Install Windows 10, 8.1/ 8 from a USB Stick

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Habib Heydarian's Blog @ Microsoft
Program Manager for Microsoft Robotics, Visual Studio

How to Deploy Windows 8.1/8 from a USB Drive​

Instructions (using the command line)

At a high level, the steps are:

1. Mount the Windows 8 [retail] ISO image on your computer
2. Format a USB flash drive
3. Copy the Windows 8 files onto the USB flash drive
4. Make the USB flash drive bootable
5. Install Windows 8/8.1/10 from the bootable flash drive

Step 1: Mount the Windows 8 [retail] ISO image on your computer

Step 2: Format a USB flash drive

Diskpart Commands

• Open the command prompt; type the following commands:
  a. diskpart
  b. list disk
• ^^ This will show all connected disks, their disk numbers, connection status and disk size.
• Using the sizes, determine which disk is your USB drive and remember its disk number (i.e. Disk 2)
• Type the following commands: (where X is the disk number of your USB drive)

a. select disk X​

b. clean ​

c. create partition primary ​

d. active ​

e. format fs=fat32 Quick ​

f. exit​

<...>
Step 3: Make the USB flash drive bootable

We just need to make the USB flash drive bootable before copying the files. To do this, you can use the Boot Sector Registration Tool (bootsect.exe) which is located in the boot folder of the Windows 8 ISO image.

1. Start a Command Prompt as an Administrator and CHDIR into the boot folder of the Windows 8 ISO image, e.g. I:\boot where I:\ is the drive where the ISO image is mounted
2. Type bootsect /nt60 k:
   /* where k: is the drive assigned to the USB flash drive */

Result in CMD screen:

Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible bootcode.

I: (\\?\Volume{b64ba95d-68fc-11e5-82a9-a01d48c2bd4c})

Successfully updated FAT32 filesystem bootcode.

Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes.

*** NOTE: the volume number on line 2 will be different than yours,

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. k:\ is the USB flash drive.

xcopy i:\*.* k:\ /e /f /h

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Step 5: Install Windows 8/8.1/10 from the bootable flash drive

How to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8 Developer Preview - Habib Heydarian's Blog @ Microsoft - Site Home - MSDN Blogs


Commands + Output from the CMD screen - steps 2, 3 and part of 4 (copying of files) - commands are in RED:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.2.9200

Copyright (C) 1999-2012 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: OWNER

DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
-------- ------------- ------- ------- --- ---
Disk 0 Online 465 GB 1024 KB
Disk 1 Online 298 GB 1024 KB
Disk 2 Online 14 GB 0 B

DISKPART> sel dis 2

Disk 2 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> clean

DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk.

DISKPART> cre par pri

DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.

DISKPART> active

DiskPart marked the current partition as active.

DISKPART> format fs=fat32 Quick

100 percent completed

DiskPart successfully formatted the volume.

DISKPART> exit

Leaving DiskPart...

C:\Windows\system32>cd /d i:\boot

i:\boot>bootsect /nt60 k:
Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible bootcode.

K: (\\?\Volume{bb91749f-e659-11e2-bea7-001eec822104})

Successfully updated FAT32 filesystem bootcode.

Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes.

