{"id":26459,"date":"2026-01-02T07:00:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T12:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/?p=26459"},"modified":"2026-01-03T11:50:58","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T16:50:58","slug":"create-windows-81-usb-bootable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/create-windows-81-usb-bootable\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Ways to create USB bootable media to install Windows 8.1 (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"sum\">\n<li>To create a Windows 8.1 bootable USB drive, you can use third-party tools such as Rufus and Ventoy.<\/li>\n<li>You can also manually download the official Windows 8.1 ISO and use Command Prompt to create the bootable media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>UPDATED 1\/3\/2026:<\/strong> You can still create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8.1. In this guide, I will outline three ways to complete this process. Windows 8.1 reached the <span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/lifecycle\/products\/windows-81\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">end of support in January 2023.<\/a>\u00a0Although it&#8217;s recommended to use a supported version (such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/tag\/windows-11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows 11<\/a>), which no longer receives<\/span>\u00a0security updates or support, you may still have valid reasons to install it.<\/p>\n<p>For example, in my case, because of the nature of my work, I sometimes need to run older versions of Windows to test software compatibility, access legacy features, and track the operating system&#8217;s evolution across versions. In your case, you may need to install Windows 8.1 for compatibility with specific hardware that doesn&#8217;t support a newer version.<\/p>\n<p>If you need to create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8.1, you have multiple options, including Rufus, Ventoy, and Command Prompt.<\/p>\n<section class=\"custom-related-posts-wrapper\"><span class=\"custom-related-posts-heading\">Related<\/span><div class=\"custom-related-posts-container\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/download-iso-windows-81\/\" class=\"custom-related-post-item\" data-umami-event=\"related_inpost_clicked\" data-umami-event-name=\"How to download official ISO file of Windows 8.1 (2026)\"><div class=\"custom-related-post-thumbnail\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/windows-81-iso-download-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=300%2C201&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"How to download official ISO file of Windows 8.1 (2026)\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><span class=\"custom-related-post-title\">How to download official ISO file of Windows 8.1 (2026)<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/upgrade-to-windows-11-from-windows-8-1\/\" class=\"custom-related-post-item\" data-umami-event=\"related_inpost_clicked\" data-umami-event-name=\"How to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 8.1\"><div class=\"custom-related-post-thumbnail\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/upgrade-to-windows-11-from-8-1-hero.webp?fit=300%2C188&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"How to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 8.1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><span class=\"custom-related-post-title\">How to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 8.1<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/upgrade-to-windows-10-from-windows-81\/\" class=\"custom-related-post-item\" data-umami-event=\"related_inpost_clicked\" data-umami-event-name=\"How to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1\"><div class=\"custom-related-post-thumbnail\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/windows-10-upgrade-81-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=300%2C188&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"How to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div><span class=\"custom-related-post-title\">How to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8.1<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/section>\n<p>In this <a href=\"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/tag\/how-to\">guide<\/a>, I will teach you how to create a bootable USB drive to install Windows 8.1 on older hardware or in a virtual machine.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"toc\">\n<li><a href=\"#create_usb_windows81_rufus\">Create Windows 8.1 bootable USB from Rufus<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#create_usb_windows81_ventoy\">Create Windows 8.1 bootable USB from Ventoy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#create_usb_windows81_cmd\">Create Windows 8.1 bootable USB from Command Prompt<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"create_usb_windows81_rufus\">Create Windows 8.1 bootable USB from Rufus<\/h2>\n<p>To create a bootable USB of Windows 8.1 with Rufus, connect a flash drive with enough space (4GB or more) and use these steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/software-download\/windows11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open the <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong> page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"tip-box\"><span><strong>Quick note:<\/strong> Microsoft no longer offers a public download of the Windows 8.1 ISO. As a result, you now have to rely on third-party hosting sites. Currently, there&#8217;s a download option on the Archive.org website, but you should use it at your own risk, as the file doesn&#8217;t come from Microsoft&#8217;s servers.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Choose the <strong>Win8.1_English_x32.iso<\/strong> or <strong>Win8.1_English_x64.iso<\/strong> option from the right pane, depending on the version of <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong> to download.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-184006\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=827%2C472&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Windows 8.1 ISO download\" width=\"827\" height=\"472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?w=1033&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1033w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=300%2C171&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=1005%2C574&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1005w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=150%2C86&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Save the Windows 8.1 ISO file onto your computer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/rufus.