Windows 8 pm building help

[Heroquetarro10]

I'm going to build a pc (my first!) and since the case I'm using doesn't have any 5.25 bays for a cd drive, I have to do a usb for windows 8 installation, my question is will it cost money, and how do do I do it?

 

[MrTuRtLe03]

Okay, so you don't have an optical drive? Interesting. You could always use a USB optical drive if you have one laying around (I doubt you do though).

Fortunately you CAN install Windows with a USB bootable flashdrive. Did you buy a version of Windows 8/8.1 yet? If so, did you buy it online? If you did it should have a link to download a .ISO file, if you have a hardcopy (like a CD) you can make an ISO out of that CD on another computer.

 

[Heroquetarro10]

What's a usb optical drive? If it's possible, I would prefer it a disc rather than a usb

 

[MrTuRtLe03]

The only way to use a disc is to use an optical drive. An optical drive is just a fancy term for a CD/DVD drive, it is the same thing. A USB one would plug into your computer just like your computer or mouse and be used like a CD drive. Here is one I found on Amazon.com for a decent price. If you don't get something similar to that, you will have to make a USB key to boot from.