Official Microsoft ISO/Media Creation Tool

Get it here:

Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help

See Option One here: http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

 

[Clint]

Thanks Mr Sardonicus , for answering one of my questions about the verision.

 

[HOODY]

Can I use this tool to create an ISO image of 8.1 Pro with Media Center installed? I want to create an ISO image of my laptop running my copy of Win 8.1 Pro with media center installed.

BTW I've already got an official Windows 8.1 disc with it's own PID, it obviously just doesn't include media center. Thus my question.

Thanks.

No, you can't install with a Media Center key, it can only be used to add Media Center to a Pro install through Add Features. 8.x Pro needs to be activated too.

Thanks alpha, and Hoody, I got that.

I was just hoping I could create one ISO that had both installed.

@ Hoody...

And yes, I already have a PID key for Media Center. And yes, I assumed you couldn't create an ISO from an installed system, but I was thinking more in line with this... http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html, option 4. Admittedly though I hadn't looked fully into it.

sup guy,

well you still would only have W8 (8.xx) on the ISO, as I said Windows media is IN the installer already, its not a seperate program you install, you use the seperate key to activate it.

As for that link, its the same in the end, you D/L the "ISO", you don't make it yourself, what you make is the installer via burning that ISO to a DVD. But what you'll end up with is W8 AS IS, nothing else, so installing it "clean" will just install the OS.

I'm sure you know, but to re install your system AS IS, with all your stuff, you'd need a recent burned "Image" of your system, not the ISO. I only keep the burned ISO for the case if I buy a used system with say W7 or no OS, and I need to install my own. Otherwise I always burn a new full image of MY system as it is to use.


not to worry, I just reply with what might make sense

 

[sygnus21]

I'm good and I'm already aware of MC already being integrated sans the PID to activate it. I got Media Center, well the PID, for free when 8 officially went live

And as I said, I've already got an official Win 8.1 ISO with it's own PID. I was just wondering if I could get one ISO with everything on it, and perhaps get it through the ESD. It seems that answer is no. No problem. I'll probably get another ISO though just for the 8.1.1 update.

Thanks anyway

 

[HOODY]

I'm good and I'm already aware of MC already being integrated sans the PID to activate it. I got Media Center, well the PID, for free when 8 officially went live

And as I said, I've already got an official Win 8.1 ISO with it's own PID. I was just wondering if I could get one ISO with everything on it, and perhaps get it through the ESD. It seems that answer is no. No problem. I'll probably get another ISO though just for the 8.1.1 update.

Thanks anyway

Hy its all good hell I'm still just a "member" so what do I know

At least the weather is good here in VA lololol.

 

[sygnus21]

Nah, you seem like you know a thing or two. BTW what part of VA?

 

[HOODY]

Nah, you seem like you know a thing or two. BTW what part of VA?

Not to get too specific (you know) around 40 miles south of Richmond

 

[sygnus21]

Well, coincidentally I'm also about 40 miles south of Richmond - Hampton Roads area

 

[Jody Thornton]

I see, so you just can't download an 8.1 ISO file to keep for now, and then to burn on to a DVD-R down the road right? Keep in mind, I have never ever purchased Windows 8.1.

What I want to be able to do is buy a PC (likely one of those refurbished off-lease systems you find at a lot of places). It may have Windows 8.1 preinstalled, but I want to be in a position where I can reinstall it fresh any old time I want, without worrying about not having a legal means or media to do so.

 

[visruth]

Yes you can now with this new Windows installation media creation tool. It works in OEM preinstalled Win 8/8.1 systems or even 8.1 upgrade machine it seems . Since product key is in the BIOS in preinstalled oem's, it'll automatically get activated on installation. You've to just burn the ISO to DVD or make UEFI bootable USB and plug it in for clean install.

 

[Jody Thornton]

Yeah but do I have to be on a Win7x or 8x PC? It appears I must be on those OSs and have a USB drive. Whereas, I have a Vista PC and I just want to plain download the ISO and keep it for down the road.

