Can I download Windows 8.1 from a laptop and install it on another PC?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
K

karan16197

Reputable
Jul 30, 2014
10
0
4,510
Hi guys,
I'm making my first pc build and I found a great offer for windows 8.1 pro (student offer). Problem is that it is only available as a download and not as a DVD. Is it possible to download it on my current laptop and install it on my new PC? I have tried searching for it, but it wasn't clear.
Thanks in advance :)
 
Solution
Deus Gladiorum
Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool (it works for Windows 8 too) and get either a blank DVD or a USB. Use the tool to make the USB bootable if you're using a USB and then load a bootable version of Windows 8 onto the aforementioned USB or DVD. In theory, it's a really simple process. In reality, I've done this at least four times now and the level of difficulty has ranged from extremely easy to so ridiculously riddled with problems that it takes me hours. If you're lucky, you'll encounter the former. A quick piece of advice to circumvent a possible issue; if using a USB then don't plug the stick into a USB 3.0 (the blue port) slot. I don't know why, but it messes up the installation. Also a quick warning; if there's any...
Sort by date Sort by votes
Deus Gladiorum

Deus Gladiorum

Distinguished
Jun 29, 2013
1,434
0
19,960
Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD tool (it works for Windows 8 too) and get either a blank DVD or a USB. Use the tool to make the USB bootable if you're using a USB and then load a bootable version of Windows 8 onto the aforementioned USB or DVD. In theory, it's a really simple process. In reality, I've done this at least four times now and the level of difficulty has ranged from extremely easy to so ridiculously riddled with problems that it takes me hours. If you're lucky, you'll encounter the former. A quick piece of advice to circumvent a possible issue; if using a USB then don't plug the stick into a USB 3.0 (the blue port) slot. I don't know why, but it messes up the installation. Also a quick warning; if there's any data on the storage drive on your new PC, installing a clean Windows 8 install will wipe all your data, so back up your important files on your new PC, if there are any, first.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
B

boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
14,846
8
74,965
If by download you mean get the ISO disk file from digital river, then yes you can use the dvd/usb tool as mentioned above, i put all of my windows installs on usb as it is soo much faster.

If by downloading you mean just copy/clone your laptop to the desktop then no that is a) not legal, and b) will not work unless your desktop just happnes to use the same exact hardware (or at least the same drivers) as the laptop.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

karan16197

Reputable
Jul 30, 2014
10
0
4,510
Thank you so much. I'm just worried that the OS gets installed on this old PC or that it doesn't install on my new PC. Right now I'm downloading Windows from the installer they asked me to use after payment. Do I still have to use the USB/DVD tool that you suggested or do they have the option to install it on USB/DVD once the download is complete? I'm really confused as I've seen different sites suggest different ways.

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Deus Gladiorum

Deus Gladiorum

Distinguished
Jun 29, 2013
1,434
0
19,960
what type of file are you downloading? You should've gotten a product key from them as well. You can really go anywhere to acquire a copy of Windows 8 for free and legally, iirc. Specifically, you could even go onto the pirate bay and legally get a free copy of Windows 8 from there. It's just the product key that you need to pay for or legally acquire in some other fashion. So if the file you're downloading right now is not an ISO (for example, it's an .exe), you can just download the ISO with the Win 7 USB tool and just use your provided product key.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
K

karan16197

Reputable
Jul 30, 2014
10
0
4,510


After I finished downloading I got this option
Windows-8.1-USB-drive-4-600x470.jpg

Then I chose install by creating media->USB flash drive. After this, I checked my USB and found several files in it. But no .iso file. Does that mean my USB is ready? Or I still need to convert some files? I gave it a try on my old laptop. But there was no USB device found when I tried to change the boot priority in the BIOS! I could however install it by clicking on setup once the laptop was fully switched on ( logging into windows 7,etc). Can someone help me out in that as my new PC will not be having any OS pre-installed so that option may not be there for me.
( Forgive me if I misused any technical term or wasn't clear enough)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
B

boosted1g

Titan
Jun 12, 2013
14,846
8
74,965
The ISO file would not be on your CD, and ISO is collective files on a cd all put into one file for easy saving/copying. What you see on the usb drive should be the correct.

Try it on the proper desktop. You will need to plug the usb drive in, power on computer and go into bios, then under hard drive priority you will set the usb and #1, and then go to boot priority and set the hard drive as the first boot priority. Your board could call these menus something different so you will have to consult your motherboard manual.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom