Two days ago I unwisely run Update of my second, backup Windows 8. Windows update was always serious crap for me, 9 of 10 times it would fail or make trouble, so I tend to disconnect other drive when Updating Windows.

So I tried to diagnose the situation using my other OS Explanation: I don't own Windows 8. Since I didn't want to loose hours for another risky updates I thought I could just download Win 8. So I found this mediacreatortool on Ms site and created Windows 8.

And then used that to refres my main, screwed, Operating System. I decided to restore Windows 8. So I did Widnows 8. I also risked Update of that other Windows 8 I installed previous, and it works, so it is not Ms's server issue. Any ideas? Windows 8. Was this reply helpful? Yes No. Sorry this didn't help. So, to clean install Windows 8.

That's weird. I wonder where are those generic keys from, I've never heard about these before. Threats include any threat of suicide, violence, or harm to another. Any content of an adult theme or inappropriate to a community web site. Any image, link, or discussion of nudity. Any behavior that is insulting, rude, vulgar, desecrating, or showing disrespect. Any behavior that appears to violate End user license agreements, including providing product keys or links to pirated software.

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OK, so I did clean install -even uber clean as I wiped whole SSD content leaving only unallocated free space- all by the book, with generic key and then activation with my Windows 8 retail key: - Windows Update is still faking his work, it searches for updates and searches and searches It doesn't show when I'm utilizing my backup OS Windows 8 upgraded to 8.

This system defnitely goes to dumpster, and so does the installation DVD - I'm not risking any future complications. I don't think I understand to which part of my post this "generic download" applies, but I don't expect Windows Update to download drivers for my hardware which it is capable of btw.

I'm installing drivers provided by an appropriate hardware manufacturers. But not on this new OS. So, either it is freshly burned Windows 8. For whatever the cause Windows Update is not working and as I know "api-ms-win-crt-locale-l I wasn't able to install it manually, with Windows8.

I wasn't disabling anything myself but I'd like to check that anyway. On my backup OS -Windows 8 upgraded to 8. I suddenly got a reminder that there are some Windows 8. As I've written earlier I was searching for updates for hours now since new system's installation on 21st, and there was nothing - I should add that this concerned both of my systems, main and Backup, during Holiday season there were no Updates detected.

On Dec 27th, suddenly, there has been detected, wait for it, updates and 20 more afterwards by Windows Update on my backup system. I have no idea what was that, but that definitely was Microsoft's side a holiday break? To change the sitiation, up till now, I:. I have 2 failed Updates records in Update history after first run of newly installed Windows 8.

No other Updates were detected up till now. Windows Update is set to Auto download and installation of updates, I already used Windows Troubleshooting tool to solve any potential issues it says those are being solved, but I see no change after that whatsoever.

Choose where you want to search below Search Search the Community. Search the community and support articles Windows Windows 8. First, here's my story Two days ago I unwisely run Update of my second, backup Windows 8.

This thread is locked. You can follow the question or vote as helpful, but you cannot reply to this thread. I have the same question 6. Report abuse. Details required :. Cancel Submit. Bill Smithers Volunteer Moderator. Hi, I have no problems with the 8. There is no updated ISO for it other than what Microsoft offers. English — en-us if you're in the United States. For that, see this tutorial below instead. Thanks for your feedback. How satisfied are you with this reply? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

In reply to Bill Smithers's post on December 21, I'll check that out. In reply to zadymek's post on December 22, I gave you that link for how to clean install. If it does not activate, follow these steps: " How to Activate Windows 8 and 8. In reply to Bill Smithers's post on December 22, OK, here's some Update from me. My idea: Windows 8. This site in other languages x.

Create windows 8.1 installation disk free.Download Windows 8.1

Here it is in a nutshell: if create windows 8.1 installation disk free don't have an optical drive in your computer those things that take those shiny BD, DVD, or CD discsand you want to install Windows 8 or Windows 8. Fortunately, the ubiquitous and inexpensive flash drivecreate windows 8.1 installation disk free any other USB -based drive, is a perfect solution.

While many computers don't have optical drives, they all have USB ports Once you have those installation files on a flash drive, which is exactly what we'll show you how to do over the course of this tutorial, you can move on to the actual Windows 8 installation process, which we also have a complete tutorial of—but we'll get to that at the end.

Just burn the ISO to a disc and then install Windows 8. If you're familiar with booting from removable media, working with ISO images, and installing Windows, then those instructions will probably be enough for you. Otherwise, we recommend continuing through this tutorial, which is considerably more detailed.

