OS instalation question

[Daveion Steel]

I am about to install win 8.1 using the free 90 day trial that MS are offering, because it is a download I have placed it on a 16gb usb drive, basically the file is an iso file so you have to make the USB drive bootable.
However, when I make the USB first drive in bios it get so far and then stalls with the win 8 icon displayed.
Microsoft technicians seem hard work to me as three of them did not know how to make the USB drive into a bootable drive and effectively wasted five hours of my time on the phone to them. Hense the reason I am asking for all of you to help.

I suspect because I have win XP32 bit installed on the HD already that it is stalling because I am trying to install a 64bit OS?
If this is the reason how on earth do you get around it, if not what do you suggest?

Thanks very much

 

[h8dkngrg8]

Not sure if troll.

To run a 64 bit operating system, you need a 64 bit processor. As you had a 32 bit XP then you need to install the 32 bit version of windows 8.1.

 

[Daveion Steel]

I have a 64 bit processor, does your second statement still stand? because I want 64 bit OS.
Let me rephrase the question, is the 64 bit install stalling because I am trying to install a 64 bit OS on a HD that has a 32 bit OS already on it, would I need to format the HD first?

 

[h8dkngrg8]

Okay, it wasn't evident to me that you had a x64 processor. As you said you had x32 XP, I thought you had an x32 processor running.

Moreover, are you trying to dual boot both the OS's (run both of them from the same HDD), if not, then no need to keep it, you can format it or not, the win 8.1 installer does it anyways.

If you dont want to keep the old OS, then I suggest that there is nothing wrong in formatting it if you simply want to stay on the safe side.

Hope this helps.

 

[Daveion Steel]

That is what I thought but the damn thing keeps stalling and I'm a little worried to format first because this is my only PC, if it fails then I cannot ask anymore questions, what a dilema. I try downloading it again, maybe it was a bad file. btw it is a microsoft website it comes from and not a dodgy site.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-8-1-enterprise

 

[h8dkngrg8]

Are you absolutely certain that you meet the hardware requirements for win8? What are your complete specs? What is the name of your processor?

 

[Daveion Steel]

AMD 64 AthlonX2 6000+
Gigabyte ma77o-ud3
4gb Ram although atm only 3.5gb is recognised because of XP
160gb seagate HD 7200rpm

My Avatar finally works, an original 2006 Eve online toon

 

[h8dkngrg8]

Yup, best bet is to redownload the ISO because your rig seems pretty good.

Also keep in mind that if you're trying to install a 64 bit of windows, you need an 8GB flash drive at least.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/ss/install-windows-8-usb-tutorial_2.htm#step-heading

Most Importantly, something I should have asked before and is a usual misunderstanding, are you using some form of tool to create a bootable USB or simply copying the ISO on the USB or extracting and copying it to the USB? Because the latter two are no no's.

Download this tool here http://wudt.codeplex.com/

Install it and follow instructions here

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/ss/install-windows-8-usb-tutorial_7.htm#step-heading

Hope this helps, tell me if this works.