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Open the <strong>Rufus<\/strong>\u00a0website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the link to download the latest version under the &#8220;Download&#8221; section.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Double-click the executable to launch the tool.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Select<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Select the Windows 8.1 ISO file.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Open<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>(Optional) Continue with the default settings after the download.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>(Optional)\u00a0Specify a name for the drive, such as\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Windows 8.1 Setup,&#8221;\u00a0<\/strong>in the &#8220;Volume label&#8221; setting.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-184019\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/rufus-windows-8-1-usb.webp?resize=474%2C655&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Rufus create Windows 8.1 Setup USB\" width=\"474\" height=\"655\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/rufus-windows-8-1-usb.webp?w=474&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 474w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/rufus-windows-8-1-usb.webp?resize=217%2C300&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 217w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/rufus-windows-8-1-usb.webp?resize=415%2C574&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 415w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/rufus-windows-8-1-usb.webp?resize=109%2C150&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 109w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Start<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>OK<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Once you complete the steps, the tool will create bootable media containing the Windows 8.1 installation files.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"create_usb_windows81_ventoy\">Create Windows 8.1 bootable USB from Ventoy<\/h2>\n<p>Ventoy is a third-party tool that installs on a USB drive and makes any ISO file bootable from virtually any platform, including Windows 8.1.<\/p>\n<p>To create a Windows 8.1 bootable USB with Ventoy, connect a flash drive with enough space (4GB or more) and use these steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/ventoy\/Ventoy\/releases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open <strong>Ventoy<\/strong> GitHub page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Under the &#8220;Assets&#8221; section, click the <strong>ventoy-x.x.xx-windows.zip<\/strong> file and download it to your computer.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-155987\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-download-github.webp?resize=827%2C411&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ventoy download\" width=\"827\" height=\"411\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-download-github.webp?w=912&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 912w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-download-github.webp?resize=300%2C149&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-download-github.webp?resize=150%2C75&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"tip-box\"><span><strong>Quick note:<\/strong> You may need to force and keep the file as the browser may detect it as malicious.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Open <strong>File Explorer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Open the Zip folder location.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Double-click the open the <strong>ventoy-x.x.xx-windows.zip<\/strong> file.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Extract all<\/strong> button from the command bar.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-155988\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-extact-zip-windows-11.webp?resize=814%2C357&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ventoy extract zip files\" width=\"814\" height=\"357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-extact-zip-windows-11.webp?w=814&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 814w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-extact-zip-windows-11.webp?resize=300%2C132&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-extact-zip-windows-11.webp?resize=150%2C66&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 814px) 100vw, 814px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Browse<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Select a location to extract the files.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Select Folder<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Extract<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Open the <strong>ventoy-x.x.xx<\/strong> folder.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Double-click the <strong>Ventoy2Disk.exe<\/strong> file to launch the installer.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-155990\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy2disk-executable-windows.webp?resize=827%2C469&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ventoy2Disk\" width=\"827\" height=\"469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy2disk-executable-windows.webp?w=935&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 935w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy2disk-executable-windows.webp?resize=300%2C170&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy2disk-executable-windows.webp?resize=150%2C85&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Choose the USB flash drive from the &#8220;Device&#8221; setting.<\/p>\n<div id=\"tip-box\"><span><strong>Quick tip:<\/strong> If you have any important files in the flash drive, creating a backup is recommended, as this process will erase everything on the external drive.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>Install<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-155986\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-bootable-usb-windows-11.webp?resize=442%2C336&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ventoy bootable USB install\" width=\"442\" height=\"336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-bootable-usb-windows-11.webp?w=442&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 442w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-bootable-usb-windows-11.webp?resize=300%2C228&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ventoy-bootable-usb-windows-11.webp?resize=150%2C114&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 442px) 100vw, 442px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Click the <strong>OK<\/strong> button.