If you have a valid Windows product key, you can download full legal copies of Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 from Microsoft and use them to reformat your computer or to setup a new computer.
What’s even better is that you can now use a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 product key to install Windows 10 on a machine too. So if you have a Windows 7 or 8.1 PC and you want to perform a clean install, you can now download the Windows 10 ISO image and use your current product key to activate Windows 10 after it is installed.
Os X 10 8 Install Usb Raw Drive. Once you install Yosemite, the file will automatically erase itself, so it's important to make a bootable drive first. Access chat to get download link (channel topic). Image size: 5.020.384.768 bytes (need at least an 8 GB pen drive) MD5 (OS X 10.8 Install USB.raw) = 4251f2d286. /Applications/Install OS X El Capitan. Then use the 'createinstallmedia' command in Terminal. After, mount the USB flash drive or other volume that you're using for the bootable installer. Make sure that it has at least 12GB of available storage.
The only restriction that Microsoft is still maintaining is that you must install Windows 10 on the same PC where Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 were installed. However, even with this restriction, it’s a big change for Microsoft and great for consumers.
In this article, I’ll talk about how you can download a legal ISO image from Microsoft for the latest versions of Windows and create a bootable USB flash drive so that you can install the OS on your PC.
Download Windows 10, 8, 7 ISO Images
Os X 10 8 Install Usb Raw Files
Previously, you used to be able to download ISO image files for Windows from a partner company called DigitalRiver, but Microsoft removed that option about a year or so back.
Now in order to download any of the latest operating systems, you have to visit the software download page here:
Across the top, you’ll see Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. For Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, you can download the ISO images without needing a product key. You have to enter that once you start the setup process.
Download Windows 7
For Windows 7, however, you actually need to enter a product key before you can even download the ISO image file.
Once you type in a valid product key, you’ll choose the language and whether you want to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version. Note that the version of Windows 7 you get to download will depend on your product key. So if you are using a Windows 7 Home key, you’ll only be able to download Windows 7 Home.
Download & Install Windows 8.1
For Windows 8.1, you have to download the media creation tool. What’s nice about the media creation tool is that you can use it to download Windows 8.1 and install it directly to a USB flash drive or burn it to a DVD.
Once you download the tool and run it, you’ll be asked the language, edition and architecture you want to download.
Click Next and you’ll have the option to save the file directly to a USB flash drive or download the ISO and burn it to a DVD.
If you pick USB flash drive, you’ll be asked to insert one before you can start the download. After that, the download will begin when you click Next.
Once the download is complete, the tool will begin installing the OS onto the USB drive or downloading the ISO file.
Download & Install Window 10
For Windows 10, you’ll see a button at the top called Upgrade now, which will try to upgrade your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 install to Windows 10. Keep scrolling down and you’ll see a Download tool now button.
Windows 10 also comes with a media creation tool, which does the same thing as the Windows 8.1 tool, but has an extra option at the very beginning.
First, you choose whether you want to upgrade the current PC or create installation media for another PC. In our case, we want to choose the latter option.
The Windows 10 media creation tool will also try to determine the best options for you based on the current PC hardware. You can uncheck the Use the recommended options for this PC box if you want to pick something different.
You can choose from USB flash drive or ISO file using this tool. As with the Windows 8 tool, you’ll have to burn the ISO image yourself to a DVD if you pick that option.
If you pick flash drive, you’ll just need to make sure you have one already connected to your computer before you click Next.
USB Creation Tool for Windows 7
If you’re downloading Windows 8 or Windows 10 as an ISO file, you probably want to burn them to a DVD. For Windows 7, you only get the option to download the ISO file (no media creation tool), so you might want to burn it to a DVD or make a bootable USB flash drive.
Luckily, Microsoft has another free tool called the USB/DVD Download Tool that will take the ISO and install it onto a USB flash drive or burn it to a DVD. Note that this tool is called Windows 7 USB/DVD tool, but it works with the Windows 10 and Windows 8 ISO image files also.
Once you download and install it, you’ll simply go through a four step process. First, you pick your Windows ISO image file like shown below.
