Bootable disc win8

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by GregoryLeo, Nov 7, 2018.

  1. GregoryLeo

    GregoryLeo Well-Known Member

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    Ok, my hard drive has died. But in Windows 8.1 I have to buy a $60 program to create a bootable disk so I can install a new hard drive.
    My budget is tight enough that that is a lot to spend for something that imo should be part of the operating system.
    Does anyone know how to make a bootable disk in win 8 without the extra software?
    I have 2 systems with win 8.1. So I was going to use the functioning one to create a disk to fix the broken one.
    If I can’t get it running I’m down indefinitely.
    Thanks in advance for any help.
     
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2018
  2. Thomas Friedrich

    Thomas Friedrich Well-Known Member

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    You can download Windows 8.1 ISO files from the Microsoft homepage to create a bootable USB stick for free (you got to have the product key though). Here is a link (German language, sure there should be an English site too):

    https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/software-download/windows8ISO

    I’ve done an USB boot stick for Windows 10 and it works without problems... and I think you can choose on this site if you want to make a boot disk too, but that I’m not sure of.
     
  3. Not Lifting Off

    Not Lifting Off Well-Known Member

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    Maybe im missing something, is it simply you want to install a new hard drive and then re install windows?
    If this is the case then it should simply be - connect up hard drive, reinstall windows onto the new hard drive.
    If your hard drive has died it will be very hard to recover anything from without specialist software and or services, if its failing and still usable then you may have to purchase software to recover files from it.

    You could try hooking the hd into the 2nd comp as a 2nd drive and see if you can read anything from it.

    Create a bootable flash drive - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/create-usb-recovery-drive-in-windows-8/

    Download the win8.1 iso and write to appropriate disk, fresh install onto new hard drive. https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows8

    Edit - if your hard has died completely, no rescue disk or software of any kind will be of any use to you, if your os has failed the the disks may be of use.
     
  4. GregoryLeo

    GregoryLeo Well-Known Member

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    Thanks NLO I was kind freaking out and not thinking very clearly when I posted this thread. My system has been acting up for about a month now. And I hadn't really dealt with it. Too much to do and not enough time. Anyway, it took about a day and a half but I finally got my system back up. I was trying to use an older computer with win 8 to create a bootable disk to trouble shoot with. But kept getting redirected by google to a bunch of paid sights. I finally found the win8.1 iso link yesterday morning. And am setting that up. still not sure whats going on my computer. But seeing as how it's an old gaming laptop, and not really up to all I want. I'm not really prepared to put very much money and effort into it. Then again I don't have the money to replace it at this time, SO.... Anyway thanks for the flash drive link. That's what I was looking for. So I much appreciate that. I knew there had to be a way to do that in the os with having to buy it from some else.
    Thanks again for your help
    Gregoryleo