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:
  3. 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

    oscdimg windows adk
    Creating bootable ISO DVD using Oscdimg.exe
  4. 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.
  5. Now just burn your new ISO image on a DVD media using any third party software like NERO, ROXIO, ImageBurn, etc.

9 responses to “How to create bootable Windows 8 ISO DVD using Oscdimg.exe”

  1. Nate Cook Avatar
    Nate Cook

    I downloaded ADK and ran the line in command prompt to get “oscdimg.exe is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.” when I installed every feature of Windows ADK that you posted

    1. Nate Cook Avatar
      Nate Cook

      I think I got it. I moved the oscdimg.exe file from:

      C:Program Files (x86)Windows Kits8.0Assessment and Deployment KitDeployment Toolsamd64Oscdimg.

      There was also another oscdimg in “…Deployment Toolsx86Oscdimg” but I chose the one from amd64.

      After that I placed it in C: and then added a C: before the command you gave us and it seems to be working. I just hope my Windows 8 won’t be corrupt in any way..

  2. DarkKV Avatar
    DarkKV

    I’m trying to burn this on a DVD though, but most DVDs are only 4.7 GB. I did all the instructions above and i end up with a 5.6 GB ISO, is there any way to compress it somehow? i Do not have a USB to use with the other method,

    1. Michael Lyrek Avatar
      Michael Lyrek

      Uhhhhh the ISO is only 3.33GB, I don’t think you have Win8

  3. shamu726 Avatar
    shamu726

    is it possible to use oscdimg.exe without installing the whole ADK? Download size is too big.

    edit: oops, figured it out. np.

    thanx for the gr8 tut, by the way, :)

  4. ramon2000 Avatar
    ramon2000

    Be aware: Using above method, or using the “Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool” only works for BIOS boot mode, not for UEFI mode. To have a UEFI-bootable DVD you need to add the UEFI bootimage too (see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947024/de). To have a UEFI-bootable USB thumb drive you need to format the thumb drive with FAT32 before copying the ISO content to the thumb drive.

  5. BullDawg Avatar
    BullDawg

    Instead of of burning to a DVD can one use the Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool extract the files to a USB thumb drive?

    1. Ramesh Kumar Avatar
      Ramesh Kumar

      Absolutely! You can create a bootable USB stick. And by the way instead of making an ISO (Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool needs ISO file) in prior to make bootable USB stick; just walk through this article http://windowsvalley.com/install-windows-vista-and-windows-7-using-bootable-usb-storage-device/

  6. Mahmoud Avatar
    Mahmoud

    nice work…thx

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