Before you get started, you'll need to have the following three things:. This flash drive, or any USB storage device you'd like to create windows 8.1 installation disk free, should be at 4 GB in size if you're planning on installing a bit version of Windows 8 or 8.

This USB drive also needs to be empty, or you need to be fine with erasing everything off of it as part of this process. If you're not in a hurry, you can usually get an even better price at online retailers like Amazon. Windows 8 or Windows 8. Either is fine, but there's an extra step to take if you have a real DVD. We'll get to all of that in a bit. So, if you have a DVD, find it. If you downloaded an ISO image, locate it on your computer. Be sure you find the product key that accompanied that purchase as well—you'll need it later on.

Amazon is a good place to create windows 8.1 installation disk free. Keep in mind that Windows 8 is not the newest version of Windows, meaning that it will quit being supported sooner than the latest version. The last thing you'll need is access to a working computer. This create windows 8.1 installation disk free be the computer you're about to install Windows 8 onto, assuming it's working, or it can be some other computer.

This create windows 8.1 installation disk free can be running Windows XP or create windows 8.1 installation disk free. Now that you have a flash drive, your Windows 8 media, and access to a working computer, you can work on getting those installation files from that disc or downloaded onto your flash drive so you install Windows 8. As you already know, that Windows disc you have isn't going to do you any good as it is because your computer doesn't have an optical drive to stick the DVD into.

Unfortunately, you can't just copy the files from the Windows 8 DVD directly onto the flash drive you want them on and expect that to work. You'll need to complete this step from that other computer you have access to—the one with the Create windows 8.1 installation disk free drive in it.

You'll need your Windows 8 DVD at this computer, but you won't need the flash drive quite yet. So, if you have experience "ripping" data-based discs, go for it, and then continue on to Step 4 when you're done. Don't let this side-project scare you off. All it involves is installing some free software, clicking create windows 8.1 installation disk free few buttons, and waiting several minutes. Here's where we begin the real create windows 8.1 installation disk free of getting that Windows 8 or Windows 8.

Don't worry that Windows 7 is in the name. Yes, it was originally designed for use as a way of getting a Windows 7 ISO onto a create windows 8.1 installation disk free drive, but it works perfectly fine for Windows 8 and Windows 8.

With the help of this program, over the next several steps, we'll get the flash drive properly formatted and the Windows 8 installation files properly copied to it. Once complete, you'll be able to use create windows 8.1 installation disk free flash drive to install Windows 8. While it might be tempting to try, you can't just copy the contents of the ISO file, nor the ISO file itself, to the flash drive and expect to boot from it and install Windows 8.

It's a little more complicated than that, thus the existence of this tool. The program itself runs on Windows XP and newer. Depending on what version of Windows you're installing this tool on, you might be required to first install. NET Framework. This is a free program that's also provided by Microsoft, so be sure to complete that installation first if you're asked.

Wait while the installation occurs as shown above ; this will only take a few seconds. Finally, select Finish. That's it. It's a small program. Next up we'll run the program, provide it the Windows 8 ISO image you downloaded or created from your DVD, and have it properly format and then copy the installation files to the flash drive.

Open that. Having trouble finding the shortcut? The icon it uses looks like a folder with a download arrow and shield, as shown above.

If you're presented create windows 8.1 installation disk free a User Account Control prompt after opening, select Yes to continue. Choose Browse. If you downloaded Windows 8 from Microsoft and aren't sure where you saved it, check for the ISO file in your computer's Downloads folder since there's a good chance that it's in there. Another way is to use Everything to search the whole computer for the ISO file. After choosing the Windows 8 or Windows 8. Confirm that this is the right ISO file and then select Next to continue.

Your goal here is to get your Windows 8 or Windows 8. See that DVD option? That will properly burn the ISO create windows 8.1 installation disk free you've loaded into the tool to a DVD disc, but that's probably not particularly helpful since you're here because you don't have an optical drive on the computer you're planning to install Windows 8 on.

Besides, it would be much easier to use an image burner to do that. In this step, you'll choose the flash drive or other USB device you'd like to copy the Windows 8 installation files to.

Find the USB device in the drop-down box and then choose the green Begin copying button. If you haven't attached the USB device yet, do so now and then hit the little refresh button next to the list.

