How to create usb bootable install media for Windows 8.1 in 2025

Using Diskpart to create a bootable USB install media for Windows 8.1 can definitely get the job done, but there are some drawbacks you should be aware of. Let me break it down for you in a casual way, based on what I’ve seen and used:

1. Diskpart can be a bit intimidating if you’re not familiar with command-line tools. One wrong command, and you can wipe the wrong drive or mess up your partitions. I’ve seen this happen, and trust me, it’s not pretty.
2. Unlike other software that has a nice GUI (Graphical User Interface) where you can just click around, Diskpart is all about that text life. If you mess up a command, you won’t get a friendly error message telling you what to do next.
3. You need to remember several steps, like selecting the right disk number and formatting it correctly. If you’re not paying attention, it's easy to accidentally pick the wrong disk (like your main hard drive instead of the USB), which can lead to data loss.
4. If you encounter an error while using Diskpart, it can be harder to troubleshoot. With GUI-based tools, error messages are usually clearer, and there are often built-in help options or even clickable links that guide you through fixing things.
5. You have to ensure that everything is in the right format (like FAT32 or NTFS) for it to properly work as install media, and Diskpart doesn’t always cover every detail for you. If you’re not savvy about formatting, this can lead to boot errors later on.