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Barbarank's avatar
Barbarank
Iron Contributor
Jan 10, 2025

Does Windows 8.1 have a media creation tool?

I can see both Windows 11 and Windows 10 have Media Creation Tool for making bootable USB from ISO. Where to download Windows 8.1 media creation tool? I searched the Microsoft website and unable to find the download link of Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool. 

The reason is that my Windows 8.1 laptop was crashed because of infected malware. I need to create Windows 8.1 bootable USB to reinstall Windows on my device. Please let me know what is the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool and where to download it.

Thanks

  • Nobel_Baynes's avatar
    Nobel_Baynes
    Iron Contributor

    Windows 11 does not come with Media Creation Tool. Fortunately, creating a bootable Windows 8.1 USB drive using the command line on a Windows PC is super easy by using the command line tools. This process utilizes built-in Windows utilities like DiskPart, Xcopy or Robocopy, and Bootsect. 

    create partition primary
    format fs=ntfs quick
    Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath "C:\Path\To\Windows8.1.iso"
    xcopy D:\* E:\ /E /F /H
    bootsect /nt60 E:

    By following these steps, you can create a bootable USB without Windows 8.1 media creation tool. It is done with the command line utility on your Windows PC. This method leverages built-in Windows utilities and does not require third-party software. If you encounter any issues during the process, double-check each command for accuracy and ensure that you have administrative privileges.

  • UtahMountain's avatar
    UtahMountain
    Iron Contributor

    Typing commands can lead to mistakes, and if you accidentally format the wrong drive, you might lose important data. The Media Creation Tool has built-in safeguards to prevent this. The command line tool is not very user-friendly. You won’t get the helpful prompts or visual guides that you get with the Media Creation Tool. You might find yourself second-guessing whether you did everything right. If you’re using command line, you’re probably already working with an ISO that you've downloaded from somewhere. The Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool will download the latest version of Windows for you, ensuring you have all the latest updates and drivers, whereas using an ISO might mean you're stuck with older versions.

    Sometimes, if your machine has settings like UEFI or secure boot, there could be extra steps to make sure your USB boots correctly. The Media Creation Tool typically handles these intricacies for you.

    1. If you're set on using the command line, just make sure you've got a clear guide to follow, check the commands twice, and back up anything important on the USB drive first. Here's a quick rundown of steps you'd generally follow using the command line:

    2. Open Command Prompt as Admin: Search for "cmd", right-click, and choose "Run as administrator."

    3. Format USB: Use diskpart, then list disk, select disk X (where X is your USB disk), and clean. After that, create a new primary partition and format it.

    4. Mount the ISO (if it’s not already mounted) and copy the files directly to your USB.

    But honestly, if you want an easier, hassle-free experience and the latest version of Windows 8.1, just grab the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. It’s made specifically for this kind of task, and it’s pretty hard to mess up.

  • To be honest, I was at a loss for a while when I couldn't find the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool. I looked at the official Microsoft page for a long time, but it was either Windows 10 or Windows 11. It seemed that they had completely forgotten the existence of Windows 8.1. But don't worry, even if we don't have this tool, we can still use some simple methods to make a boot disk, and there is no need to download those strange software. It is absolutely safe and reliable! Here are some free methods, I hope they can help you get it done quickly! 🎉

    The PowerShell tool that comes with Windows is powerful enough to create a Windows 8.1 boot disk.

    Steps:

    Download the ISO file from Microsoft's Windows 8.1 download page.

    Insert an 8GB or larger USB drive, open PowerShell (Administrator mode), and enter the following command:

    Get-Disk
    Select-Disk X  
    Clear-Disk -RemoveData
    New-Partition -DiskNumber X -UseMaximumSize -IsActive -AssignDriveLetter
    Format-Volume -FileSystem FAT32

    Extract the ISO to the USB

    Right-click the ISO file and select "Mount".
    Then use the following command in PowerShell to copy the contents to the USB:

    Copy-Item -Path D:\* -Destination E:\ -Recurse


    (Replace D: with your virtual CD-ROM drive and E: with the drive letter of your USB.)

    If you don't have Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool, these methods can flexibly use Windows' built-in tools or network boot functions to create a boot disk. Whether using PowerShell, Command Prompt or network boot, these methods are free, privacy-friendly, and suitable for different scenarios! I wish you a successful installation! 💻

  • HenryIngram's avatar
    HenryIngram
    Iron Contributor

    I had a similar problem before. I wanted to find Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool, but I couldn't find it on Microsoft's official website. Later I found out that Microsoft seemed to have removed this tool a long time ago. But don't worry, you can still easily make a Windows 8.1 bootable USB without the Media Creation Tool. The method is simple and free!