i:\boot>xcopy i:\*.* k:\ /e /f /h

I:\autorun.inf -> K:\autorun.inf
I:\bootmgr -> K:\bootmgr
I:\bootmgr.efi -> K:\bootmgr.efi
I:\setup.exe -> K:\setup.exe
I:\boot\bcd -> K:\boot\bcd
I:\boot\boot.sdi -> K:\boot\boot.sdi
I:\boot\bootfix.bin -> K:\boot\bootfix.bin
I:\boot\bootsect.exe -> K:\boot\bootsect.exe
I:\boot\etfsboot.com -> K:\boot\etfsboot.com
I:\boot\memtest.exe -> K:\boot\memtest.exe
I:\boot\en-us\bootsect.exe.mui -> K:\boot\en-us\bootsect.exe.mui
I:\boot\fonts\chs_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\chs_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\cht_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\cht_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\jpn_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\jpn_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\kor_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\kor_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\malgun_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\malgun_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\malgunn_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\malgunn_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\meiryo_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\meiryo_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\meiryon_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\meiryon_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\msjh_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\msjh_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\msjhn_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\msjhn_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\msyh_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\msyh_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\msyhn_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\msyhn_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\segmono_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\segmono_boot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\segoe_slboot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\segoe_slboot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\segoen_slboot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\segoen_slboot.ttf
I:\boot\fonts\wgl4_boot.ttf -> K:\boot\fonts\wgl4_boot.ttf
I:\boot\resources\bootres.dll -> K:\boot\resources\bootres.dll
I:\efi\boot\bootx64.efi -> K:\efi\boot\bootx64.efi
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\bcd -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\bcd
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\cdboot.efi -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\cdboot.efi
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\cdboot_noprompt.efi -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\cdboot_noprom
pt.efi
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys.bin -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys.bin
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys_noprompt.bin -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys_noprom
pt.bin
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\memtest.efi -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\memtest.efi
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\chs_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\chs_boot
.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\cht_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\cht_boot
.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\jpn_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\jpn_boot
.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\kor_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\kor_boot
.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\malgun_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\malgu
n_boot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\malgunn_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\malg
unn_boot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\meiryo_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\meiry
o_boot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\meiryon_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\meir
yon_boot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msjh_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msjh_bo
ot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msjhn_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msjhn_
boot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msyh_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msyh_bo
ot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msyhn_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\msyhn_
boot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\segmono_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\segm
ono_boot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\segoe_slboot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\sego
e_slboot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\segoen_slboot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\seg
oen_slboot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\wgl4_boot.ttf -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\fonts\wgl4_bo
ot.ttf
I:\efi\microsoft\boot\resources\bootres.dll -> K:\efi\microsoft\boot\resources\b
ootres.dll
I:\sources\acres.dll -> K:\sources\acres.dll
I:\sources\actionqueue.dll -> K:\sources\actionqueue.dll
I:\sources\adfscomp.dll -> K:\sources\adfscomp.dll
I:\sources\admtv3check.dll -> K:\sources\admtv3check.dll
I:\sources\aeinv.dll -> K:\sources\aeinv.dll

<...> S N I P <...>


I:\support\logging\en-us\auditetw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\auditetw.d
ll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\cmisetupetw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\cmisetu
petw.dll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\oobeldretw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\oobeldre
tw.dll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\setupcletw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\setupcle
tw.dll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\setupetw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\setupetw.d
ll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\setupugcetw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\setupug
cetw.dll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\sysprepetw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\sysprepe
tw.dll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\windeployetw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\windep
loyetw.dll.mui
I:\support\logging\en-us\winsetupetw.dll.mui -> K:\support\logging\en-us\winsetu
petw.dll.mui

2059 File(s) copied

i:\boot>

I used UltraISO to mount the Windows 8 ISO - http://www.ezbsystems.com/ultraiso/download.htm

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In Windows 10, just double-click on the ISO in Windows Explorer.​

 

[jcgriff2]

Works fine for Windows 10. Tested 8/3/2015.

 

[ranosb]

What about installing Win8.1 over a new machine that has Win 10 Home pre-installed on it? Does the Win8.1 Install disc remove the partitions from Win10 & create the needed new partitions? My programs won't run on Win10!
Thanks!

 

[Aura]

Hi ranosb :)

It does. When you launch the Windows 8.1 installation from the USB, you simply have to choose the "Custom (Advanced)" installation method, select all the drives on the system and click on "Delete". You'll end up with a single, big "Unallocated space" which should be the size of your hard drive and then you can install Windows 8.1 on it (the partitions needed will be automatically created during the installation).

 

[Piter101]

Good tips, but I'd like to share tips how to reinstall Windows 10 without CD/USB.

In case you need it any time.

Check it out here: How to Reinstall Windows 10 without CD/USB Easily (3 Skills)

 

[primed]

In mine Dell Lap, it was worked just by copying the all files from iso to USB drive, but in Viao It Doesn't worked.is it also depend upon BISO Setting of the PC or Desktop.?

 

[jcgriff2]

I believe that Dell's OEM version of Windows is similar to a full retail copy of Windows whereas Sony's OEM version of Windows (and just about all other system manufacturers) utilize an image of the HDD; hence there are no files to copy.