Step by Step guide on how to install Windows 8 from a USB Drive
Windows 8 Developer Preview is now available for download. I’m sure you want to try it that’s why you probably stumble into this page. But how can you install the Windows 8 ISO if your computer does not have a DVD drive?
This step by step guide on how you can install windows 8 using a USB Drive will help you solve your problem. Usually net books/notebooks and smaller laptops does not have DVD Drive.
The only way you can install Windows 8 is to make a bootable USB Drive and install the OS from it. This step is easy if you are installing the Windows 7. But how about if you are installing the Windows 8, since this is a new OS?
Simple, use the same tool and do the same steps like when you install Windows 7 from a USB drive. Below are the steps on how to install Windows 8 from a USB Drive.
Before we start, we will be needing the following:
1. Windows 8 Developers Preview ISO. You can download it here.
2. Microsoft’s Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool. You can download it here.
3. A blank USB Drive with atleast 4GB of space. Where to get it? Buy one from below.
Steps on how to install Windows 8 using a USB Drive:
1. Make sure that the USB Drive is blank. Format the drive with FAT32 file system.
2. Install the Microsoft Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool.
3. After installing the tool run the program and use it. Just follow the instructions of the tool.
Note: Although Microsoft’s Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool was designed for Windows 7, it also works on Windows 8.
4. Just select the ISO files in Step 1 of 4 and choose to select to copy the contents to a USB Drive. Follow until you reached Step 4 of 4: Creating bootable USB Drive.
5. After that, you’re done! You can now use the Windows 8 bootable USB Drive.
Installing Windows 8 using the bootable USB Drive.
1. Plug-in the USB Drive to your computer.
2. Configure the BIOS of your computer to make sure that it will first boot from a USB Drive. Otherwise it will ignore the USB Drive.
3. Once it restarts, it should detect the USB and install Windows 8 from there. Just install the OS like you’re installing it from a DVD Drive. That’s it!
You can also install the Windows 8 ISO to another partition or physical drive by making a virtual drive. Use Daemon Tools or similar software for this matter.
System Requirements for Window 8 Developers Preview:
- 1 Gigahertz or faster 32-bit or 64-bit processor
- 1 Gigabyte of RAM for 32-bit, 2 Gigabytes of RAM for 64-bit minimum
- 16 Gigabyte hard drive for 32-bit systems, 20 Gigabyte for 64-bit systems
- Direct X 9 graphics card
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