Next, you choose whether you want to use a USB device or a DVD for your Windows installation media.
Make sure to insert your USB device or DVD and then click the Begin copying or Begin burning button to start the process.
You’ll get a popup message stating that the USB device must be erased in order to continue. Go ahead and click Erase USB Device. The program will format the USB device and then begin the installation.
Once completed, you will have a bootable Windows USB device or DVD disc. Once you have created your media, you simply need to plug it into your computer and restart.
Most computers will try to boot from DVD or USB first, so the installation should come up automatically. However, if not, you will have to enter the BIOS and change the boot order manually. If you have any questions, feel free to post a comment. Enjoy!
If you do not fancy using the App Store or the built-in recovery mode to download and run the large OS X 10.9 Mavericks setup file, Apple gives you the option to create a bootable USB drive to install the operating system on your Mac. It is fast and works even when there is no Internet connection available.
The process is pretty straightforward, and does not require advanced skills, or downloading a dedicated third-party tool (although I will also explain how to use one, in case you decide or need to go down this road). All you need is an 8 GB USB drive (it can be larger), which you may already have lying around somewhere, and a Mac.
No matter the method described below, you will have to download the OS X 10.9 Mavericks setup file from the App Store to create the bootable USB drive. You can either search for it in the app or access its respective location using this link. When the download completes, do not carry on with the install. You will then have an app called Install OS X Mavericks in your Applications folder. Please verify it is there before proceeding any further.
The Apple Way
Apple has created a support page that explains, in large, how to create a bootable USB drive with the OS X 10.9 Mavericks setup file on board. It is not very detailed (which is where the following steps come in), but is to be preferred over dedicated, third-party tools as it is properly tested.
That being said, this option is only aimed at those whose Macs are already running the latest iteration of the Mac operating system, according to the support page. I have not tested Apple's claims, to see whether it can be used successfully with prior versions. (Try it; if that is not the case skip past this section and look at the next one.)
Here is what you need to do:
- Connect the USB drive to your Mac. Backup any files that may be stored on it.
- Format it, using Disk Utility, as a Mac OS Extended (Journaled) drive, named Mavericks. This can be done from the Erase tab within the app; make sure the USB drive does not have multiple partitions (that can happen, so turn to the Partition tab to verify and correct this).
- Open Terminal.
- Type (paste) the following command: sudo /Applications/Install OS X Mavericks.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Mavericks --applicationpath /Applications/Install OS X Mavericks.app --nointeraction.
- To kick off the process, type in your user password when requested.
As there is no progress bar or percentage indicator, there is no way of knowing how much time the process will take to complete. It mostly depends on the speed of your USB drive. It should take 30 minutes at most (it is not a rule, just a personal observation based on my experience).
Install Usb Driver
Using DiskMaker X
DiskMaker X (formerly known as Lion DiskMaker) is a third-party tool that almost automates the process (you will have to press a few buttons), and is suited for creating a bootable OS X 10.9 Mavericks USB drive even when your Mac is running an older version of the operating system like Mountain Lion. There is a caveat though: its creator says the app does not work as intended on Snow Leopard version 10.6.8 and older. I recommend using it only when the first method does not work.
Here is how to use DiskMaker X:
- Connect the USB drive to your Mac. Make sure to backup any stored files.
- Upon opening the app, select the button Mavericks (10.9).
- Select Use this copy to use the Install OS X Mavericks app from the Applications folder. (Select Use another copy... if you have the app stored in another folder, in case you previously downloaded it and stored it somewhere else as a backup, for instance).
- Select An 8 GB USB thumb drive (Select Another kind of disk if you want to use something else).
- Select the name of the USB drive you are using for the process, if requested, and then select Choose this disk.
- Select Erase then create the disk.
- Select Continue.
- Type in your user password when requested.
DiskMaker X will inform you on the amount of time left to complete the process, as opposed to the tool Apple offers. To install OS X 10.9 Mavericks on your Mac, restart the device, press the Option key immediately after, select the USB drive you just created from the menu, to use it, and follow the guide shown on the screen to finish the install.