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

 

[pparks1]

I'm very happy to see that MS released a pretty straight-forward process for obtaining this media and installing. Having to use the generic key and then reapply your original key was a bit cumbersome.

 

[alphanumeric]

I'm very happy to see that MS released a pretty straight-forward process for obtaining this media and installing. Having to use the generic key and then reapply your original key was a bit cumbersome.

Add to that ,not having to enter a key to actually do the download, and its a win win, for those with OEM keys. They were shut out with the other download.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

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.

Sounds good. I will have a go at this straight onto the thumb drive, and maybe burn onto a dvd as well, just in case.

I guess that means I can consider re-using the 16gb thumb drive that currently has my OEM recovery media on it too. No way do I want to recover back to W8 if I have a workable option for 8.1.

I was beginning to regret the OEM laptop decision, given the hassles MS had created, but my faith has been somewhat restored .

Now all we need is a free upgrade to Windows 10.

 

[SaggyMaggyPoo]

@alpha: I wanted to give you some rep, but the :thumb: isn't showing for some reason.

 

[alphanumeric]

You can't give rep in the News section, thanks anyway. :thumb:

 

[alphanumeric]

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.

Sounds good. I will have a go at this straight onto the thumb drive, and maybe burn onto a dvd as well, just in case.

I guess that means I can consider re-using the 16gb thumb drive that currently has my OEM recovery media on it too. No way do I want to recover back to W8 if I have a workable option for 8.1.

I was beginning to regret the OEM laptop decision, given the hassles MS had created, but my faith has been somewhat restored .

Now all we need is a free upgrade to Windows 10.

It's a bit of a catch22. When you buy a PC with Windows preinstalled your supposed to go to the PC manufacturer for support, even with OS related problems. One reason for this is the OEM's do a custom install with the recovery partition etc. Microsoft doesn't want to have to deal with that stuff. You call the OEM and all they want to do sell you a set of recovery media, not a full install DVD.

I have no idea why Microsoft blocked OEM keys from the other download. This new download thankfully bypasses all that by not requiring any key to download it. That and it using 8.0 keys for install and activation with no work arounds is a win win for everybody.

 

[visruth]

MS has really upped the ante with this powerful tool, love it

 

[Clintlgm]

Microsoft allowing ISO Downloads for 8.1

Finally, Microsoft has made it easy for anyone to quire the Windows 8.1 ISO for creation of either a bootable USB Flash Disk installation media or a DVD to install Windows 8.1. this is a Microsoft Page

 

[David Bailey]

Good information.

 

[pparks1]

Yep, we have been discussing it here for a few weeks
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/56837-official-microsoft-iso-media-creation-tool.html

 

[Clintlgm]

Yep, we have been discussing it here for a few weeks
http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/56837-official-microsoft-iso-media-creation-tool.html

I've been on an offshore project, I guess I just missed this. Internet is so bad on this project I can barely do e-mail a long as no one sends me a picture attachment

 

[Clintlgm]

Good information.

Yes it really is, to think back at all the frustrated people that needed a clean install and were not able to get there hands on a legal ISO. Probably some one should sticky this information in the Install section.

 

[alphanumeric]

It's now the new option one here, http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/18309-windows-8-windows-8-1-iso-download-create.html

 

[Wenda]

An operation to partition the C drive on my brother's new Toshiba UEFI-equipped laptop, while it all appeared to have worked OK, then refused to allow the machine to re-boot. None of the repair, reset, refresh, system restore operations would run. And no, he hadn't created any recovery media.

So to allow him to retrieve his files etc, I did a rough, non-activated install yesterday, using my Win 8 Pro disk (original introductory reduced-price version) which got his files etc back but was obviously never going to activate and be legal. Subsequently, last night I downloaded this as an ISO, created a USB install media, and used it today to re-install Windows (8.1 Core) for him. It virtually fell onto his system, picked up the embedded product key out of the UEFI BIOS with no problem, and activated immediately upon connecting to the internet.

And as a side benefit, the install routine did pick the re-partitioned drive (2 x 350GB partitions), allowed me to blitz his original factory recovery partitions, and allowed the installation to proceed on the 350GB C: partition while the second partition remained unallocated. Once installed, I used Disk Management to successfully allocate and format the D: partition. A re-boot proved successful, so he did get his two partitions after all, with the added bonus of a clean install with no factory carp-ware or bloatware.

So my brother is very happy. As am I, because I grabbed the 8.1 Pro ISO for myself as my current setup is Windows 8 Pro (with WMC) upgraded to the 8.1 RTM, which subsequently upgraded itself to Win 8.1.1, making for a very involved and convoluted setup indeed. At least now I know that I won't have to go through it all again should I ever need to do a re-install (between now and the release of a usable W10 beta - the current build is nice, but nowhere near ready for prime-time). I will still have to use a product key though as my BIOS is not UEFI.

All is good.


Wenda.

 

[alphanumeric]

Add a PID.txt file with your product code in it, to the sources folder, and you won't have to enter a product code during setup. Just don't use that now custom install media on more than that one PC. I have dedicated install thumb drives for each PC I own. Each with its own PID.txt file and some other custom info added.

 

[Wenda]

Add a PID.txt file with your product code in it, to the sources folder, and you won't have to enter a product code during setup. Just don't use that now custom install media on more than that one PC. I have dedicated install thumb drives for each PC I own. Each with its own PID.txt file and some other custom info added.

Thanks for the tip, Alpha! I'll bear that in mind for future installations.

Cheers...

Wenda.

 

[alphanumeric]

I've noticed something interesting. If I install Windows 8.1 Pro with Media created with this tool I get a "Embedded Lockdown Manager" installed. If I install 8.1 Pro using my MSDN ISO its not there? Makes me wonder what other differences there are, and why? The Embedded Lockdown Manager appears to be an MMC Snap In. It's not something I've ever heard of or used. It was mentioned in a thread on 10 Forums. Then I noticed I had it on my laptop but not my desktop PC. I just did a clean install on my desktop PC with Media Creation Tool Media and now its listed in the Start Screen under Administrative Tools. On the previous MSDN install it was MIA? Both were 8.1 Pro 64 bit.

 

[vidanova]

Hi All

Have just noticed that same program `Embedded Lockdown Manager` after my clean install and have read the Microsoft explanation and YES I don't understand a word of it can any one explain in simple terms.

Thanks

 

[alphanumeric]

Hi All

Have just noticed that same program `Embedded Lockdown Manager` after my clean install and have read the Microsoft explanation and YES I don't understand a word of it can any one explain in simple terms.

Thanks

Have a look at this post in this thread, Hope I didn't 'Brick' my PC! - Page 5

 

[jorgensen]

I can't download the media!
And then the error come allmost instant.

"Download did not complete successfully"
The download task did not complete.
The file or the folder is not a NTFS reparse-point.

The TMP environment must point to a location with at least 8 GB of usable storage.

Open Command prompt and change them to at location with enough space (e.g. set tmp=c:\temp) and run the tool from the prompt.