Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create

How to Create or Download a Windows 8 and 8.1 ISO


If you purchased Windows 8/8.1 and have a "retail" Windows 8/8.1 product key, then this tutorial will show you how to create or download an upgrade Windows 8 ISO or full Windows 8.1 Update ISO file directly from Microsoft.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

You will need to have your Windows 8 or 8.1 product key number from your retail box package OR online order information in the confirmation email for your purchase.

For example, if you purchased Windows 8 or 8.1 online using the "Windows 8/8.1 Upgrade Assistant".

A Windows 8 product key will not directly activate Windows 8.1 Update. To be able to clean install Windows 8.1 Update and activate it with a Windows 8 product key, see:Clean Install - Windows 8


CONTENTS:

• Option One: (recommended) Download Windows 8.1 Update ISO File with "Windows Installation Media Creation Tool"
• Option Two: Download Windows 8.1 Update ISO File with Retail Windows 8 or 8.1 Key
• Option Three: Download Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Update ISO File with a Retail Key
• Option Four: To Create a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO File from "C:\ESD\Windows" Folder

OPTION ONE

Download Windows 8.1 Update ISO File with "Windows Installation Media Creation Tool"

This option allows you to download the latest Windows 8.1 ISO file without needing a product key.

If you have a retail Windows 8 or 8.1 PC, then you will still need to have a valid Windows 8 or 8.1 product key to be able to install and activate Windows 8.1.

If you have an OEM Windows 8 or 8.1 PC, then you will also be able to use this ISO to install and activate Windows 8.1 if you are installing the same edition of Windows the key is for. The Windows 8 or 8.1 product key embedded in the UEFI firmware of the OEM PC will be automatically detected and used during installation to activate Windows 8.1.

When you run the mediacreationtool.exe file below it will permanently delete any folder named Download and it's contents that's in the same folder as the mediacreationtool.exe file.

If you have a folder named Download in the same folder (ex: on desktop), then you will need to rename it before running the mediacreationtool.exe file to avoid it and it's contents from being permanently deleted.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download and run the mediacreationtool.exe file for the Windows Installation Media Creation Tool.

Source: Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help



2. If prompted by UAC, click/tap on Yes.

3. Select the Language, Edition, and 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Architecture you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



4. Select (dot) ISO file, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



5. Select where you would like to save the ISO file to, type in a name you want for the ISO file, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)



6. The Windows 8.1 ISO file will now begin to download. (see screenshot below)



7. When the download has finished, you can click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)




You could now create a bootable DVD/USB or UEFI USB with this ISO file when you like to do a clean or upgrade install of Windows 8.1 with.

OPTION TWO

Download Windows 8.1 Update ISO File with Retail Windows 8 or 8.1 Key

This option will not work with an OEM product key number.

This option will only work with a retail product key number.

1. Click/tap on the Microsoft site link below for your location, only click/tap on the Install Windows 8.1 button at the site like below to only download the Windows8-Setup.exe file, and save it to your desktop.

US: Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help

UK: Upgrading Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help




2. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the WindowsSetupBox.zip file for Windows 8.1 Update. Open the ZIP file, and extract (drag and drop) the WindowsSetupBox.exe file to your desktop.

This is the official older 6.3.9600.16415 version of the WindowsSetupBox.exe file that is no longer available for download at Microsoft.



3. Run the Windows8-Setup.exe file (step 1), enter your RETAIL Windows 8 product key, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

This will not work if you use an OEM or system builders product key.

If you enter a generic key, then you will get a We can't connect right now message since they have been blocked.

If you still have the hidden folders below on your computer from the Windows 8/8.1 Upgrade Assistant, then you will see step 7 in OPTION THREE below instead.

You can delete these two hidden folders below to be able to enter your product key and download a new ISO file.

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebSetup

AND

C:\ESD\Windows

To get a 32-bit Windows 8.1 Update ISO, you must run the .exe on a 32-bit Windows computer.

To get a 64-bit Windows 8.1 Update ISO, you must run the .exe on a 64-bit Windows computer.

4. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



5. Once downloading starts and still at 0%, CLOSE the Windows 8 Setup window. (see screenshot below)



6. Quickly click/tap on Yes to approve closing "Windows 8 Setup". (see screenshot below)



7. Run the WindowsSetupBox.exe file (step 2) for Windows 8.1 Update.

8. Windows 8.1 Setup should now start downloading Windows 8.1 Update. Go to step 6 in OPTION THREE below to continue for the Windows 8.1 Update ISO file. (see screenshot below)

If it fails to start downloading Windows 8.1 or you get an error, then delete the two hidden folders below, and start over at step 3 above.

