⚠ Note: Mainstream support for Windows 8.1 ended in January 2023, but the tool and ISO files remain functional for existing license holders.

Since the Media Creation Tool is unavailable, the user must download the disc image (ISO) and create the media manually.

Before initiating a clean install, verify that your computer hardware meets or exceeds the minimum benchmarks required for the 64-bit environment: Does Windows 8.1 have a media creation tool?

You can also use Rufus to download the official Windows 8.1 ISO directly within the application, which is often faster and more reliable. Steps to Download & Create Installation Media (64-bit)

Plug in your USB drive (Warning: This will erase all data on the drive). Open Rufus and select your USB drive under "Device."

Type the following command (replace with your actual file path): Get-FileHash C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Windows8_1_x64.iso -Algorithm SHA256 Press .