Yes, you'll need a Windows 8 license key to validate the install. It is not necessary to enter your Windows product key when creating the Install Media or ISO File. Once the media creation tool is finished, you can use the USB flash drive or DVD (after rebooting) to install Window 8.1. This tool will work on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7. Head to Microsoft's installation tool webpage, connect your USB flash drive (at least 4 GB of space should be available) or insert your writeable DVD, and then click the Create media button. Save the ISO image to a USB drive for emergency reformatting and installations (we've all been there before) or just peace of mind. The free tool downloads and creates the installation media you need to install Window 8.1 right away, without having to first install Windows 8 and then update to Windows 8.1, a lengthy process. Creating installation media for Windows 8/10 would be different from Windows7 because you can use media creation tool Microsoft provides to directly. This article is about how to create a USB recovery drive and how to use the drive to recover Windows 8/8.1.

It could come in handy if you ever want to reinstall Windows 8.1 or install it from scratch. Want to reinstall Windows 8.1 but don't have any installation media for it? Microsoft has released this new tool for you.

Media creation tool windows 8 or 8.1