📎 AI Summary:
The thread discusses how to install Windows 8.1 on a laptop with an empty drive and no existing media. The original poster seeks guidance on downloading Windows 8.1 and creating installation media using their license and USB boot options. Responders advise that if they have a retail activation key, they can download an ISO from Microsoft's site and use tools like the Windows Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive for installation.
Christian Dysthe

Christian Dysthe

New Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Messages
1
Thread Author #1
Hi,

I have a laptop with an empty drive and a separate Windows 8.1 license. No media, only the license. The laptop does not have an optical drive, but can boot from USB. I would like to install Windows 8.1 on this laptop. The person who will use it does not want Windows 10 right now. I thought this would be trivial, but I am simply not able to figure out how to do this. Can I download Windows 8.1 from somewhere and get on to a thumb drive? I have tried to download some images, but it hasn't worked. Could someone please let me know how I could get Windows 8.1 on to this laptop using my license?
 

Ebm9000

Ebm9000

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2013
Messages
31
#3
If you don't, you can always go on a computer running Windows 8.1 (activated preferably, I am not sure if it will work on an un-activated machine) and run the Windows Media Creation Tool (downloadable from Microsoft). You can then select any version of 8.1 to download and save as an ISO or copy directly to a USB drive (<-Will format the drive).
 

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