Can't boot win 8 from sd card/reader

[Joom]

Nah, any OS is fine. I just had them enabled for the screenshots and will turn the boot rom option off when i select UEFI.

8 and below require the legacy boot options. Everything else has UEFI support now, including Linux and all that jazz.

 

[JordenNixNix]

I recommend keep legacy options enabled.
Disabling this can cause problem with EFI partion later on.
Keep in mind that all the rest should work but you will get problems with efi partition.


First of all disable safeboot. This can prevent external devices from loading.
Than start RUFUS again. (Our copy all files from the iso/image to the root of the stick)
Format to FAT32. (I know that's ridiculous even if your drive is bigger than 4GB but it's necessary)
If don't choose fat32, your UEFI/BIOS will go back to the drive select menu after selecting your SD-card.


Is your intention to install windows from the stick or booting?
Choose Windows 2 Go if you want a bootable sd-card/usb-stick.
Choose the other option to make an installable stick/sd-card.

 

[LysergCooltyp]

@JordenNixNix Where would the option to disable safeboot be? And are you refering the system thats used to get the files on the stick or the blank pc? Just asking to make sure I don't miss anything.

Does fat32 apply to the windows media tool too? in case rufus still doesn't work.

Installable one. Just gonna use the stick to get the windows OS on the pc.

 

[Joom]

Format to FAT32.

No no no no no. Windows installation mediums MUST be NTFS. FAT32 results in a very chaotic installation that can result in some very undesired effects. This may not apply to SD cards, but in all my years of experience with installing Windows, USB sticks need to be NTFS. OP is going to be using one so he shouldn't use FAT32.

 

[JordenNixNix]

No no no no no. Windows installation mediums MUST be NTFS. FAT32 results in a very chaotic installation that can result in some very undesired effects. This may not apply to SD cards, but in all my years of experience with installing Windows, USB sticks need to be NTFS. OP is going to be using one so he shouldn't use FAT32.

--- For installable drive ---
I am pretty sure It need to be FAT32.
Your installation media must be FAT32 otherwise it won't create an EFI partion and if Legacy mode settings are wrong, it even won't boot.
If it isn't FAT32 you can't do an UEFI install.
On some systems (like some Lenovo Thinkpad laptops), other drives that are NOT FAT32, will get you back to drive selection screen as told him before.

The target system, the system where you wish to install Windows must be NTFS.


--- As for bootable drive ---
It also works with FAT32, but indeed, you better choose for NTFS.
I told him to format to FAT32 because it is needed when making an installable stick.

If Rufus gives you the option to install Windows 2 Go,
This will gives you the desired option.

 

[Joom]

--- For installable drive ---
I am pretty sure It need to be FAT32.
Your installation media must be FAT32 otherwise it won't create an EFI partion and if Legacy mode settings are wrong, it even won't boot.
If it isn't FAT32 you can't do an UEFI install.
On some systems (like some Lenovo Thinkpad laptops), other drives that are NOT FAT32, will get you back to drive selection screen as told him before.

The target system, the system where you wish to install Windows must be NTFS.


--- As for bootable drive ---
It also works with FAT32, but indeed, you better choose for NTFS.
I told him to format to FAT32 because it is needed when making an installable stick.

If Rufus gives you the option to install Windows 2 Go,
This will gives you the desired option.

Windows 2 Go installs the system to a removable device for use on multiple systems. It's like a Linux Live distribution. And if you use FAT32 for Vista and up you'll end up with screwy peripherals (auxiliary ports not working, half or no USB ports working, etc.) as well as some other weird side effects. This is due to FAT32's filesize limit, which USB creators don't warn against. FAT32 is fine for OS ISOs that are 2 gb or less. Newer Windows versions are above this though, and certain files aren't "expanded" properly during installation.

 

[LysergCooltyp]

downloaded win 8.1 pro with the windows media tool and got it onto the stick. Disabled the legacy boot rom as Joom recommended and then the usb stick did show up in the boot sequence under UEFI.

Setup started and I used a random production key that came with rufus. Installation went through and now it says to remove the external drive to finish the installation.

What bugs me is that the drive it mentions is C:. I got the stick in one of the front USB slots, so am I right to assume that it refers to the stick? I'm used to C: being the HDD so this is a bit confusing. @Joom @raulpica and @JordenNixNix

Thanks again for the help btw, fellas.

 

[Joom]

downloaded win 8.1 pro with the windows media tool and got it onto the stick. Disabled the legacy boot rom as Joom recommended and then the usb stick did show up in the boot sequence under UEFI.

Setup started and I used a random production key that came with rufus. Installation went through and now it says to remove the external drive to finish the installation.

What bugs me is that the drive it mentions is C:. I got the stick in one of the front USB slots, so am I right to assume that it refers to the stick? I'm used to C: being the HDD so this is a bit confusing. @Joom @raulpica and @JordenNixNix

Thanks again for the help btw, fellas.

A: and B: are reserved for floppy drives, and C: is reserved for the primary partition on the master drive. All letters after that are doled out to any new partition or connected storage device. So there's nothing to worry about. The Windows installer doesn't detect flash drives anyway.

 

[LysergCooltyp]

Seems like everything works now. Thanks for the help!