How to create a bootable Windows 8.1 USB drive

In keeping up with tradition, Microsoft has launched Windows 8.1 in both digital and physical form. Users can install the new operating system by using either a downloaded ISO file or the provided DVD. But what happens when neither option is right for you? You can use a USB drive.
There are a number of major benefits to using a USB drive for this process. It's compatible with virtually every device that is meant to run Windows, forgoes the need to have a spare DVD and the burner around and is much easier to store and carry with you wherever you may go. A USB drive can also be faster than any DVD, shortening the time needed for the install, and, chances are, you probably already have one lying around. Also, compared to ISO files which can only be leveraged from Windows, USB drives can be used with no software installed on the device.

Requirements
 
To create a bootable Windows 8.1 USB drive you will need the following:

• 4 GB or larger USB drive;
• Windows 8.1 DVD, ISO file or product key;
• A device that is running Windows.

What If I Have a Windows 8 Product Key?

If you have a Windows 8 product key, you can download the Windows 8.1 ISO file directly from Microsoft's servers, and create a bootable USB drive as well. My colleague Wayne Williams has already written a guide which details all the steps that you have to go through. Please note that you need a Windows PC for this task.

How Does the Windows 8.1 Product Key Help?

Obviously, you cannot install Windows 8.1 using just the product key. But, you can use it to download the ISO file directly from Microsoft's servers. Please note that the default Windows partition (usually "C") has to have at least 5 GB of free storage. You will have to follow these steps next:

1. Download and open the Install Windows 8.1 setup file from Microsoft;
2. Type in your Windows 8.1 product key and initiate the download;
3. After the download completes, select Install by creating media;
4. Select USB flash drive (it should be the default choice) and insert the USB drive;
5. Accept any prompts to erase the contents of the USB drive in order to kick off the process.

If you prefer a visual step-by-step guide, you can look at the screenshots posted below.

Step 1: Install Windows ADK for Windows 8.1

1. Download  Windows ADK for Windows 8.1
    
2. Install Windows ADK for Windows 8.1 on a IT Admin of lab workstation by running adksetup.exe
   
   NOTE: Run the following command line: adksetup.exe /layout "C:\Setup\Windows ADK 8.1" should the desire be to download Windows ADK for Windows 8.1 only.
    
3. Select the following components during the Windows ADK for Windows 8.1 setup:
    
• Deployment Tools
   
• Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE)
   
• User State Migration Tool (USMT)
   

Step 2: Install Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013
 

1. Download Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013
    
2. Install Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 on the same IT Admin of lab workstation  

Step 3: Creating a Deployment Share

1. Run Deployment Workbench
    
2. Right-click Deployment Shares and select New Deployment Share
    
3. Select the following options in the New Deployment Share Wizard: 
   
   • Deployment share path: C:\MDTLab
      
   • Share name: MDTLab$
      
   • Deployment share description: MDT Lab
      
   • Options: <default settings>
      

Step 4: Import the Windows 8.1 OS

1. Download the Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64 ISO 
    
2. Extract the ISO to the C:\Setup\Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64 folder. Create the folders should they not exist.
    
3. In the Deployment Workbench, expand the Deployment Shares node.
    
4. Expand MDT Lab, and select the Operating Systems node.
    
5. Select Import Operating System.
    
6. Select the following settings for the Import Operating System Wizard:
    
• Full set of source files
   
• Source directory: C:\Setup\Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64
   
• Destination directory name: WIN81X64
   
7. After adding the OS, in the Operating System node, change the operating system name to Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64.
    

Step 5: Importing Necessary Applications
 
One of the advantages of utilizing MDT 2013 to create the image for the USB key is the ability to include drivers and / or applications that are specific to your organization's needs. In this example, Microsoft's Calculator Plus, will be added to this image.  Feel free to customize it as you see fit.
 

1. Download Microsoft Calculator Plus
    
2. Copy CalcPlus.msi to C:\Setup\MSCalcPlus on the IT Admin of lab workstation.
    
3. In the Deployment Workbench, in the MDT Lab node, select Applications.
    
4. Right-click the Applications folder, and select New Application.
    
5. Select the following settings to be used in the New Application Wizard:
   
   
   • Application with source files
      
   • Publisher: <blank>
      
   • Application name: Microsoft Calculator Plus
      
   • Version: <blank>
      
   • Language: <blank>
      
   • Source Directory: C:\Setup\MSCalcPlus
      
   • Specify the name of the directory that should be created:  Microsoft Calculator Plus
      
   • Command Line: msiexec /I CalcPlus.msi /q
      
   • Working directory: <default>
      

Repeat this process as many time as required to include all the pertinent applications required.

Step 6: Create and Configure a Task Sequence

1. Using the Deployment Workbench in the MDT Lab share,  select the Task Sequences node.
    
2. Right-click the Task Sequences node, and select New Task Sequence.
    
3. Select the following settings for the New Task Sequence Wizard:
    
• Task sequence ID: W8-X64-001
   
• Task sequence name: Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64
   
• Task sequence comments: <blank>
   
• Template: Standard Client Task Sequence
   
• Select OS: Windows 8.1 Enterprise x64
   
• Specify Product Key: Do not specify a product key at this time
   
• FullName: CANITPRO
   
• Organization: CANITPRO
   
• Internet Explorer home page: http://www.canitpro.net
   
• Do not specify an Administrator password at this time
   

Step 7: Create the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Media

1. In File Explorer, create the C:\MDTMedia folder.
    
2. In the Deployment Workbench, via the MDT Lab / Advanced Configuration node, select the Media node.
    
3. Right-click the Media node, and select New Media.
    
4. Select the following settings within the New Media Wizard:
    
• Media path: C:\MDTMedia
   
• Selection profile: <default>
   
5. Open and edit the C:\MDTMedia\Content\Deploy\Control\Bootstrap.ini in Notepad, and in the Default section, add the SkipBDDWelcome=YES option. This will quicken the deployment  by automating the welcome parts.
   
   NOTE: Right-click the MEDIA001 media, select Properties, and clear either the x86 and x64 option depending on what you are deploying to avoid the selection of x86 and x64 boot images when starting the media (set by default).
    
6. To create the media, right-click the MEDIA001 media, and select Update Media Content. 
    
7. Once completed, the Update Media Content process now generates the offline media in the C:\MDTMedia folder
    
8. To create the bootable USB key, copy the content of the MDTMedia\Content folder to the root of the USB key.
    
9. Next use diskpart to make the USB key active.

Once the steps above are completed, an IT professional can now utilize the newly created USB Key to deploy Windows 8.1.

While the drivers included with Windows 8.1 should suffice, additional drivers can be added to the USB key should the hardware being deployed to not be supported by default.  Driver inclusion can be configured via MDT 2013 and will be included on a future post.
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