I appreciate the help and clarification.

 

[visruth]

May be Kerry or genet could help you with that question. I dont know. It worked for me with USB. Anyway I still have the ISO stored in my machine.

 

[alphanumeric]

I don't think it matters what OS your running on the PC you download it on. I downloaded on 8.1 and Windows 10. There is a "Burn ISO File to DVD" option. I haven't actually burned a DVD myself, I do all my installs from USB thumb drives.

 

[alphanumeric]

Yeah but do I have to be on a Win7x or 8x PC? It appears I must be on those OSs and have a USB drive. Whereas, I have a Vista PC and I just want to plain download the ISO and keep it for down the road.

I appreciate the help and clarification.

You can download an ISO and store it away for latter, I've done it. I've downloaded a couple actually from that link. They talk about 7 and 8.x but its in reference to actually upgrading or installing from and whether you need a product code or not. That's the way I read it anyway. For example if your running 8.0 Core and want to go to 8.1 Pro you need a Pro key. Or if your running 7 you need a key for whatever version of 8.x you want to install.

 

[HOODY]

They're both right, all U need is the ISO, burned to a install disk, and your key if your installing pro and any keys for stuff like Windows Media. Its why I said its good to have that for just the reason you stated, so you CAN install your OS on a "used" machine. with or without the OEM number, as long as you have your retail key. Hell the machine doesn't have to have any OS loaded at all, either, you might just want to format a used drive.

Burned to USB or DVD it doesn't much matter, as long as you have either available to run the installer.

 

[Jody Thornton]

I was able to get all of the ISOs I needed. But I ran it from my Windows 10 TP VM. Vista was not supported.

 

[alphanumeric]

OK, well now we know, won't work from Vista. The web site doesn't tell you much other than a PC with an Internet connection is required. I do believe there is no upgrade path from Vista, you'd have to clean install. That may have something to do with it. At least you got your ISO's, so it wasn't a total lose.

 

[Jody Thornton]

Absolutely. I wish they had done something like this years ago, but better late than never.

 

[alphanumeric]

:thumb: to that.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

:thumb: For those that may not know, this tool will let you download a Windows 8.1 ISO to do a clean install with. No Product Code is needed for the download. Core, Pro , N and the elusive Single Language versions are available in 32 bit and 64 bit. You can also use it to create a bootable thumb drive to install Windows with.

@alpha: Did you download straight onto a usb thumb drive or download the iso and then create the thumb drive?

I really want this iso - had MS released it a little earlier it could have saved me 2 refreshes back down to W8 and several hours of updating back to where I wanted to be. And I want it on a thumb drive as I have 2 laptops I could need to use it on. But I don't want to mess it up .

 

[alphanumeric]

:thumb: For those that may not know, this tool will let you download a Windows 8.1 ISO to do a clean install with. No Product Code is needed for the download. Core, Pro , N and the elusive Single Language versions are available in 32 bit and 64 bit. You can also use it to create a bootable thumb drive to install Windows with.

@alpha: Did you download straight onto a usb thumb drive or download the iso and then create the thumb drive?

I really want this iso - had MS released it a little earlier it could have saved me 2 refreshes back down to W8 and several hours of updating back to where I wanted to be. And I want it on a thumb drive as I have 2 laptops I could need to use it on. But I don't want to mess it up .

I did both. I created a thumb drive with this tool and did a clean install of 8.1 Core on my Laptop. It came with Windows 8.0 Core, that embedded code was used to install and activate 8.1 Core automatically. I also downloaded the ISO's and made a couple of bootable thumb drives manually using diskpart. Doing it that way I was able to use 4 GB thumb drives. Using the tool it wouldn't let me use 4 gig drives I had to use an 8 gig or bigger drive. I have no idea why? The tool creates FAT 32 formatted drives which are compatible with UEFI installs.