How to Install Windows 8 directly from Hard drive – NO DVD or USB needed!
For example, you have a netbook or desktop that you want to install Windows 8 onto, but can’t use DVD or USB for whatever reason (or don't want to, like me). This method will allow you to boot and install Windows directly from the hard drive. This guide involves plugging the hard drive into another working computer, preparing the hard drive, placing it back in the system, and installing Windows as usual.
This was tested with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. The guide for Windows 7 is exactly the same.
Step 1: Part 1: Preparing the HD with Windows 8 setup files.
- Connect the hard drive to another working computer.
- Format the hard drive to NTFS (Quick format works fine; multiple partitions also work).
- Copy the following from your Windows 8 disc or ISO:
-Boot
-Sources
-Bootmgr
- Format the hard drive to NTFS (Quick format works fine; multiple partitions also work).
- Copy the following from your Windows 8 disc or ISO:
-Boot
-Sources
-Bootmgr
Step 2: Part 2: Making the HD bootable
Using Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8 open CMD as Administrator (Windows key + R, type CMD, hit Enter)
Enter the following commands, (replace X with what applies to your hard drive):
diskpart
list disk
select disk X
list partition
select partition X
active
exit
X:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 X:
(See picture for example)
Exit and shutdown.
Note: If you’re working on a 32-bit system, and you want to install 64-bit Windows, you may get problems trying to run the last command (X:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 X:).
Solutions:
Use a computer with a 64-bit version of Windows
OR
A little trick that worked for me: If you have a 32-bit Windows 8 disc, you can copy bootsect.exe from that and replace the 64-bit one (boot\bootsect.exe).
Enter the following commands, (replace X with what applies to your hard drive):
diskpart
list disk
select disk X
list partition
select partition X
active
exit
X:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 X:
(See picture for example)
Exit and shutdown.
Note: If you’re working on a 32-bit system, and you want to install 64-bit Windows, you may get problems trying to run the last command (X:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt60 X:).
Solutions:
Use a computer with a 64-bit version of Windows
OR
A little trick that worked for me: If you have a 32-bit Windows 8 disc, you can copy bootsect.exe from that and replace the 64-bit one (boot\bootsect.exe).
Step 3: Part 3: Booting and installing Windows
Place
the hard drive back into the target machine. Make sure that the BIOS is
configured to boot from the hard drive. If you did everything
correctly, you should see the blue Windows logo (see picture for example)
and setup will load (really fast, too, because it's loading from the
hard drive). Install Windows as usual (but don’t format your drive this
time in the installer – otherwise it will erase the Windows 8 setup
files too!).
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