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Open the <strong>Ventoy<\/strong> drive with File Explorer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/software-download\/windows11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open the <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong> page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Choose the <strong>Win8.1_English_x32.iso<\/strong> or <strong>Win8.1_English_x64.iso<\/strong> option from the right pane, depending on the version of <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong> to download.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-184006\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=827%2C472&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Windows 8.1 ISO download\" width=\"827\" height=\"472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?w=1033&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1033w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=300%2C171&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=1005%2C574&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1005w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=150%2C86&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Save the Windows 8.1 ISO file onto your computer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Copy and paste the ISO file into the Ventoy USB flash drive to make it bootable.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>After completing the steps, you can use the bootable USB flash drive to start a device with the Ventoy application, from which you can launch the Windows 8.1 Setup.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"create_usb_windows81_cmd\">Create Windows 8.1 bootable USB from Command Prompt<\/h2>\n<p>If you don&#8217;t want to use third-party tools, you can still use commands to create a bootable flash drive and then transfer the installation files onto the USB storage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To create a bootable USB flash drive to install Windows 8.1 with Command Prompt, use these steps:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/software-download\/windows11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open the <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong> page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Choose the <strong>Win8.1_English_x32.iso<\/strong> or <strong>Win8.1_English_x64.iso<\/strong> option from the right pane, depending on the version of <strong>Windows 8.1<\/strong> to download.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-184006\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=827%2C472&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Windows 8.1 ISO download\" width=\"827\" height=\"472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?w=1033&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1033w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=300%2C171&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=1005%2C574&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1005w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/download-windows-8-1-iso.webp?resize=150%2C86&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Save the Windows 8.1 ISO file onto your computer.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Open <strong>Start<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Search for <strong>Command Prompt<\/strong>, right-click the top result, and select the <strong>Run as Administrator <\/strong>option.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to open Diskpart and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>diskpart<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to determine the USB flash drive and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>list disk<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to select the storage and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>select disk 1<\/pre>\n<div id=\"tip-box\"><span><strong>Quick tip:<\/strong> The\u00a0<code>select disk 1<\/code> command as an example, but you must replace <strong>1<\/strong> with the flash drive you want to use.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following commands to delete everything from the USB flash drive and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>clean<\/pre>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-134543\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-clean-usb-drive-windows11.jpg?resize=827%2C408&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"DiskPart clean USB\" width=\"827\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-clean-usb-drive-windows11.jpg?w=1011&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1011w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-clean-usb-drive-windows11.jpg?resize=300%2C148&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-clean-usb-drive-windows11.jpg?resize=150%2C74&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to create a primary partition and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>create partition primary<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to select the new partition and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>select partition 1<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to make the USB flash drive bootable and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>format FS=FAT32 quick<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to assign a volume and a drive letter for\u00a0the USB flash drive\u00a0and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>assign letter=X<\/pre>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-134544\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-uefi-bootable-usb-setup.jpg?resize=827%2C425&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Create UEFI bootable USB\" width=\"827\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-uefi-bootable-usb-setup.jpg?w=1011&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1011w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-uefi-bootable-usb-setup.jpg?resize=300%2C154&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/diskpart-uefi-bootable-usb-setup.jpg?resize=150%2C77&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Change <strong>X<\/strong> for any available letter you want to use in the command.