In this instruction, we will describe step by step the creation of a Windows 8.1 boot disk for installing the system (or restoring it). Despite the fact that now bootable flash drives are more often used as a distribution kit, a disk can also be useful and even necessary in some situations.
Creating a bootable DVD with the original Windows 8.1 system
Relatively recently, Microsoft introduced the Media Creation Tool utility, specifically designed for creating bootable installation drives with Windows 8.1 - with this program you can download the original system in an ISO video and either immediately burn it to USB, or use the image to burn a bootable disk.
The Media Creation Tool program is available for download from the official website http://windows.microsoft.com/ru-ru/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media. After clicking the “Create Media” button, the utility itself will be loaded, after which you can select which version of Windows 8.1 you need.
In the next step, we will need to choose whether we want to write the installation file to a USB flash memory device (flash drive) or save it as an ISO file. To burn to disk you will need ISO, select this item.
And finally, we indicate the location to save the official ISO image with Windows 8.1 on your computer, after which you just have to wait for it to finish downloading from the Internet. 
All of the following steps will be the same, regardless of whether you are using the original image or you already have your own distribution as an ISO file.
Burn Windows 8.1 ISO to DVD
The essence of creating a boot disk for installing Windows 8.1 comes down to burning the image onto a suitable disk (in our case, DVD). You need to understand that this does not mean simply copying an image onto a medium (otherwise it happens that they do this too), but “deploying” it on disk.
You can burn an image to disk either using standard Windows 7, 8 and 10 tools, or using third-party programs. Advantages and disadvantages of the methods:
- When using OS tools for recording, you do not need to install any additional programs. And, if you need to use a disk to install Windows1 on the same computer, you can safely use this method. The disadvantage is the lack of recording settings, which can lead to the inability to read the disc on another drive and rapid loss of data from it over time (especially if a low-quality disc is used).
- When using disc burning programs, you can adjust the burning parameters (it is recommended to use the minimum speed and a high-quality blank DVD-R or DVD+R write-once disc). This increases the likelihood of trouble-free installation of the system on different computers from the created distribution.
In order to create a Windows 8.1 disk using the system, simply right-click on the image and select “Burn disk image” or “Open with” - “Windows Disc Image Burner” from the context menu, depending on the installed OS version. 
The recording wizard will perform all other actions. Upon completion, you will receive a ready-made boot disk from which you can install the system or perform recovery actions.
To burn Windows 8.1 to disk in Burning Studio, select “Burn Image” in the “Disk Image” program. After that, specify the path to the downloaded installation image.
After this, all that remains is to set the recording parameters (it is enough to set the minimum speed available for selection) and wait for the end of the recording process.
Ready. To use the created distribution, it will be enough to boot from it into the BIOS (UEFI), or select the disk in the Boot Menu when booting the computer (which is even simpler).
We hope that this material will be useful to you. If you have any questions or additions, write in the comments.
A bootable DVD or CD may be needed to install Windows or Linux, scan your computer for viruses, remove a banner from the desktop, perform a system restore - in general, for a variety of purposes. Creating such a disk in most cases is not particularly difficult, however, it may raise questions for a novice user.
In this instruction, we will try to explain in detail and step by step exactly how you can burn a bootable disk in Windows 8, 7 or Windows XP, what exactly is required for this and what tools and programs can be used.
What you need to create a bootable disk
Typically, the only thing needed is a bootable disk image and in most cases, this is a file with an .iso extension that you downloaded from the Internet.
This is what the boot disk image looks like
Almost always, when you download Windows, a recovery disk, a LiveCD or some Rescue Disk with an antivirus, you get exactly the bootable ISO image and all you have to do to get the necessary media is burn this image to disk.
How to burn a bootable disc in Windows 8 (8.1) and Windows 7
You can burn a bootable disk from an image in the latest versions of the Windows operating system without the help of any additional programs (however, this may not be the best way, which will be discussed below). Here's how to do it:
The main advantage of this method is that it is simple and straightforward, and does not require the installation of programs. The main drawback is that there are no different recording options. The fact is that when creating a boot disk, it is recommended to set the minimum writing speed (and when using the described method, it will be written at the maximum) in order to ensure reliable reading of the disk on most DVD drives without downloading additional drivers. This is especially important if you intend to install an operating system from this disk.
The next method, using special programs for burning discs, is optimal for creating bootable discs and is suitable not only for Windows 8 and 7, but also for XP.
Burn a bootable disc using the free ImgBurn program
There are many programs for burning discs, among which Nero (which, by the way, is paid) seems to be the most famous. However, we will start with the completely free and at the same time excellent program ImgBurn.
You can download the ImgBurn disc burning program from the official website http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download (please note that for downloading you should use links like Mirror -Provided by, rather than the big green Download button). You can also download the Russian language for ImgBurn on the site.
