Can I still create a Win 8 installation disk?

[ecbritz]

I bought Windows 8 Pro for $40 (minus one penny) as the clock ticked to the last minutes of January 31st here in the far East. My idea was to get hold of a Win 8 Pro product key, and get the program downloaded. Then I could install Win 8 on my big laptop one perilous day, after getting used to the pre-installed Win 8 on my son's small ultrabook -- and after my program Copernic had been updated to play on Win 8.

Everything went sweetly until the very last moment, when I was given the choice to install Win 8 Pro straight away, install it later, or "install by creating media" (or something like that). What did this choice mean? I certainly wanted to create media in the sense of copying Win 8 to a DVD Rom. But I did not want to install Win 8 in the process of doing so! To avoid INSTALLING Win 8 by creating media, I chose to "install later".

I now have a link on my desktop called "Install Windows". It is apparently ready to launch WebSetup.exe. I can find its file location and the folder(s) where Win 8 was downloaded. What happens if I click on this link, on purpose or by accident? Will Win 8 start installing immediately and irrevocably? Or would I be given another opportunity to save Win 8 to a DVD Rom, if that is what "install by creating media" means?

How do I create a Win 8 installation disk (DVD Rom) after having been baffled by "install by creating media"?

 

[CeejayMode]

I'm not entirely sure how, but I think I do remember there is a "Windows 7 Media Creator" program or something similar, and using that allows you to burn the downloaded OS set up file to a DVD or put it onto a USB. It does work with Windows 8.

EDIT: If you still have the original installer and it asks for "installation media install" like you mentioned, it's safe and SHOULD NOT INSTALL.

Sorry for being vague on information..

 

[ecbritz]

Thanks but I'm not sure what you mean by "the original installer". Win 8 files were downloaded in a number of folders. The file WebSetup.exe is located in one of these folders. It is linked to the shortcut "Install Windows" on the desktop. This shortcut will apparently launch the whole "install later" operation. Perhaps someone can tell me what actually happens when I click on the shortcut "Install Windows"? Am I given a second chance to burn Win 8 to a DVD Rom? Can I backtrack if it doesn't?

 

[CeejayMode]

Thanks but I'm not sure what you mean by "the original installer". Win 8 files were downloaded in a number of folders. The file WebSetup.exe is located in one of these folders. It is linked to the shortcut "Install Windows" on the desktop. This shortcut will apparently launch the whole "install later" operation. Perhaps someone can tell me what actually happens when I click on the shortcut "Install Windows"? Am I given a second chance to burn Win 8 to a DVD Rom? Can I backtrack if it doesn't?

I'm positive that you are given a chance to burn to a DVD or USB. In my installation, I did have that option.

You technically CAN backtrack, because there are more steps before the installation starts, there fore you can cancel it if it doesn't work

EDIT: Installing by Creating Media - this option DOES NOT install it right away, but lets you put the files on external media such as a DVD, so you can install from that.

 

[theog]

Everything went sweetly until the very last moment, when I was given the choice to install Win 8 Pro straight away, install it later, or "install by creating media" (or something like that). What did this choice mean? I certainly wanted to create media in the sense of copying Win 8 to a DVD Rom. But I did not want to install Win 8 in the process of doing so! To avoid INSTALLING Win 8 by creating media, I chose to "install later".

Take a look at this tutorial:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-upgrade-iso-download-create.html

 

[ecbritz]

After clicking on the "Install Windows" shortcut, I was indeed given the three options again and I chose to create the ISO. The ISO was created. I am now confronted with a blue screen displaying my product key and the button "Finish". Does this mean Win 8 will start installing if I click on "Finish"? I don't want to install Win 8 now. I just want to burn the ISO to a DVD Rom or at least finish off the creation of the ISO. What happens if I click on "Finish"?

 

[ecbritz]

I clicked on "Finish" and simply exited. Hurrah. How do I burn the ISO to a DVD Rom?

 

[CeejayMode]

After clicking on the "Install Windows" shortcut, I was indeed given the three options again and I chose to create the ISO. The ISO was created. I am now confronted with a blue screen displaying my product key and the button "Finish". Does this mean Win 8 will start installing if I click on "Finish"? I don't want to install Win 8 now. I just want to burn the ISO to a DVD Rom or at least finish off the creation of the ISO. What happens if I click on "Finish"?

It should simply exit the installer. You're now free to burn the ISO

 

[Brink]

I clicked on "Finish" and simply exited. Hurrah. How do I burn the ISO to a DVD Rom?

Depending on how you want to install Windows 8 with or without UEFI, the tutorials below can help show you how to create a bootable DVD or USB with the ISO file.


http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html

OR

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html

 

[thatmanbrian]

I read through those two links - Wow - what a performance!! I upgraded from Win7 live online. I also ordered a DVD from MS which has only just today reached me.

This is titled "Backup Disk - contains Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro..."

Can I ask what this is exactly? Is it a bootable disk? Will it do a clean install if my boot drive dies? I have my original Win7 full DVD to hand btw.

 

[pparks1]

The disk is the upgrade installer DVD. You will have to have something on the hard drive already in order for this disk to work and install the OS.

With that said, there is a registry hack one can do to activate the OS after installing without a previous OS. But you can just load Windows 7 again, choose to not input a key, and from the 30 day grace period than run the WIndows 8 setup and do a clean install.

 

[thatmanbrian]

Ah, good, thanks. Yes, I'd just reinstall my full Win7 then use the Win8 DVD.

 

[znod]

You got some great help. They covered the waterfront.