    Method 1: Download the official ISO file directly
    Although the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool has been removed, Microsoft still provides the official Windows 8.1 ISO file for download. You can use this file to make a bootable disk directly.

    Steps:

    1. Go to Microsoft's Windows 8.1 ISO download page.
    2. Select your Windows 8.1 version (Home, Professional, etc.) and language, and then click "Confirm".
    3. Download the 32-bit or 64-bit version ISO file for your device.

     

    Method 2: Use the command line to create a bootable disk
    You can use the built-in command line function of Windows to write the ISO file to the USB and turn it into a bootable disk without using third-party tools.

    Steps:

    Insert an empty USB with at least 8GB and remember its drive letter (such as F:).
    Open the command prompt (administrator mode).
    Enter the following command to format the USB:

    diskpart list disk select disk X clean create partition primary format fs=fat32 quick active exit

    5. Then extract the contents of the ISO file to the USB using the command:

    xcopy X:\*.* Y:\ /E /H /F

    (Replace X with the path to the ISO file and Y with the USB drive letter.)

     

    Method 3: Use Windows built-in burning tool

    Right-click the downloaded Windows 8.1 ISO file and select "Mount".
    Open the virtual optical drive and copy the file contents to the formatted USB.
    After completion, your USB can be used as a boot disk!

    Although you can't find the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool, you can still easily create a boot disk using the ISO provided by Microsoft and the system's built-in tools. These methods are not only free, but also do not have to worry about privacy issues. Hurry up and try it, I wish you a successful system reinstallation!

  • Tomasstes's avatar
    Tomasstes
    Iron Contributor

    As far as I know, Windows 8.1 does not include a dedicated Media Creation Tool like the one Microsoft provides for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Media Creation Tool is specifically designed to help users download and create installation media for newer versions of Windows. However, if you need to create installation media for Windows 8.1, you can use alternative methods.

    Part 1: Download the Windows 8.1 ISO Directly

    Go to the Windows 8.1 Download Page on Microsoft's website. You may need to sign in with a valid Microsoft account to access the download. Provide a valid Windows 8.1 product key to verify your copy. Select the appropriate edition (e.g., Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro) and your preferred language. After selecting your options, download the ISO file to your computer.

    Part 2: Create Windows 8.1 Installation Media

    Once you have the ISO file, you can create a bootable USB drive or DVD using the official Windows USB/DVD Download Tool. 

    First, install and run the Tool. Choose the Windows 8.1 ISO you downloaded. Next, select either USB device or DVD. Finally, follow the prompts to complete the process.

    Part 3: Use Windows 8.1 Installation Media

    Insert the USB Drive or DVD into the Target Computer. Access the boot menu (usually by pressing keys like F12, F10, or Esc during startup). Boot from the Installation Media. Follow On-Screen Instructions: Proceed with the installation or repair as needed.

    Keep in mind that Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 8.1 on January 9, 2018, and extended support ended on January 10, 2023. While extended support may have been continued in some form, it's advisable to consider upgrading to a newer version of Windows for improved security and features.

    While Windows 8.1 doesn't come with a Media Creation Tool, you can still create installation media using the official ISO files and third-party utilities. If you're planning to install or reinstall Windows 8.1, these methods will help you prepare the necessary installation media.

  • OregonRain's avatar
    OregonRain
    Iron Contributor

    What is the best Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool? As i know, Windows 8.1 does not have an official media creation tool like Windows 10 and 11. That's probably why you can't find it on the Microsoft website. However, you can still create a bootable USB for Windows 8.1 using official ISO files and tools like Rufus or Windows USB/DVD Download Tool. Here's how to do it:

    Steps to Create a Bootable Windows 8.1 USB Drive:

    1. Use the tool to create a USB flash drive:
    - Rufus: This is a popular and easy-to-use tool for making bootable USB drives.
    - Windows USB/DVD Download Tool: This is another option to create a bootable USB from a Windows ISO. But - please note that it is mainly designed for older versions of Windows.

    2. Create a bootable USB:

    - Plug the USB drive (at least 8GB) into your laptop.
    - Launch Rufus or the Windows USB/DVD download tool.
    - Select the USB drive and select the downloaded Windows 8.1 ISO file.
    - Follow the prompts to create a bootable USB drive.

    3. Reinstall Windows 8.1:

    - Once the USB drive is ready, plug it into your laptop.
    - Restart the laptop and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing F2, F10, DEL, or ESC on startup).
    - Change the boot priority to boot from the USB drive first.
    - Save changes and exit BIOS. Your laptop should boot from the USB drive so you can begin the installation process.

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