Windows 9 on USB Flash Drive or still DVD?

It seems it's about time for anything on DVD to be released on USB flash drive at least as an alternative or exclusively. So many machines come without optical drives now. Do you think Microsoft will release Windows 9 on a USB flash drive? The cost to manufacture 4GB flash drive in volume has to be less than $1. They could make it read only too so the files couldn't be overwritten. It wouldn't have to be super fast flash RAM either. Anything would be faster than DVD anyhow. And would you be willing to pay a few bucks extra for it?

Eh, sorry, the poll should read "Flash Drive over DVD" and not "Flash Drive over USB"... I put request in for mods to fix. Thanks.

 

Poll title fixed. DVD is fine for me, if I want a Flash Drive, I'd buy online and download the .iso.

 

I wouldn't pay extra for the Flash Drive version if I could do it myself via the DVD ISO for free. But Squirrels are rather appealing... oh what the hey Squirrel it is!

 

Personally, I'd rather have a downloadable .ISO, with the option to get a DVD or flashdrive install disk. I certainly wouldn't pay extra for a flashdrive I can't use for other tasks.

 

I'm here just for the squirrel!


To be honest, either way is fine for me as long as I don't have to pay extra. I do keep a DVD of Windows 7 around, in case I screw up.

 

If you want it on a flash drive, put it on yourself. There is no way that Microsoft is going to start including a free 8GB USB 3.0 flash drive in every box of Windows 9 Upgrade. It will be just like video games. You can install it from the disks, or you can download it after redeeming the key code and install it directly as an upgrade, or put in on a USB key to install it fresh.

 

I know that you can make your own. The whole point is that optical drives are quickly disappearing from laptops and even desktops. And mass produced 4GB flash drives would cost less than $1. And many "layman" users don't want to fuss with making their own USB drives. Unless Microsoft offers a free downloadable app that's front and center to install Windows Installation Media onto a USB, it's still a "geek" thing to do.

The ironic part about making your own USB drive, is that if you don't have an optical drive you have to buy a USB DVD drive, and then a USB flash drive. That's like $50 more. I find many users that DO make a Windows USB flash drive, keep the flash drive and never touch it, so they're already spending $10-12 for a retail drive, when it would come with and cost considerably less coming from the manufacturer. Heck MS could swallow that cost easily.

Just browse through these forums and I frequently see questions like "how do I get my Windows onto my laptop without a DVD drive"? And believe it or not lots of people have trouble accessing a drive to even borrow.

Although I haven't bought through Microsoft's website, I don't know if downloadable version is just an ISO or if it actually comes with an app to install to DVD or flash drive for you? Plus MS doesn't let you download Windows 8 that I know of unless you bought it from them online.

 

They have that. It's been available since Windows 7 was released.



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They might have to release in ROM format instead of regular flash drive since flash chip can maintain integrity of data for only 10 years.

It's about time to get rid of DVD though. I haven't used a DVD for anything for past 5+ years. Also for some laptops, the extra space would be a game-changer.

 

Someday they will stop delivering on DVD, CD or flash drive. You will have to download it. They really want to go with a subscription method like Adobe is doing. They are just waiting to see if it works for Adobe. I hope not.

 

I don't care if it's on DVD, USB, or 786 floppy disks as long as they fix the UI, bring back the start menu and functions, and leave touch where it belongs.

I actually still like DVD/Blu-rays. In my personal opinion, they are actually just as secure/more so than dvd drives. I've spilled drinks on discs and they still worked; havent been so lucky with the few usb drives that have taken coffee baths.

 

Really? I've never seen it. Also you can't download windows 8 as far add I know unless you buy it online from Microsoft.

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There is definitely a Microsoft USB tool to make a Windows installation USB key which is freely available to download from them.

 

Here's said tool: works with a windows 7, windows 8 or Windows 8.1 iso: Microsoft Store

If you purchase Win 8 from the Windows store, you'll get the .iso. Also, if you use the Windows 8 upgrade assistant, that will also allow you to purchase Windows and make the flash drive.

 

OK, so if you buy Windows from any place OTHER than Microsoft Store, is there an app to convert your DVD to USB flash? Or a place to download the ISO from? I don't think there is.

