How to create bootable Windows 8 ISO DVD using Oscdimg.exe

Sometimes you want to install Windows from a bootable DVD but all you’ve got are just flat Windows installation files in hand. The same thing has happened with me also, in my case I downloaded Windows 8 RTM build which was leaked earlier this month. There was no direct bootable ISO image, all I got are flat installation files in the downloaded package. So, it was required to create a bootable ISO of Windows 8 from the set of files, prior to begin installation.

In order to do that, I have used the Assessment and Deployment Kit for Windows 8 (formally known as WAIK). And in this blog post, you will walk through the step by step instructions to create a bootable ISO of Windows 8.

Prerequisites:

• oscdimg.exe- A command line CD-ROM and DVD-ROM pre-mastering utility to create bootable ISOs of Microsoft Windows. And you will get it once you’ll install ADK for Windows 8. You can download it from here, for instance: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30652
• Windows 8 Setup files

How To:

1. First of all, you’ll need all the Windows 8 installation files at one place. For example, I copied all of them within a folder (C:\WIN8AIO).
2. Run Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment (Command Prompt) as Administrator and then type the following:

oscdimg.exe –l<Disc_Label> -m -u2 –b<path_of_bootable_img_file> <path_of_installation_source> <path_with_filename_is_to_be_created>

• -l is used to set volume label of DVD
• -m is used to create bigger image file than 700MB
• -u2 is used to create UDF file system for DVD
• -b is used to locate boot image of DVD

For example:
oscdimg.exe -lWIN8AIO -m -u2 -bC:\WIN8AIO\boot\etfsboot.com C:\WIN8AIO C:\WIN8AIO.ISO



Creating bootable ISO DVD using Oscdimg.exe
3. It will scan the source tree, begin creating the image, and when it will be done, you’ll have a bootable ISO file for Windows 8 ready.
4. Now just burn your new ISO image on a DVD media using any third party software like NERO, ROXIO, ImageBurn, etc.

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What Happens When You Refresh Windows 8

Windows 8 has come with a novel feature called Refresh. Until now, the only way to fix Windows problems which couldn’t be fixed was to reinstall Windows. Thanks to Windows 8 Refresh, you can save time spent on 1. Taking Backup, 2. Formatting Hard Drive, 3. Install Windows and 4. Restore.

When is Windows 8 Refresh Required? If Windows 8 PC isn’t running properly and facing issues while working, you should Refresh it. This is generally caused by inappropriate setting or misconfiguration.

What is Windows 8 Refresh

The Refresh Your PC option will allow you to revert the system back to its default configuration, the way it was when it came from the factory. However, here, you will not lose your personal pictures, videos, music, files, and any personalization that you’d have done.

Refresh is basically Reinstall of Windows 8. Only difference is that your data, settings, and Metro style apps are preserved.

Windows 8 Refresh Procedure

1. The PC boots into Windows Recovery Environment (RE).
2. Windows RE scans the hard drive for your data, settings, and apps, and puts them aside (on the same drive).
3. Windows RE installs a fresh copy of Windows.
4. Windows RE restores the data, settings, and apps it has set aside into the newly installed copy of Windows.
5. The PC restarts into the newly installed copy of Windows.

What Happens if You Don’t Activate Windows 8

As I said, Windows 8 Refresh is time saving method, you don’t even have to reconfigure settings. This is because- All your user accounts and those settings are preserved. You can sign in with the same account and password, and all of your documents and data are preserved in the same locations they were before.

Which Settings are Preserved

• Wireless network connections
• Mobile broadband connections
• BitLocker and BitLocker To Go settings
• Drive letter assignments
• Personalization settings such as lock screen background and desktop wallpaper

Which Settings aren’t Preserved

• File type associations
• Display settings
• Windows Firewall settings

Do I get my Apps Back after Refresh?

All the Metro apps installed from Windows 8 Store will be restored as they were. But, if you have installed Windows 8 app via Sideloading, it would neither be backed up nor restored.

None of the Desktop apps (traditional ones) will be restored. If you want back desktop apps after refreshing PC, the list of software is saved in the form of HTML file on the desktop. So, you have a quick way to see what you might need to reinstall and where to find them.

It should be noted that this will only work if there’s an active Windows 8 recovery partition on your PC. Otherwise, you’ll need the Windows 8 installation media to proceed.

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What Happens If You Don’t Activate Windows 8

Windows 8 RTM (Final Version) is out and many computers are already running. But, some are still confused with compatibility issue and Windows 8 Activation Problems. So, I share my experience and tell you what happens if you don’t activate Windows 8 to help some of them.

Previous versions like Windows 7 offered 30 days grace period for activation and after that it would start shutting down after 2 hours or so. Unlike that, Windows 8 eliminated the term 30 day trial in its RTM version.

You will have to enter Product key while installation otherwise, Installation will halt there itself. There is a trick to bypass Product Key while Windows 8 installation but I haven’t tried it.

Even you don’t have to do it because just a Google search for term “Windows 8 pastebin” will help you find Windows 8 product keys. Sure that these keys just install it but activation isn’t possible with it.

