I need a windows 8 ISO file

[Masonisbetter]

We are trying to reinstall windows 8 on my friend's laptop on a bare Hybrid Solid State Drive. Our plan is to boot from a usb drive but I have had no luck finding a download for a windows 8 iso file, all I can find is 8.1 previews on microsoft's site so if anyone knows a trustworthy download it would be much appreciated. We have a legal copy of windows 8 so we just need an unaltered windows 8 installation disk iso.

 

[hsyuts]

Microsoft provides a tool to create bootable installation USB drives from OS installation disk.

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-create-a-windows-8-installation-dvd-or-usb-drive-505769939

This is the right way to do it.

 

[dodger46]

Windows 8 Installation Media
OEM/Retail
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128
Upgrade
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262204
Note-you'll need to download from a PC with the same Architecture (64/32bit) as the Target Machine. No known legal d'loads for OEM nstalls...

 

[mbreslin1954]

The last few Dell PCs I've purchased with Windows 8 on them have not come with license keys. I don't think they ship Windows 8 PCs with license key stickers.

 

[dodger46]

The last few Dell PCs I've purchased with Windows 8 on them have not come with license keys. I don't think they ship Windows 8 PCs with license key stickers.

Same applies pretty much across the board, most pre-installs don't provide a key, you have to use a Keyfinder to get it. Even then it's impossible to simply d'load an OEM version of 8 that will agree with the Key, perhaps the only recourse is to try one of the basic install disks advertised on Ebay, or apply to the Manufacturer for Recovery disks.(Expensive)
Of course, if everybody backed up their System to a System Image or Recovery Drive when it arrived, we wouldn't be having this discussion...

 

[xrootedx]

Microsoft provides a tool to create bootable installation USB drives from OS installation disk.

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-create-a-windows-8-installation-dvd-or-usb-drive-505769939

This is the right way to do it.

Unfortunately, It doesn't give me an option to create a bootable USB. It just downloads the software.

 

[dodger46]

Microsoft provides a tool to create bootable installation USB drives from OS installation disk.

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-create-a-windows-8-installation-dvd-or-usb-drive-505769939

This is the right way to do it.

Unfortunately, It doesn't give me an option to create a bootable USB. It just downloads the software.

Did you get the ISO?

 

[xrootedx]

Microsoft provides a tool to create bootable installation USB drives from OS installation disk.

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-create-a-windows-8-installation-dvd-or-usb-drive-505769939

This is the right way to do it.

Unfortunately, It doesn't give me an option to create a bootable USB. It just downloads the software.

Did you get the ISO?

You get the install type option last, after the download. This post and article don't read that way. This is what was confusing. All sorted now though.

Thanks for the reply either way.

 

[Razor68]

Windows 8 Installation Media
OEM/Retail
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128
Upgrade
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262204
Note-you'll need to download from a PC with the same Architecture (64/32bit) as the Target Machine. No known legal d'loads for OEM nstalls...

That first link is 8.1. Do you know one for 8.0? You can't use an 8.0 key with an 8.1 image.

Thanks!

 

[Pinhedd]

Windows 8 Installation Media
OEM/Retail
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128
Upgrade
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262204
Note-you'll need to download from a PC with the same Architecture (64/32bit) as the Target Machine. No known legal d'loads for OEM nstalls...

That first link is 8.1. Do you know one for 8.0? You can't use an 8.0 key with an 8.1 image.

Thanks!

You can use a Windows 8.0 key to activate Windows 8.1. However, you cannot use a Windows 8.0 key to install Windows 8.1. Instead, you must use a generic key to install Windows 8.1, and then use the Windows 8.0 key to activate it.

The generic keys for Windows 8.1 are below

Core: 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
Professional: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

NOTE: These are not licence keys and will not activate Windows. They can be used only to install Windows without a valid key.