+Warwagon MVC Posted June 16, 2014 MVC Share Posted June 16, 2014 As you probably noticed using your existing USB install media on a new Windows 8.1 computer is that it doesn't show up in the boot menu without enabling Legacy support. Why you ask? Well the EFI bios doesn't support NTFS only fat32 and the USB stick also has to be partitioned with a GPT partition not MBR. Luckily there is a tool which does all of this for you. It's Called RUFUS http://rufus.akeo.ie/ <----- Download link Insert your USB stick, for a Windows 8 install stick you will want one about 8GB in size. (it won't fit on a 4GB stick) 1) Under Device select your USB drive 2) Under "Partition scheme and target system type and select "GPT partition scheme for UEFI Computer" 3) Under File system select "Fat32" 4) Under Cluster size use the Defualt 5) Give your USB device a name 6) Check, Quickformat 7) Select your Windows 8 ISO (Not sure about vista) that you wish to use 8) Click Start That's it! It will now create a Bootable EFI a compatible USB drive. T3X4S and +Zlip792 2 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1218191-how-to-create-efi-compatible-bootable-usb-installer-for-windows-8/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted June 17, 2014 Author MVC Share Posted June 17, 2014 As of a few mins ago I tested my usb stick I made using this method on a Dell Windows 8 machine with a EFI bios. Worked great. I also tried it on my macbook pro. While it booted on that it didn't make it very far into the setup. After clicking "Install windows" ..it bombed out Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1218191-how-to-create-efi-compatible-bootable-usb-installer-for-windows-8/#findComment-596453131 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesseinsf Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Quote Here is a more in depth link http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-make-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-to-install-windows-8/ Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1218191-how-to-create-efi-compatible-bootable-usb-installer-for-windows-8/#findComment-596453879 Share on other sites More sharing options...
PGHammer Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 On 16/06/2014 at 21:50, warwagon said: As you probably noticed using your existing USB install media on a new Windows 8.1 computer is that it doesn't show up in the boot menu without enabling Legacy support. Why you ask? Well the EFI bios doesn't support NTFS only fat32 and the USB stick also has to be partitioned with a GPT partition not MBR. Luckily there is a tool which does all of this for you. It's Called RUFUS http://rufus.akeo.ie/ <----- Download link Insert your USB stick, for a Windows 8 install stick you will want one about 8GB in size. (it won't fit on a 4GB stick) 1) Under Device select your USB drive 2) Under "Partition scheme and target system type and select "GPT partition scheme for UEFI Computer" 3) Under File system select "Fat32" 4) Under Cluster size use the Defualt 5) Give your USB device a name 6) Check, Quickformat 7) Select your Windows 8 ISO (Not sure about vista) that you wish to use 8) Click Start That's it! It will now create a Bootable EFI a compatible USB drive. Rufus will create standard MBR-ready USB sticks, too (this is what I use it for as well) - including ones for Linux distributions and the BSDs (or even UNIX ISOs, such as Oracle Solaris). Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1218191-how-to-create-efi-compatible-bootable-usb-installer-for-windows-8/#findComment-596453893 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Veteran Posted June 18, 2014 Veteran Share Posted June 18, 2014 You actually don't need anything like Rufus for 8-8.1.1. The bootx64.efi is now in the proper place in the filesystem so you can just format the install stick as FAT32 and copy the install files onto it. On Win7 you have to extract it from an archive still. zhangm 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1218191-how-to-create-efi-compatible-bootable-usb-installer-for-windows-8/#findComment-596454211 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noir Angel Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I've never had to use a GPT partitioned USB drive to install from USB, with 8/8.1 you can just copy the files to any FAT32 drive Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1218191-how-to-create-efi-compatible-bootable-usb-installer-for-windows-8/#findComment-596454225 Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrikedOut Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I have been using this, http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/ and have a drive with Win7, Win8.1, Ubuntu and a few other tools. I have used the Ubuntu and ran from the drive and installed both Win7 and Win8.1 from it with no issues but I cant remember if any of them were UEFI though. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1218191-how-to-create-efi-compatible-bootable-usb-installer-for-windows-8/#findComment-596454239 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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