Coming to the point, what happens if you don’t activate Windows 8, there are basically three things I observed so far:

1. “Windows is not activated” error text is shown in Computer properties.
2. Activation Key Watermark will appear on top of everything just like a screen sticker.
3. Full screen notification Windows asking you to activate.

Most important and annoying thing is the Activation notification which comes as a key symbol on bottom right corner. It is actually a semi-transparent watermark which is on top of any window you open. It reads as “Activate Windows, Go to PC Settings to activate” appears as a sticker wherever you go, whatever you do.

Good thing is, It is less annoying than Windows 7 where window used to open and wallpaper would turn black saying “You may be victim of Software Piracy”

To make you feel better, let me tell you that you can even remove Windows 8 activation watermark easily. I'll post about it soon.

So, what remains is the text “Windows is not activated” under Computer Properties widow.

But how often do you open it? And does it really matter because it hardly interferes your work anyway.

Third one mentioned above, appeared once and only once and that too could be closed like you close Windows 8 Metro Apps.

Personally, I am using Windows 8 as primary OS now without any kind of activation. I keep it running straight for more than 12 hours and no annoying notification or warning or unusual shutdown occurs.

Maybe this is too early and Microsoft may come up with some nuisance technique offered to you in form of Windows Updates. Like, they did in Windows 7 where WAT (Windows activation Technology) was implemented to catch pirates.

Seriously, no harm in using unactivated Windows 8. Let me know if you faced any kind of problem on Windows 8 without activation.

P.S. Motive of this Article isn’t to promote piracy but just to clear doubts in your mind about what will happen if Windows 8 isn’t activated. In fact, I don’t think it really isn’t piracy if you bypass product key and install but then I am not sure.

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How to bypass product key while installing Windows 8

Microsoft has released Windows 8 to MSDN/TechNet subscribers and few other channels starting from August 15th. Few weeks ago; I got lucky to lay hands on it and I noticed that Windows 8 doesn’t allow keyless installation, like Windows 7, by default.

But after doing some R&D I have found a way to bypass the product key wizard while performing the installation. And in this article, you’ll learn how to suppress product key prompt while installing Windows 8.

Note: The following method is effective, legal, and does not requires a lot of technical expertise.

Prerequisites:

• Windows 8 ISO
• WinRAR / WinZip or other ISO extracting tool
• Windows ADK (Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit)

How To:

1. First of all, Download and extract the ISO file of Windows 8 RTM version you own.
2. Open Notepad to create a file with following code structure and save as ei.cfg in Sources folder.
   

   [EditionID]
   {Edition ID}
   [Channel]
   {Channel Type}
   [VL]
   {Volume License}

   The edition configuration file (EI.cfg) determines which edition of Windows to install and which license to use during Windows Setup. Where {Edition ID} must be a valid Windows Edition ID such as Core, Professional and Enterprise. {Channel Type} can be OEM or Retail. {Volume License} can be 1 (True) or 0 (False).

   For example:
   [EditionID]
   Professional
   [Channel]
   Retail
   [VL]
   1

3. Now create the bootable ISO or USB stick and burn your product key prompt suppressed Windows 8 installation disc.

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What You will Lose When You Upgrade Your PC to Windows 8 From Different Windows Versions

From windows 7
If you are upgrading your PC from Windows 7, there is no problem. All the personal files, apps and all the Windows settings will automatically get transferred to Windows 8 OS.

From Vista
If you are upgrading your PC from Vista, only Windows Settings and your Personal file will get transfer. And all the installed apps will never get transferred to Windows 8. You have to re-install the particular apps manually.

From XP 
If you are upgrading your PC from Windows XP, you will lose all the Windows settings and Apps. It only transfers the Personal files.

Windows 8 Release Preview
If you are upgrading your PC from Windows 8 Release Preview, it will transfer only your personal files. It will never transfer your windows settings and Apps etc...


Windows Consumer Preview or Windows Developer Preview 

When you transfer your PC to Windows 8 from Windows Consumer Preview or Windows Developer Preview. You will loss everything and you can get back all the personal files manually from Windows old folder.

Here I'll give a screen shot from Microsoft about this.

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How to upgrade your PC to Windows 8

How to upgrade your PC to Windows 8

Before buying Windows 8 operating system download the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant tool and run it on your computer. This free tool will check your PC's specification to install Windows 8. Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant tool do a complete scan and gives you a report about PC hardware and apps.

Click Here to Download Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant Tool 

If this free tool find that your PC can run Windows 8, it will recommend you which edition to buy and some more suggestion. You can purchase Windows 8 here. You can also get a free trial for 90 days.

Note : 

If you are upgrading your computer from Windows 7 operating system, all the files and apps will be automatically added to Windows 8. If you are upgrading your computer from other Windows versions, you have to re-install all the apps manually for Windows 8 OS.

After the upgrade of Windows 8 OS, you cant go back to previous version of Windows which you had on your PC. If you want to go back to previous OS, you have to re-install it again.

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