When Windows 8 Consumer Preview hit the web, we offered a basic guide to configuring a virtual machine. With the release preview of Windows 8 available and the final version nearing completion, we think it’s a good time to offer an equally easy step-by-step walkthrough on installing Windows 8 with a USB drive. Is.
If you’re familiar with this process, there isn’t much for you to look at here, but it should serve as a quick confidence booster for those who haven’t installed an operating system recently.
Download Windows 8 and Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool
If you’re not sure which version of Windows 8 to download, we’d recommend the 64-bit build, especially if your system is relatively modern. You can read more about the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems here and the download page linked above provides the system requirements for each architecture. Its drawbacks: Windows 8 64-bit requires an additional 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage—negligible for most users. Also, before you ask, a Windows 7 USB/DVD tool will work fine with Windows 8.
Create Bootable Windows 8 USB Drive
Naturally, to make a bootable USB drive, you’ll need to insert one and it needs to be 4GB or larger. Install Windows 7 USB/DVD Tool. Once the utility opens, you should be able to browse and select the Windows 8 ISO you downloaded as well as the USB drive you inserted. It’s worth noting that your USB drive will be erased, so save anything important. The process takes about five minutes, depending on your drive speed. You’ll see a message saying “Backup completed” when it’s done.
Needless to say, back up anything important before proceeding. If you plan to upgrade or overwrite your installation of Windows XP, Vista or 7, open the root directory of your USB drive in Windows Explorer and launch Setup.exe to get started. You have to choose between the two.
Windows 7 users should have a painless upgrade as programs, Windows settings as well as user accounts and files are imported. However, Windows 8 will not save programs from Vista and it will not save programs or Windows settings from XP.
Needless to say, back up anything important before proceeding. If you plan to upgrade or overwrite your installation of Windows XP, Vista or 7, open the root directory of your USB drive in Windows Explorer and launch Setup.exe to get started. You have to choose between the two.
Windows 7 users should have a painless upgrade as programs, Windows settings as well as user accounts and files are imported. However, Windows 8 will not save programs from Vista and it will not save programs or Windows settings from XP.
If you want to dual boot Windows 8 with your existing operating system, you will need to install a second storage device or create a new partition. The former is relatively self-explanatory, just attach the drive and select it during the installation process. However, the latter requires a little more effort. Vista and 7 users can create a new partition with Windows’ Disk Management application (Start > search for Disk Management). Once the application has loaded, you should see your operating system’s drive.
Windows XP users will have to make partition adjustments with a third-party tool like Partition Logic, but you’ll do the same thing: shrink one volume to create another. It should be smooth sailing from here as Microsoft’s installation process guides you through everything. Simply boot up your Windows 8 USB drive, choose a custom installation and select your newly created partition. If you’re having trouble launching the USB drive, you’ll probably need to place it next to your system drive in the BIOS (see Boot Options).
If you want to get rid of Windows 8, load your elementary OS and launch the partitioning software (again, Disk Management for Vista or 7 users). Delete the Windows 8 volume and extend your remaining partition into the freshly allocated space. Removing Windows 8 can damage your bootloader and prevent your native OS from starting up properly. Don’t worry, this is an easy solution. Windows Vista and 7 users can use Automatic Startup Repair, while Windows XP users will have to get their hands a little dirty.