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to quit the tool and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>exit<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to mount the Windows 8.1 ISO file and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>PowerShell Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath \"C:\\path\\to\\Windows8.1.iso\"<\/pre>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-134545\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/powershell-mount-windows-11-iso.jpg?resize=827%2C319&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"PowerShell mount ISO command\" width=\"827\" height=\"319\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/powershell-mount-windows-11-iso.jpg?w=1011&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1011w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/powershell-mount-windows-11-iso.jpg?resize=300%2C116&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/powershell-mount-windows-11-iso.jpg?resize=150%2C58&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the command, update the path with the location where you have stored the Windows 8.1 ISO file.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to relaunch Diskpart and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>diskpart<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to determine the drive letter for the mounted Windows 8.1 ISO file and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>list volume<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to exit Diskpart and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>exit<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to access the Windows 8.1 ISO file and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>E:<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to enter the boot folder and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/p>\n<pre>cd boot<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to update the volume boot code for the USB flash drive and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>bootsect \/nt60 <strong>X<\/strong>:<\/pre>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Type the following command to copy all the Windows 8.1 installation files to the USB flash drive and press <strong>Enter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<pre>xcopy E:*.* X: \/E \/F \/H<\/pre>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-134541\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/create-windows-11-usb-commands.jpg?resize=827%2C425&#038;quality=78&#038;strip=all&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Create Windows 11 USB\" width=\"827\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/create-windows-11-usb-commands.jpg?w=1011&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 1011w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/create-windows-11-usb-commands.jpg?resize=300%2C154&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/create-windows-11-usb-commands.jpg?resize=150%2C77&amp;quality=78&amp;strip=all&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 827px) 100vw, 827px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the command, change the <strong>E<\/strong> and <strong>X<\/strong> drive letters with the correct drive letters for the Windows 8.1 ISO image and the USB flash drive, respectively.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Once you complete the steps, you can install Windows 8.1 using the bootable flash drive.<\/p>\n<p>Although it&#8217;s still possible to create a bootable USB flash drive, you should understand that Windows 8.1 is no longer supported, meaning there are no more security updates. Also, using an unsupported operating system exposes your computer and files to security risks from malware, viruses, and other exploits, and you will encounter compatibility problems with newer applications.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If the hardware is supported, you should consider <a href=\"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/clean-install-windows-10\/\">installing the latest version of Windows 10<\/a>. You can also use these instructions to <a href=\"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/upgrade-to-windows-10-from-windows-81\/\">upgrade from Windows 8.1 to 10<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s important to note that I&#8217;ve used a computer running Windows 11 for this set of instructions, but the tools mentioned in this guide should work on Windows 10 and 8.1.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, you can use bootable media as a recovery drive to start and repair the installation of your device.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Update January 3, 2026:<\/strong> This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>These instructions will help you to create a USB bootable media to install Windows 8.1.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":184018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[97,19,2114,2576],"class_list":["post-26459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-windows","tag-difficulty-level-advanced","tag-how-to","tag-windows-8-1","tag-windows-help"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>3 Ways to create USB bootable media to install Windows 8.1 (2026) - Pureinfotech<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"To create a Windows 8.1 bootable USB, you can use third-party tools like Rufus and Ventoy or use Command Prompt. 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With over 21 years as a technology writer and IT Specialist, Mauro specializes in Windows, software, and cross-platform systems such as Linux, Android, and macOS. Certifications he holds include Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), VMware Certified Professional (VCP), and CompTIA A+ and Network+. Mauro is a recognized Microsoft MVP and has also been a long-time contributor to Windows Central. You can follow him on YouTube, Threads, BlueSky, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at Contact@Pureinfotech.com.","sameAs":["https:\/\/pureinfotech.com","https:\/\/x.com\/@Pureinfotech"],"url":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/mauro-huculak"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/windows-8-1-create-usb-hero.webp?fit=1680%2C1050&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":50688,"url":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/clean-install-windows-81-without-windows-8-retail-key\/","url_meta":{"origin":26459,"position":0},"title":"How to clean install Windows 8.1 without a Windows 8 retail key","author":"Mauro Huculak","date":"October 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"When I wrote the workaround to download the Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft was just half of the battle, many users were reporting that they couldn't get past the first screen because the Windows 8.1 setup wouldn't take the Windows 8 product key during a clean install.Short after this issue\u2026","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/category\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Windows 8.1 Final screenshot of the Start