Downloading Windows

[CaffieneDeficiency]

Is it possible to download Windows without having a pre-existing OS? The answer seems like it would be no, but I just want to make sure.

[Tan3l6]

Perhaps some live(USB) Linux distritution would be possible?

Without any OS there is nothing to do.

[SpookyCitrus]

26 minutes ago, CaffieneDeficiency said:

Is it possible to download Windows without having a pre-existing OS? The answer seems like it would be no, but I just want to make sure.

No, you can only install Windows using a Windows Install Media, like a USB Installer or Disc, there are also more complicated ways using PXE boot and such, but unless you already install media you will need a USB drive and a computer with a working OS in order to set one up. You can also use a portable OS to install it or create one, but that would require you having a portable OS to boot into. So if you're asking if you can just install Windows with no tools or install media on a computer that does not already have an OS on it and that's all you have? The answer is 100% no. You need to have an OS of some sort or an installer for one to get Windows onto a new or wiped computer.

[Bill Lee]

42 minutes ago, CaffieneDeficiency said:

Is it possible to download Windows without having a pre-existing OS? The answer seems like it would be no, but I just want to make sure.

It is easy.

Use a Ubuntu livecd can be a option.

On Ubuntu or other Linux you can simply use uup dump to download windows and generate a iso.

[Bill Lee]

Just now, Bill Lee said:

It is easy.

On Ubuntu or other Linux you can simply use uup dump to download windows and generate a iso.

Since the uup dump main site is blocked by many isps, you can use my Chinese friends proxy site at https://uupdump.7788.work/

Just select a version, download and unzip the bundle and exec the Linux script using bash.

[CaffieneDeficiency]

32 minutes ago, SpookyCitrus said:

No, you can only install Windows using a Windows Install Media, like a USB Installer or Disc, there are also more complicated ways using PXE boot and such, but unless you already install media you will need a USB drive and a computer with a working OS in order to set one up. You can also use a portable OS to install it or create one, but that would require you having a portable OS to boot into. So if you're asking if you can just install Windows with no tools or install media on a computer that does not already have an OS on it and that's all you have? The answer is 100% no. You need to have an OS of some sort or an installer for one to get Windows onto a new or wiped computer.

I have another PC, plus I can use a flash drive.

[SpookyCitrus]

2 hours ago, CaffieneDeficiency said:

I have another PC, plus I can use a flash drive.

If that's the case you just use the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsofts website and an 8GB or larger flash drive to make an install USB, then boot into that on the computer you want to install and just go though the install.

[CaffieneDeficiency]

5 minutes ago, SpookyCitrus said:

If that's the case you just use the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsofts website and an 8GB or larger flash drive to make an install USB, then boot into that on the computer you want to install and just go though the install.

Alright, thanks for the info

[OhioYJ]

3 hours ago, CaffieneDeficiency said:

Is it possible to download Windows without having a pre-existing OS? The answer seems like it would be no, but I just want to make sure.

 

As mentioned above, if you already had bootable Linux flash drive, you can boot that, download a Windows ISO. You can download ISOs direct from Microsoft, no need for media creation tool. Then use another flash drive for the ISO in Linux, plenty of tools out there, such as Rufus, Unetbootin, etc to create a bootable flash drive that work in Linux. However if you don't have a Linux drive, you might as well use the second PC to just create the Windows media to begin with.

 

A Linux flash drive comes in handy quite often, this might be something you want to keep around. You can always use it as a regular flash drive too if you don't have a spare.