=NTFS /* format the USB drive with NTFS file system */ DISKPART> assign /* assign a volume and drive letter to the USB drive */ DISKPART> exit /* exit Disk Partition */
At this point, your USB flash drive should be showing up in Windows Explorer and have a drive letter assigned to it, e.g. F:\.
Step 4: Copy the Windows 8 files onto the USB flash drive
From a command line, use XCOPY to copy the Windows 8 files to the USB flash drive . In the example below, I:\ is the drive where the ISO image is mounted. F:\ is the USB flash drive. XCOPY I:\*.* F:\ /E /F /H
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/habibh/archive/2011/09/14/how-to-create-a-bootable-usb-flash-d... 10/24/2013
How to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8 Developer Preview - Habi... Page 3 of 6
I installed Windows 8 Developer Preview on a vanilla Dell Inspiron 15R laptop which unfortunately doesn't have touch (or any other sensors for that matter).
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/habibh/archive/2011/09/14/how-to-create-a-bootable-usb-flash-d... 10/24/2013
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Habib Heydarian.
Comments
Michelle 14 Sep 2011 2:37 AM #
Hi, Very good post. Easy to follow with the simple steps. Thanks. <a href="horloges" rel="nofollow" target="_new">http://www.sieraden-online.nl">horloges</a>
Is there any way to install the FULL Windows 8 onto the USB flash drive? Not just the installer
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/habibh/archive/2011/09/14/how-to-create-a-bootable-usb-flash-d... 10/24/2013
How to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8 Developer Preview - Habi... Page 5 of 6
DISKPART> format /FS:NTFS /* format the USB drive with NTFS file system */ Should be format FS=NTFS
@Kevin: I assume that you're trying to boot Windows 8 from a USB drive. If so, then the answer is no, you can't boot Windows 8 Developer Previews from a USB drive.
Hello.. sorry for my bad english in advance :) when i try create partition primary it gives me an error, not enaught space but the falsh drive is empy and formated in ntsf, so any ideas about that? Thanks
@Habib Heydarian Nope its still not fixed yet quote : DISKPART> format /FS=NTFS /* format the USB drive with NTFS file system */ Nice post by the way.
@Hedi: Please verify that you are selecting the correct disk # in step 2.4. If that doesn't resolve the issue, then verify that you can format the USB drive from Windows Explorer.
Didn't work for me. Maybe because I'm trying to use a microsd card adapter.
@Bryan: If your BIOS doesn't recognize your mSD slot as a bootable adapter, then this is not going to work.
Is it possible to make a bootable version on a hard drive connected externally via usb or does that require a SATA connected HD to get the full experience?
@Michael: If your question is whether you can boot Windows 8 Developer Preview off of an external device, e.g. eSATA drive or USB drive, then the answer is no.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/habibh/archive/2011/09/14/how-to-create-a-bootable-usb-flash-d... 10/24/2013
How to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8 Developer Preview - Habi... Page 6 of 6
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http://blogs.msdn.com/b/habibh/archive/2011/09/14/how-to-create-a-bootable-usb-flash-d... 10/24/2013