screen","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/windows81final-startscreen-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/windows81final-startscreen-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/windows81final-startscreen-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/windows81final-startscreen-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47909,"url":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/avoid-errors-installing-windows-8-1-preview\/","url_meta":{"origin":26459,"position":1},"title":"How to avoid nasty errors installing Windows 8.1 Preview (update)","author":"Mauro Huculak","date":"June 29, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Many users are eager to get their hands on the Windows 8.1 Preview that Microsoft made available for download just a few days ago. A difference from the previous beta releases of Windows 8, Microsoft this time is trying harder to advise users that while the preview is a very\u2026","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/category\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Error installing Windows 8.1 Preview 780_wide","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/windows-8.1-preview-error-installing.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/windows-8.1-preview-error-installing.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/windows-8.1-preview-error-installing.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/windows-8.1-preview-error-installing.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109982,"url":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/download-windows-10-iso-create-bootable-usb-rufus\/","url_meta":{"origin":26459,"position":2},"title":"How to download Windows 10 ISO onto USB drive with Rufus","author":"Mauro Huculak","date":"December 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Rufus lets you download the ISO file and create a bootable USB flash drive to install any version of Windows 10, including Windows 8.1. Here's how to use the feature.","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Apps","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/category\/apps\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Rufus Windows 10 ISO download","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rufus-download-windows-10-iso-create-usb-2023-hero.webp?fit=1200%2C744&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rufus-download-windows-10-iso-create-usb-2023-hero.webp?fit=1200%2C744&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rufus-download-windows-10-iso-create-usb-2023-hero.webp?fit=1200%2C744&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rufus-download-windows-10-iso-create-usb-2023-hero.webp?fit=1200%2C744&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/rufus-download-windows-10-iso-create-usb-2023-hero.webp?fit=1200%2C744&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49973,"url":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/windows-81-prices\/","url_meta":{"origin":26459,"position":3},"title":"Windows 8.1 pricing, only full versions starting at $119.99, no more upgrades","author":"Mauro Huculak","date":"September 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Microsoft made it absolutely clear in many occasions that Windows 8.1 update will be free for current Windows 8 users starting October 18th, 2013, via the Store. But today the company has finally revealed the new prices for the updated operating system, and, as it turns out, the new OS\u2026","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Microsoft","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/category\/microsoft\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Windows 8.1 Pricing and boxes","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/win81-pricing-boxes-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/win81-pricing-boxes-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/win81-pricing-boxes-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/win81-pricing-boxes-780_wide.jpg?fit=780%2C439&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50621,"url":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/download-iso-windows-81\/","url_meta":{"origin":26459,"position":4},"title":"How to download official ISO file of Windows 8.1 (2026)","author":"Mauro Huculak","date":"April 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you still need to download the Windows 8.1 ISO file? If so, here are two ways to complete this task.","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/category\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Windows 8.1 ISO download","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/windows-81-iso-download-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C803&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/windows-81-iso-download-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C803&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/windows-81-iso-download-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C803&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/windows-81-iso-download-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C803&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/windows-81-iso-download-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C803&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64631,"url":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/create-bootable-usb-windows-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":26459,"position":5},"title":"How to create bootable Windows 10 USB install media","author":"Mauro Huculak","date":"September 27, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Are you looking to make a bootable USB for Windows 10? There are a couple of methods you can use, such as the Media Creation Tool and Rufus.","rel":"","context":"","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/category\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Windows 10 USB creation","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/windows-10-create-bootable-usb-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C796&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/windows-10-create-bootable-usb-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C796&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/windows-10-create-bootable-usb-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C796&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/windows-10-create-bootable-usb-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C796&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/windows-10-create-bootable-usb-hero-mauro-huculak.webp?fit=1200%2C796&quality=78&strip=all&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26459"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26459\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":184017,"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26459\/revisions\/184017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}