Installing Windows on a new PC from an USB

[Mirith]

Hello,

I'm building a PC and I need an OS.
I have a (legal) product key for Windows 8 Pro, however no disk. Is there a way to install Windows on a new machine using that key? Also, can I do it from an USB stick (no optical drive)?

I've read I could do it through here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

But then since it's meant for upgrades it requires the PC to already have Windows on, while mine doesn't.

Basically ideally I'd like to be able to download Windows using my key and get it onto an USB stick to install fresh on my new PC.

Sorry if this is obvious, this is my first machine!

 

[compman25]

Use this with the Win8 ISO file http://rufus.akeo.ie/

 

[Gunbuster]

Microsoft app for making a bootable USB:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

 

[ViRGE]

Installing Windows will be easy. However there is no easy way to legitimately download Windows 8. The ISOs aren't available from DigitalRiver or the like.

As for MS's download service, you are probably correct in surmising that it won't work for you since it's meant for upgraders. What you can try to do is to run the client on another PC, use your key, and then use the save to media option (which saves Win8 to an ISO), but it will probably fail since your key is for a full version.

Microsoft app for making a bootable USB:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

Note that this is only for BIOS computers. If you're doing UEFI you don't need this tool (and in fact it won't work); UEFI allows you to just copy the CD's contents to a FAT32 formatted USB drive, with no additional steps.

 

[Mirith]

Thanks guys. This is a bit of a pain! I'll try to save it as ISO through media option and see whether it works or not I guess.

 

[escrow4]

Get WintoBootic and a dedicated USB for it and use that. I have an OEM copy of Win 8 that I always use as an installer base, cost me $99, but priceless DVD that is 100% untouched and clean.

 

[Mirith]

Yeah, need to pick up an extra USB, 4Gb should be enough, right?

 

[Mirith]

Just letting you know that it worked smoothly with no issues at all: I went through the upgrade page, downloaded ISO through "media" option, made a bootable USB using WintoBootic and then installed custom Windows 8 Pro on my PC. All worked. You do need a legal product key to do it this way though.