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebSetup

AND

C:\ESD\Windows

OPTION THREE

Download Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Update ISO File with a Retail Key

This option is for how to only download a Windows 8 ISO file using a Windows 8 product key, or to download a Windows 8.1 Update ISO file using a Windows 8.1 product key.

This option will not work with an OEM product key number.

This option will only work with a retail product key number.

1. Click/tap on the Microsoft site link below for your location, click/tap on the Install Windows 8 or Install Windows 8.1 button at the site to download and run the Windows8-Setup.exe (Windows 8) or OSGS14-WindowsSetupBox-32bitand64bit-English-4141408.exe (Windows 8.1 Update) file.

US: Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help

UK: Upgrading Windows with only a product key - Microsoft Windows Help

To get a 32-bit Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO, you must run the .exe on a 32-bit Windows computer.

To get a 64-bit Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO, you must run the .exe on a 64-bit Windows computer.


2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (Windows 7/8) or Continue (Vista).

3. Type in either your RETAIL Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key for the one you want to get an ISO for, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

This will not work if you use an OEM or system builders product key

If you enter a generic key, then you will get a We can't connect right now message since they have been blocked.

If you still have the hidden folders below on your computer from the Windows 8/8.1 Upgrade Assistant, then you will see step 7 instead.

You can delete the two folders below to be able to enter your product key and download a new ISO file.

%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebSetup

AND

C:\ESD\Windows

You will only be able to enter a Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key.

A Windows 8 product key will only get you a Windows 8 ISO file.

A Windows 8.1 product key will only get you a Windows 8.1 Update ISO file.

You will not be able to enter a Window Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack product key. These are considered to be an upgrade key and can't be used to install Windows 8/8.1 with. You could use Add Features to add the Window Media Center Pack or Windows 8 Pro Pack again after Windows 8/8.1 is finished installing.



4. You will now see that Windows 8 or 8.1 will be downloaded. Click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



5. Windows 8 or 8.1 will now begin to download. (see screenshot below)



6. When it's finished downloading, it will check and verify the download, then start to getting files ready. (see screenshots below)

The Window 8 or 8.1 installation files will be saved in the hidden C:\ESD\Windows folder.





7. Select (dot) Install by creating media, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)



8. Select (dot) ISO file, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)



9. Navigate to a location where (ex: Desktop) you want to save the .iso file at, type in a name for the .iso file, and click/tap on Save. (see screenshot below)



10. Click/tap on Finish. (see screenshot below)



11. You will now have your upgrade Windows 8 ISO or full Windows 8.1 Update ISO file.

You could now create a bootable DVD/USB or UEFI USB with this ISO file to do a clean (8.1), clean for upgrade (8), or upgrade (8/8.1) install of Windows 8 with.

OPTION FOUR

To Create a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO File from "C:\ESD\Windows" Folder

You will only be able to do this option if you still have the hidden "C:\ESD\Windows" folder from previously using OPTION TWO or OPTION THREE above, or from the Windows 8/8.1 Upgrade Assistant on this PC.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the ESD-TO-ISO.zip file created by our member SIW2 (Simon).

If you use the ESD-TO-ISO.exe to create a 64-bit ISO, then it will also have UEFI support.



2. Save the ZIP file to your desktop, then extract (drag and drop) the contents to your desktop.

3. Unblock the ESD-TO-ISO.EXE, then right click on the ESD-TO-ISO.EXE file, and click on Run as administrator.

4. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes (Windows 7/8) or Continue (Vista).

5. Click/tap on GO. (see screenshot below)



6. Click/tap on Yes. (see screenshot below)



7. It will now create the ISO file. (see screenshot below)

If you get an error saying the ISO file cannot be created, then delete the C:\ESD folder, and do OPTION TWO above instead.



8. Click/tap on Cancel unless you wanted to create (burn) a bootable DVD with ISO file. (see screenshot below)

Burning a DVD with a 64-bit ISO created using this option will also have UEFI support.



9. The upgrade Windows 8 ISO or full Windows 8.1 Update ISO file will be at the root of your C: drive. For example, C:\WIN8x64.iso. (see screenshot below)

You could now create a bootable DVD/USB or UEFI USB with this ISO file to do a clean (8.1), clean for upgrade (8), or upgrade (8/8.1) install of Windows 8/8.1 with.

​

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Download and Use Official Recovery Image for your Surface
• How to Do a Clean Install of Windows 8 or Windows 8.1
• How to Download and Run "Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant" and "Windows 8.1 Upgrade Assistant"
• How to Upgrade from Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP to Windows 8 or 8.1
• Create a Bootable UEFI USB Flash Drive for Installing Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a Bootable USB or DVD with a Windows 8 or 8.1 ISO
• How to Install Windows 8 and 8.1 on VMware Player
• How to Install Windows 8 and 8.1 on VirtualBox
• How to Add Features to Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Find Your Windows 8 and 8.1 Product Key Number

 

[JohnEgbert]

When using option 1, after selecting everything and clicking on next, the download stops after a few seconds and says the download wasn't completed correctly. What might be affecting the download?
Edit: Nevermind, I found an ISO file: Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File)

 

[jfharper]

Have OEM bios embed key for lenovo laptop.

