How to Create a Bootable Windows 8 DVD

I experimented and tested the Windows 8 Developer Preview last week and am quite impressed with Microsoft’s upcoming operating system. Windows 8 features a slightly modified UI, with noticeable changes in the Start Menu, Task Manager, and Control Panel. Here’s how to create a bootable Windows 8 DVD.

Requirements

  • 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
  • 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
  • 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
  • Taking advantage of touch input requires a screen that supports multi-touch
  • To run Metro style Apps, you need a screen resolution of 1024 X 768 or greater
  • Windows 8 Dev. Preview 32 or 64-bit [Download]
  • Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool [Download]

Tutorial

  1. Download and install the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool and then download the Windows 8 Developer Preview.
  2. Insert a blank CD/DVD having a storage capacity of 8GB or more into your computer’s CD-ROM.
  3. Launch the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool you configured in step one and follow the program’s steps.
  4. Step 1 of 4: Choose the ISO Source File by selecting browse. (It should be stored where you opted to save the file or in the downloads folder.)
  5. Step 2 of 4: Choose Media Type — USB or DVD. In this tutorial, we are creating a bootable DVD, so please select DVD.
  6. Final Steps: Insert your DVD (we have already done that) and the bootable Windows 8 Dev. Preview DVD will be created. You can then load Windows 8 on a computer around the house and give the modern Windows a try.

Tips and Notes

  • It may take several hours to download Windows 8, as the size of the file ranges from 2.8GB (32-bit) to 3.6GB (64-bit).
  • I created the bootable Windows 8 DVD using Windows 7, but I imagine Windows Vista will also work.