Installing Windows 8 on Mac Book Pro

[rosestorm]

Hello Everyone,

I just bought the downloadable version of Windows 8.1 to install on my MacBook Pro to be able to play some games. I have been looking at instructions on how to install Windows 8.1 on a mac. All of them tell me that I either need the windows installation cd or Windows 8.1 on a usb. Since I bought the downloadable version, my question is can I use an external hard drive in lieu of a usb to install windows?

 

[simon48]

If it's a USB drive, yes. Just open Bootcamp Assistant and follow along with it.

 

[velocityg4]

You'll need a USB Flash drive and make it a bootable installer from the Windows ISO.

You can try doing it from Mac using Terminal and these instructions.
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/103874/creating-a-bootable-usb-of-windows-8-1-on-os-x

If you have access to a Windows computer you can more easily use the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool to make a bootable flash drive for installing 8.1. Even though the tool says Windows 7 I have used it for both 8 and 8.1.

 

[KylePowers]

You'll need a USB Flash drive and make it a bootable installer from the Windows ISO.

You can try doing it from Mac using Terminal and these instructions.
apple.stackexchange.com/questions/103874/creating-a-bootable-usb-of-windows-8-1-on-os-x

If you have access to a Windows computer you can more easily use the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool to make a bootable flash drive for installing 8.1. Even though the tool says Windows 7 I have used it for both 8 and 8.1.

Bootcamp Assistant makes bootable installers with necessary Mac drivers super easily.

 

[RITZFit]

I had issues w/ using the online windows store to get 8.1 as I could only get a link to a .exe file. After loosing an hour of my evening to microsoft support, I was told they don't digitally distribute the 8.1 iso (even though I was able to get a win7 iso from them for a later, unrelated case ).

I ended up having my online order refunded and picked up a physical disc at the store the next day.