Install the program, and during installation, refuse two additional programs that will try to install (you will need to be careful and uncheck the boxes).
After launching ImgBurn, you will see a simple main window in which we are interested in the Write image file to disk item.
After selecting this item, in the Source field you should specify the path to the boot disk image, in the Destination field select the device to record, and on the right indicate the recording speed and, best of all, select the lowest possible.
Then click the button to start recording and wait until the process finishes.
How to make a bootable disk using UltraISO
Another popular program for creating bootable drives is UltraISO and creating a bootable disk in this program is very simple.
Launch UltraISO, select “File” - “Open” from the menu and specify the path to the disk image. After that, click the button with the image of a burning disk “Burn CD DVD Image” (burn a disk image).
Select the recording device, Write Speed, and Write Method - best left as default. After that, click the Burn button, wait a little and the boot disk is ready!
How to make a bootable flash drive, watch the video.
How to create a Windows 8 boot disk is a fairly relevant topic today. The fact is that modern technologies are steadily developing, becoming deeper and deeper into people's lives. Thanks to this, people become more familiar with computers and operating systems. One of the latest operating systems is Windows 8. It is relatively new and many have not yet gotten used to the new features.
In addition, the services provided by Microsoft are also changing. Now the Remote Help Center provides new capabilities and has made it even easier to purchase and create bootable Windows 8 discs. So, let's get to the point.
Preparing to create a bootable CD/DVD
First of all, we will need to buy an operating system. You can do this on the official Microsoft website. After this, you can create a bootable Windows 8 disk in two ways:
- Using a utility from Microsoft.
- Using a program from a third-party developer, for example, UltraISO.
In the second case, we first need . This can also be done on the official website after paying for the license. An email will be sent to your email address with a link and activation key. By following the link, you will be taken to an online service where the image download will begin. Further actions depend on which option you choose. Let's look at both points in more detail.
Creating a Bootable DVD Using a Microsoft Utility
So, this method is suitable for those who have just paid for the license, but have not yet had time to download the operating system image. In this case, you should receive an email with an activation key and a download link. Follow this link. The update assistant should start, with the help of which the image will be burned to CD/DVD.
Creating a bootable DVD using Microsoft utility: Video
All you have to do is choose one of the options offered:
- Install now.
- Create installation media.
- Install from your computer later.
Since we want to create a bootable DVD, we select the second item. Of course, a blank drive should already be in the drive. That's all. The system will automatically download the image and create a bootable CD. You only need to wait for the job to complete. This will take quite a lot of time. It depends on the speed of your Internet connection. As you can see, creating a bootable Windows 8 disk is a fairly simple procedure. But what to do if you already have an image that needs to be recorded. In this case, the Microsoft Update Assistant will not be able to help. Therefore, we move on to the second option.
Creating a bootable DVD in UltraISO
This method is suitable for those who already have an operating system image. The UltraISO program itself unpacks it and writes it to a CD, turning it into a bootable one. So what does it take? In addition to the system image, we will need a blank DVD and a drive that will actually burn it. It is worth noting that, unlike the first method, this program allows you to create bootable disks not only with operating systems, but also with games and various utilities for checking the system and much more. In addition, you can use pirated images. However, it is worth warning that they have some limitations in functionality, and sometimes can cause irreparable harm to your computer.
Creating a bootable DVD in UltraISO on Windows 8: Video
Insert a blank DVD into the drive. Launch the UltraISO program. The program menu is divided into four windows. In the lower left window called “Directory” we need to select the folder in which the image we need is located. After this, the entire contents of this folder will appear in the lower right window. Select the required file. Open it by double-clicking with the left mouse button. Now the unpacked image, with all the boot files, is displayed in the upper right window.
Now let's go to the toolbar. This is the top row, which has various tabs. We are interested in the “Tools” tab. Click on it. In the menu that appears, select “Burn CD image.” The same service can be opened by simply pressing the F7 key.
There is no need to configure anything here. At the very bottom there is a “Record” button. Click on it. All. After that, all you have to do is wait for the recording to complete, after which you will have a bootable CD/DVD.
Now you know how to make a bootable Windows 8 disk using UltraISO. In fact, this is not the only program. There are a lot of them, but this application is easy to use and multifunctional. With its help you can. In addition, it performs the functions of a virtual drive. As you can see, everything is extremely simple. It is also worth noting that you can write additional programs to the disk image if there is free space on it. For example, you can add drivers for your system to the image. Thanks to this, you can install Windows and drivers from one drive.
How to create a bootable Windows 8 disk: Video
It is known that Microsoft does not provide the ability to download ISO images of Windows 8.1 installation disks. If you are using Windows 8 and want to upgrade to 8.1, you will have to download and install the new version through the Windows Store.