Tried Option 1 and failed. Downloaded mediacreationtool and went thru steps, at end it immediately goes to download did not complete successfully...tried on two separate desktop computers.

Tried going to MS site to dl iso (chose 8.1 single lang) directly, did, and made UEFI boot USB, got Lenovo Laptop to boot from USB but it asks me for product key. I used the VB script to get the key a while ago, entered the key, said key won't work.

Lenovo Laptop had win 8 (not 8.1, not pro) on previously, hdd failed, replaced with ssd, wife did not make recovery disk ahead of time, no help from lenovo, cannot get oem win 8 iso.

Stuck...can anyone help? TIA

EDIT: Just found this:
Install Windows 8 without a Product Key
am currently able to install without being asked for product key.

EDIT2: Was able to activate properly, used (Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey in Powershell to extract key from bios.

Hacky!

 

[A G S 2018]

Where are the download buttons for the ISO files?

 

[Brink]

Hello A G S, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Using Option 1 to get an ISO using the Media Creation Tool is the easiest way.

 

[A G S 2018]

Where is option 1?

 

[Brink]

It will on the first post on page one of this tutorial.

 

[A G S 2018]

Come on, please stop running me in circles. I don't have time for jokes.

 

[Brink]

No one is joking.

You would look for the steps "Option One" on the first page of this tutorial thread linked below.

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create

In the steps is the link below to download the ISO.

Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File)

 

[A G S 2018]

No one is joking.

You would look for the steps "Option One" on the first page of this tutorial thread linked below.

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO - Download or Create

In the steps is the link below to download the ISO.

Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File)

It's the wrong version. I need the windows 8 ISO, The one Prior to 8.1.

 

[z3r010]

After seeing the emails you have sent yesterday along with these posts, you need to adjust your attitude or go elsewhere.

 

[A G S 2018]

After seeing the emails you have sent yesterday along with these posts, you need to adjust your attitude or go elsewhere.

I'm sorry, but I was trying to find a particular item & I searched for weeks to no avail. It began to feel as if everyone was intentionally sending me in circles. Surely someone back in the beginning of my search knew the difference between win 8 & win8.1, yet I've always been sent to an 8.1 download.. I cannot get my PC to boot AT ALL. I can see that it's all there when I connect the SSD as a slave drive, that is the only way into it. I even bought a new SSD & used my recovery media to install the OS on it. But now it is the same as the original drive, neither drive will boot. When I put a preinstalled os win 7 drive in my PC shell(the hard drive being the ONLY different item) it boots to the win7 lock screen no problem & everything works like new.

My trouble only happens with the 8.0 OS Recovery Stick. I even tried formatting the old & the new drive to try installing win 7 first then use the 8.0 stick to install over that, just the unbootable win8.0 from the recovery usb stick.
Nothing works except for the recovery media, thumb drive on these two hard drives now. I've tried to install the 8.1 OS (image disk)on the new hard drive but it won't install, just like the win 7 OS.

Do you understand my dilemma? I had hopes that Brinks would help me. but even he points me to the 8.1 OS.

PLEASE can/will you help me? Or am I the last person alive that know there was a win 8 before 8.1 or 10? I am truly sorry if I upset anyone, I used no foul language, never called anyone names, it like no one acknowledged the words I typed. I'd say win8 (not 8.1) & they hear/read win8.1. Period.

 

[A G S 2018]

I'm sorry, but I was trying to find a particular item & I searched for weeks to no avail. It began to feel as if everyone was intentionally sending me in circles. Surely someone back in the beginning of my search knew the difference between win 8 & win8.1, yet I've always been sent to an 8.1 download.. I cannot get my PC to boot AT ALL. I can see that it's all there when I connect the SSD as a slave drive, that is the only way into it. I even bought a new SSD & used my recovery media to install the OS on it. But now it is the same as the original drive, neither drive will boot. When I put a preinstalled os win 7 drive in my PC shell(the hard drive being the ONLY different item) it boots to the win7 lock screen no problem & everything works like new.

My trouble only happens with the 8.0 OS Recovery Stick. I even tried formatting the old & the new drive to try installing win 7 first then use the 8.0 stick to install over that, just the unbootable win8.0 from the recovery usb stick.
Nothing works except for the recovery media, thumb drive on these two hard drives now. I've tried to install the 8.1 OS (image disk)on the new hard drive but it won't install, just like the win 7 OS.

Do you understand my dilemma? I had hopes that Brinks would help me. but even he points me to the 8.1 OS.

PLEASE can/will you help me? Or am I the last person alive that know there was a win 8 before 8.1 or 10? I am truly sorry if I upset anyone, I used no foul language, never called anyone names, it like no one acknowledged the words I typed. I'd say win8 (not 8.1) & they hear/read win8.1. Period.

I'll post 100 apologies If I can get a single working answer to win 8 (it never really had the point or zero behind it. Or the 1)

 

[Brink]

It's the wrong version. I need the windows 8 ISO, The one Prior to 8.1.

I'm not sure there's any official download available for a "Windows 8" ISO file anymore.

 

[Barman58]

As windows 8.1 is classed as a Service pack for Windows 8, it completely replaced Windows 8 - the last windows 8 update took place in January 2016 and thus windows 8 was withdrawn after two years in January 2018 the windows 8.1 ISO is now considered by Microsoft as the current supported version of Windows 8 Call it Windows 8 SP1 if you prefer, but the ISO and all support was withdrawn in January 2018

Microsoft ends support for Windows 8, asks users to upgrade to Windows 8.1 or 10

 

[endeavor]

I'll post 100 apologies If I can get a single working answer to win 8 (it never really had the point or zero behind it. Or the 1)

I think you should just post the 100 apologies now
These are one of the best, nicest, politest, above board forums I know of, and the Moderators are of excellent character and work very hard.

Anyway, I don't know what your issue is with not using the 8.1 booter instead of 8
I can't remember if the 8.1 update blocked any borderline older hardware setups from being able to install or not. No matter, I don't know what the big deal is about finding the first 8 is either.
I have both the original x86 and x64 iso for Windows 8 release.
I just checked the hash on them, and search Google for the MD5 , and I came up with maaaany hits for that hash, and within minutes, I had it downloading. Why can't you do that?
ps: (I don't care about any crap that may come alongside of it, but it's just the iso with the proper hash is what you want)

Windows 8 x64 hash:
CRC32: A5889F86
MD5: 0E8F2199FAE18FE510C23426E68F675A
SHA-1: 1CE53AD5F60419CF04A715CF3233F247E48BEEC4

Windows 8 x86
CRC32: 049795D9
MD5: 4252407333706DF89A0C654924DD3F06
SHA-1: 22D680EC53336BEE8A5B276A972CEBA104787F62

 

[carl55]

HI all,
I already own an original Win8.1_Pro_ENG-GB_X64.ISO untouched.
But it is the original MSDN release.

Therefore should I need to integrate all of the dozen Windows Updates released since the 2014, which is the procedure or the appropriate thread, please?

Thank you.

 

[Brink]

HI all,
I already own an original Win8.1_Pro_ENG-GB_X64.ISO untouched.
But it is the original MSDN release.

Therefore should I need to integrate all of the dozen Windows Updates released since the 2014, which is the procedure or the appropriate thread, please?

Thank you.

Hello Carl,

You would only need to check for updates in Windows Update to download the latest cumulative update and any other required updates.

 

[carl55]

Hello Brink ,
Maybe I don't express myself clearly: I don't want to check for upgrades after an installation.
I need to create an ISO with the Windows 8.1 updates embedded into it (so it will not need to download the latest cumulative updates via internet). Don't know the correct word for the process.
Thank you.

 

[Brink]

It sounds like you're wanting to slipstream the updates into the ISO. I never found that very stable or reliable.

You could try downloading the latest Windows 8.1 ISO version from Microsoft below to use to minimize the amount of available updates afterwards.

Download Windows 8.1 Disc Image (ISO File)

 

[carl55]

Even that Windows 8.1 Disc Image iso is not up-to-date but dated 2014:

After following this sequence of KBs installation in order to speed up the search of Windows updates:

1) KB3173424
2) KB3172614 -> Restart
3) KB3138615 -> Restart and Windows update set to 'Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them'

well, after 8 minutes in a VM with 4 assigned cores, here is the list of the (recommended) cumulative, security and optional upgrades:

Pressing 'View details' / (layouts issues aside, here is the long list):

It is quite time consuming installing even only the recommended updates (about 60+).

Now since I need to deploy at least one-two VMs /each week with Windows 8.1 Pro, clearly I would be reasonable to find solutions to slipstream those updates. It is my understanding that this process has been developed and followed since Windows XP, then Vista, Seven... Also it is my understanding that this is being normally done with Windows 10, too.

So why it would not work/exist an efficient Windows 8 slipstreaming forWindows 8?

Any idea, please? Note that I cannot install one VM and than create an ISO from that installation to be used to deploy subsequent VMs.