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:

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).
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

oscdimg windows adk — Creating bootable ISO DVD using Oscdimg.exe

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.
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”

Nate Cook

2013-01-20

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

Reply
1. Nate Cook
  
  2013-01-20
  
  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..
DarkKV

2012-11-22

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,

Reply
1. Michael Lyrek
  
  2012-11-27
  
  Uhhhhh the ISO is only 3.33GB, I don’t think you have Win8
shamu726

2012-11-14

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, :)

Reply
ramon2000

2012-11-09

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.

Reply
BullDawg

2012-09-01

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?

Reply
1. Ramesh Kumar
  
  2012-09-01
  
  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/
Mahmoud

2012-08-23

nice work…thx

Reply

Windows Valley

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

Prerequisites:

How To:

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

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