Give the tool a few seconds, and then it should show up as an option. If you do have drives listed, but you're not sure which one is the right one to choose, unplug the USB device you want to use, hit refresh, and note which drive goes away. Reattach it, refresh again, and then choose that drive. If all you ever get is a No compatible USB devices detected message, you may have an issue with the flash drive or other USB storage you're using, or even some issue with your computer.

You may not see the Not Enough Free Space message shown above, so if not, just continue on past this and the next step. If you do see this, select the Erase USB Device button to erase the flash drive in preparation for the copying of the Windows 8 or Windows 8.

This was mentioned early on in the tutorial, but now is a good time to remind you that anything on this portable drive will be permanently erased as part of this process! Move things off now if you need to. Assuming you saw the last message about needing to erase the drive, and you then chose to do so, you'll see this one, too, asking if you're really, really sure that you want to do it. Choose Yes to confirm that you want to erase the USB drive.

Finally, we're getting somewhere! The flash drive, or whatever USB storage device you're using, is being properly formatted so it can be booted from, a necessary step to install Windows 8 or Windows 8. You'll see the Formatting status for several seconds, maybe longer. How long depends a lot on how large the USB drive is—the larger it is, the longer this part will take. After the formatting is complete, it's time for the actual copying of the Windows 8 or Windows 8.

The Copying create windows 8.1 installation disk free status will last a lot longer than the formatting status, perhaps as long as 30 minutes or more. This is normal, so don't cancel the procedure and start over thinking that something is wrong. Technically, you're done. To actually use this portable drive to install Windows 8, you'll need to boot from the drive, which we explain below.

Sometimes the boot order needs to be changed in the BIOS to make this happen, sometimes the USB port used isn't the one that the computer motherboard prefers for booting from, etc. The instructions there are much more detailed, and there are several suggestions on what to try if you're having trouble getting your computer to boot from the USB drive.

If even that doesn't help, you may need to take some extra steps to boot from this Windows 8 USB drive. See Tip 1 at create windows 8.1 installation disk free end of How to Install Windows 8 or 8. Continue on to the next step, and we'll get you started with that. For the most part, you can just follow the process presented to you on the screen and an hour or so later you should be enjoying Windows 8. However, there are certainly a few places where you may have questions as to what to do next.

See How to Clean Install Windows 8 or 8. In that tutorial, we show you every screen you'll see during the installation process, from the start of it pictured aboveall the way to the finish line. That Windows 8 installation tutorial linked create windows 8.1 installation disk free starts you at the very beginning of the process, something helpful for those that start out with a Windows 8 DVD.

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How to create Windows installation disc - Microsoft Community.Install Windows 8/ From USB [Full Walkthrough]

To learn more, go to Recovery options in Windows. Windows 10 Windows 8. Need more help? Join the discussion. Was this information helpful? Yes No. Thank you! Any more feedback? The more you tell us the more we can help. We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer's website for additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility. Language in Windows. You'll need to choose the same language when you install Windows Edition of Windows.

You should also choose the same edition of Windows. For more info, go to the Volume Licensing Service Center. Microsoft Office products. If you just purchased a new device that includes Office , we recommend redeeming installing Office before upgrading to Windows For more information, check How to upgrade to Windows 10 on new devices that include Office Using the tool to create installation media: Select Download tool now , and select Run. If you agree to the license terms, select Accept.

Any content on the flash drive will be deleted. ISO file. After the file is downloaded, you can go to location where the file is saved, or select Open DVD burner , and follow the instructions to burn the file to a DVD. After the installation media is created, follow the steps below to use it.

Restart your PC. Since I didn't want to loose hours for another risky updates I thought I could just download Win 8. So I found this mediacreatortool on Ms site and created Windows 8. And then used that to refres my main, screwed, Operating System. I decided to restore Windows 8. So I did Widnows 8. I also risked Update of that other Windows 8 I installed previous, and it works, so it is not Ms's server issue.

Any ideas? Windows 8. Was this reply helpful? Yes No. Sorry this didn't help. So, to clean install Windows 8. That's weird.

I wonder where are those generic keys from, I've never heard about these before. Threats include any threat of suicide, violence, or harm to another. Any content of an adult theme or inappropriate to a community web site. Any image, link, or discussion of nudity. Any behavior that is insulting, rude, vulgar, desecrating, or showing disrespect.

This story, "Create a Windows 8. Melanie Pinola is a freelance writer covering all things tech-related. The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of ITworld, its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies. Here are the latest Insider stories. More Insider Sign Out.