How does buying Windows 8 work for a new PC?

Hyperman3218 · Apr 19, 2015

I was just wondering; if I bought a copy of Windows https://ca.pcpartpicker.com/part/microsoft-os-wn700578 would I need an optical drive for it or would it just be a CD key whereas you would just put in the code on the product and it starts doing it for you? I am building my first rig and I don't feel like I really need an optical drive for anything other than maybe the installation process.

USAFRet · Apr 19, 2015

Hyperman3218 :

For instance, from your NCIX link...it arrives as a DVD.
You can use that to make a USB install, but you'll need another PC to do that.

With a bare drive in a new PC, you need something to install from. Either a DVD and DVD drive, or a USB made on a different PC.
Your new PC with a bare drive can't connect and download the OS to install, because there is no OS to do it with.

mbarnes86 · Apr 19, 2015

Hi

You need access to a PC with a DVD drive to build a bootable USB windows disk

Microsoft produces a program to take a ISO or windows 7 DVD and build the bootable disk
It works for 8 or 8.1 just as well as 7
There are other program which can do this as well if you are familiar with them

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

Regards
Mike Barnes

Hyperman3218 · Apr 19, 2015

mbarnes86 :

Okay thanks, but say that I already have the installation disk and I don't want to spend extra money on an optical drive. But I already have a PC that has an optical drive so can I just download the software, slide in the disk without downloading Windows 8.1 onto that desktop, and then put in the disk location onto the program and let it do its magic on the USB that I plugged in? This might sound really stupid to everyone that reads this but I am just worried that when I slide the disk into the desktop that has the optical drive already on it it will put Windows 8.1 on that computer instead of just staying there until I want to install it manually; making the computer that HAS the optical drive a Windows 8.1 computer when I don't want it to be. Thanks in advance.

USAFRet · Apr 19, 2015

Hyperman3218 :

mbarnes86 :

Okay thanks, but say that I already have the installation disk and I don't want to spend extra money on an optical drive. But I already have a PC that has an optical drive so can I just download the software, slide in the disk without downloading Windows 8.1 onto that desktop, and then put in the disk location onto the program and let it do its magic on the USB that I plugged in? This might sound really stupid to everyone that reads this but I am just worried that when I slide the disk into the desktop that has the optical drive already on it it will put Windows 8.1 on that computer instead of just staying there until I want to install it manually; making the computer that HAS the optical drive a Windows 8.1 computer when I don't want it to be. Thanks in advance.

If you have the install disk, and another PC with a DVD drive, you can create the needed USB install media via the above linked tool.
It will not automagically install on that PC unless you tell it to.

Hyperman3218 · Apr 19, 2015

USAFRet :

Hyperman3218 :

If you have the install disk, and another PC with a DVD drive, you can create the needed USB install media via the above linked tool.
It will not automagically install on that PC unless you tell it to.

Thank you for the help but I have one last question. When I plug in the USB how do I activate the drive from BIOS and ultimately "unlock" the operating system and have it on my new computer? This is my first build by the way so I want to gather as much information as possible. Thank you in advance.

USAFRet · Apr 19, 2015

Hyperman3218 :

Change the BIOS settings to boot from USB first. Assuming a correctly built USB device, it will boot, and install the OS on your drive. Follow the directions.

After that, change the boot order again to have the OS drive first in the boot order. Or just leave it to USB first, and HDD second.

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How does buying Windows 8 work for a new PC?

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