Some users want to do a clean installation of Windows 8.1, but they are unable to do so because... There is no official way to download a full image with the operating system. In this case, they have to first install Windows 8, and then upgrade to 8.1. But this is no longer a clean install.
But there is a way to download the desired image and use it offline.
How to download Windows 8.1 ISO for a clean installation?
Now there is no need to perform any additional manipulations, because Microsoft has released an official free tool to download Windows 8.1 ISO image and create installation media. Using this tool, you can download the desired disk image and then create a bootable USB flash drive or DVD to install the operating system on any computer.
This utility can be run on any version of Windows. But you should keep in mind that you must have a reliable and sufficiently high-speed Internet connection, because... The complete image of the operating system will be downloaded.
You can download this program using this link:
After launching the utility, you will be asked to select the language, edition and architecture of the operating system.
The application allows you to download the following OS releases:
- Windows 8.1
- Windows 8.1 for one language
- Windows 8.1 Professional
Depending on your needs, you can download a 32-bit (x32) or 64-bit (x64) operating system image.
After selecting the required parameters and clicking on the “Next” button, you will be asked to select the location where the installation file will be stored. This is either a USB drive or an ISO file.
Make your choice based on your needs. It is recommended to select the 2nd item, because An ISO file is more versatile to use. It can be written to the same flash drive, DVD, or used to install the OS on a virtual machine.
After clicking the “Next” button, the process of downloading the installation file will begin. Loading time will depend on your Internet speed. 
Once you wait for the download process to complete, you will receive the official Windows 8.1 ISO image, which you can use in the future for your needs.
When you install the system using an ISO file downloaded this way, you can use the Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key. In this case, the key must correspond to the OS release.
I will now write about how to burn an image of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 onto a flash drive and install it on a computer. I have already installed Windows 8 on my computer next to the already installed Windows 7. I wrote about this in the article ““.
But, I did this on my old computer, and I deleted it later. A few days ago, I again needed to install Windows 8 on my laptop. It will decide to install in the same way, next to the installed seven, but this is not important.
I had an .iso image, I didn’t have a blank DVD at hand, but I had a 16 GB flash drive. I decided to burn the image of the figure eight onto it and install it from a flash drive. Before this, I created a partition for eight on my SSD drive, created it using the following method.
I tried to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8. I recorded it, rebooted the laptop, set it to boot from USB, but nothing happened. The cursor was just blinking on a black background. Strange, I thought, and decided to write the image to a USB drive in a different way. I created a flash drive using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, which I wrote about in the article. But, anyway, nothing worked for me, a blinking white cursor just appeared on a black screen, and that’s it. Why? I still don’t understand.
I found a simple program on the Internet Rufus, with which I recorded the .iso image of the eight on a flash drive, and everything worked out.
Before installing Eight on your computer, you can see what kind of system it is and whether it’s worth installing at all.
Create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8
Rufus is completely free. You can download it from the official website, or from this website via the link (version 1.4.6). There is no need to install the program. Just download and run the .exe file.
Connect the flash drive on which we will write the image (flash drive must be more than 4 GB). In the program window, in the first paragraph "Device", select our USB drive.
Below, in paragraph “Partition scheme and system interface type”, you can choose one of three options. I recommend leaving at this point “MBR for computers with BIOS, or UEFI” (it’s unlikely that you know what format your hard drive is in).
"File system"– leave NTFS.
“Cluster size”, also leave it as default.
Below, we set all the checkboxes as in my screenshot (by default). And click on the button in the form of a disk to select the .iso image of the operating system.
We check all the settings again and press the button Start to start recording.
A warning will appear that all data on your flash drive will be deleted. If the necessary files are not on the drive, then click Ok, thereby confirming the formatting of the drive.
The process of writing the image to the USB drive will begin. We are waiting for it to end.
When the recording ends and there will be a status "Ready", then the Rufus program can be closed. That's it, the flash drive has been created, you can start installing the operating system.
We start installing Windows 8 from a USB drive
First, we need to reboot the laptop, and .
Now, I’ll show you using my Asus laptop as an example.
We enter the BIOS, in Asus, this is usually F2.
Go to the tab Boot, and select the item.
Opposite the point Boot Option #1, select our flash drive.
Click Esc to return to the previous menu. We check that our flash drive is in first place in the download list, click F10 And Ok to save settings.
The laptop will reboot and boot from the flash drive should begin. When you see the inscription Press any key to boot from USB… then quickly press any button on the keyboard.
The installation of Windows 8 will begin.
That's it, follow the installation instructions, which can be found at the link at the beginning of this article. Yes, everything is clear there. Installation is very fast and simple.
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How to create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 8 (8.1)? We start installing Windows 8 from a USB drive updated: April 3, 2014 by: admin