The Simplest Way to Create a Bootable Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 USB Key

This post was published in 2013 and may be outdated.

After I passed my VCP510-DV last week, I wanted to rebuild my Home Lab using Windows Server 2012 for the Storage part, instead of FreeNas.

Part of the rebuild, I needed to install Windows Server 2012 on top of the old FreeNas box. Hard task since I don’t have a DVD player in the case… :-/

Hence, USB Boot it is…

I wassurpriseto see how easy it is to create a Bootable Windows Server 2012 (R1 or R2)/Windows 8/8.1 USB Key.

What do you need:

• Windows 7 USB/Download Tool(2MB)

• ISO of Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 (Mine is from TechNet)

Once Installed, Launch Windows 7 USB/Download Tool

The first step is to select your ISO

Here, In my case I select USB Device.

Select the USB Device where the BootMedia will be created, and select BEGIN COPYING when you are ready. THIS WILL FORMAT YOUR USB DEVICE

In my case this step last 5 minutes.

And Voila! You now have a nice USB Bootable Key :-) with Windows Server 2012 loaded on it!! If you wanna create another USB Bootable Key, just hit Start Over