# How do I make a boot disk with Windows 8 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 7, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320 "2013-03-07T20:45:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/1 "2013-03-07T20:45:21Z")
I finally got my new laptop for school and I really don’t like not having a boot disk available. But, I haven’t made one since XP and I can’t seem to figure out how to do it on this thing. Please tell me in idiot’s terms how to make a boot disk (I can do a DVD or a flash drive) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/2 "2013-03-07T22:53:44Z")
I [used this](https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+8+boot+disk) to [find this](http://www.windowspasswordsrecovery.com/win8/windows-8-boot-disk.html). ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/3 "2013-03-08T01:16:57Z")
On the Start screen search for recovery. Click on Settings, then Windows 7 File Recovery. Click on Create a system repair disc. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/4 "2013-03-08T01:41:04Z")
I haven’t seen OS install disks with a new computer in 3 years. But all computers I’ve seen let you burn your own from the maker’s software. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/5 "2013-03-08T02:20:01Z")
When I click on recovery, I don’t see a settings option. It brings up the options: Create a recovery drive (I don’t want a drive. I just want a boot disk) Open System Restore Configure System Restore I’ve made boot disks with XP, Vista, and I think 7. It was always fairly self explanatory. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/6 "2013-03-08T03:55:49Z")
Go to the Start screen and type recovery. At the top right of the screen there will be a blue gear icon named Settings, click on that. Windows 7 File Recovery will appear at the top of the second column, click on that. > **[ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More](https://www.itprotoday.com)** > > IT Pro Today Homepage ---
**Author:** ![Frumpy\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frumpy\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frumpy_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/7 "2013-03-08T07:06:57Z")
The OP is not asking for an image of his system nor the ability to recover his system. He’s asking for (Incorrectly) a boot **disk**. He should say Boot **thumb drive** since there are no more floppy disks (and cd/dvd readers are also becomming sparse). I found [this link](http://maketecheasier.com/create-windows-8-usb-boot-disk/2011/09/21) but it seems to point to the preview/developer version of windows 8. I’m sure a few more google clicks would do it for me, but then, I’ve never been one to give the man a fish. I want you to eat for life… So go find it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/8 "2013-03-08T08:19:43Z")
> [@Frumpy\_Jones](#): > > The OP is not asking for an image of his system nor the ability to recover his system. He’s asking for (Incorrectly) a boot **disk**. He should say Boot **thumb drive** since there are no more floppy disks (and cd/dvd readers are also becomming sparse). > > I found [this link](http://maketecheasier.com/create-windows-8-usb-boot-disk/2011/09/21) but it seems to point to the preview/developer version of windows 8. I’m sure a few more google clicks would do it for me, but then, I’ve never been one to give the man a fish. I want you to eat for life… > > So go find it. We know what the OP is asking for, but those don’t exist anymore (and technically didn’t in Windows XP, either). So we’re giving him what is currently used for the same purpose. You generally use a boot disk to restore your operating system or otherwise fix problems. Really, chances are you won’t even need to do that, as you can just hold down shift when Windows 8 starts and it will give you a bunch of recovery options. The recovery disk is built-in now. If you really need to boot a full operating from a CD/DVD or flash drive, you pretty much need to look at Linux and their live CDs. Some of them are specifically designed to work as recovery disks, i.e., letting you fix Windows problems. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/9 "2013-03-08T15:01:18Z")
> [@Frumpy\_Jones](#): > > He’s psst…she 😛 > [@BigT](#): > > but those don’t exist anymore Don’t exist as in they don’t send them (which I know) or don’t exist as in aren’t ever needed, no chance, no way? If it’s 100% certain that I will never ever ever need one (which I haven’t for my desktop with 7 but would have been really nice for Vista) then I won’t worry about it. Basically, making (or finding in the shipping box) the boot disk has always been one of the first things I’ve done when getting a new computer. \*\* Am I just suffering from habit and making life more difficult for myself?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/10 "2013-03-09T05:09:24Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Really, chances are you won’t even need to do that, as you can just hold down shift when Windows 8 starts and it will give you a bunch of recovery options. The recovery disk is built-in now. Until you try and install a new harddisk. ---
**Author:** ![Frumpy\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Frumpy\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frumpy_Jones)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-boot-disk-with-windows-8/652320/11 "2013-03-16T06:58:54Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > psst…she 😛 Awhoops. :smack: > [@congodwarf](#): > > \*\* > Am I just suffering from habit and making life more difficult for myself?\*\* Well, it’s a good habit, and thinking that your HD will never have an issue and relaying on the “Holding the shift key while booting” makes little sense when the system won’t boot. You can make a flash drive boot thinghy. It is unlikely that you’ll need it, but I’d rather have it not need it then need it not have it 🙂