 

All you'd need is an app to rip the disc to an iso and then use the usb-dvd tool or another free utility that allows you to create a bootable flash drive. I would have to do some hunting again on google, but it is possible, just not easy or seamless.

 

I have a license for Alcohol 120% and have used that to make an ISO out of a Windows DVD, then run the MS tool linked to above to convert that to bootable USB. Works every time.

 

This is what I'm talking about. If you deal with laymen every day, they don't care about that (and I'm just the local nerd not even my job). You don't know how many times I get asked how people can install Windows 8 on their PC because it doesn't have a DVD drive. Again, I know it's possible. It is. But it's not convenient. It's not readily available. It's not simple. I can make my own bootable USB flash drives all day long. But that's because I've done it for years.

I've parted with tons of 4GB drives of my own just out of courtesy providing Win 8 on them. And actually bought a bunch at Micro Center because they sold a bunch to me cheap. They're not fast by any means but they get the job done. They cost me $3 each for 4GB drive. This is why I say just switch over MS. They can make or buy 4GB flash drives for less than $1. They for once could be a pioneer.

 

I prefer DVD. HTWingNut, you're right, getting Windows to install off a USB drive isn't convenient. In part because of the lack of support for getting the image on there. I remember trying that once around 2011, it was a pain and I'm someone with 2000 posts on NBR. But also in part because computers tend to support booting from DVDs better. I'm still not sure if my computers support USB booting. The desktop probably does, but I'm honestly not sure if my laptop does. Whereas with DVD, just make sure it's before the HDD in the boot order, and you're set. Easy as changing a setting in the BIOS! [I know a lot of people wouldn't consider that easy, but relatively, it is]

So, while I wouldn't prefer or pay extra for a USB boot version, an option would be okay. But I'd actively seek out the DVD version. I'd almost prefer an installer that started from a floppy drive to a USB one, except for the fact that none of my computers have floppy drives. But you can't beat the ease of booting from floppies. It's all too easy to accidentally try to boot from one by leaving it in the drive...

Though it's likely moot point. I doubt Windows 9 will be appealing to me, given how little recent versions of Windows have excited me.

 

If you have .iso, you can use Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way It's been around for ... God knows how long.

ISO is only available from Microsoft or Technet. I bought a copy of windows 8 when MS was offering it for dirt cheap, so I have access to ISO.

 

His point is the lay person, as in mom and pop, may not want or know what to do with an ISO let alone what it is. Unfortunately this situation exists today with Win 8 even more so that when Win 7 came out. The issue though existed then too. With this in mind it is doubtful M$ will make the move over to having the install as a boxed version with a flash drive. Now this will change if they find the cost of media is $1.00 but there can be a $10.00 markup for the added feature.........................

 

The thing that bugs me the most though is why is Microsoft trying to make it so difficult? I agree that having it sold on a USB would be good, but deep down I just know that Microsoft would never do that. They seem so backwards and stagnant in their thinking on this and a lot of other things.

 

This a moot argument imo when windows upgrade is available online. Average people probably would not upgrade window if they don't even get on internet nowadays.

For people who need clean install, Microsoft can probably careless as these people should know what they are doing.

 

Not really. People go to store, buy Windows 8, comes on DVD. They get home, say "hey, where's my DVD drive" because they haven't had a need to use it since they bought the PC six months ago. How are they to install it? Go back to the store. Buy a USB DVD drive, spend another $30-40... yadda.

 

If you buy Windows 8 on DVD, you can just go to MS' website and download the iso using your product key, then use the tool they provide to make the flash drive: Download Windows 8 ISO (x86 / x64) File Directly From Microsoft | Redmond Pie. If your license was installed by you computer's OEM, then it is up to them to provide the install media.

 

Maybe the non-technical people I'm around are more tech-literate than most, but they tend to know what the CD/DVD drive is. They'd be more likely to know what the DVD drive in the computer does, even if they rarely use it, than to know you can buy an external one and connect it.

 

People know what a CD/DVD drive is, no doubt. But if you made a poll and asked if their computer had one in it, I bet you'd get a large number of "I don't know". My point just was that people buy the DVD thinking they can install it. Get home and realize they can't.