To download and install the 64-bit version today, you must use alternative methods to obtain the ISO and create bootable media. 1. Official ISO Download Status (2026)
Since the dedicated Media Creation Tool is unavailable, you can manually create a bootable 64-bit USB drive using third-party utilities or built-in Windows commands. Method A: Using Rufus (Recommended)
Mount your ISO file and copy all contents to the USB drive letter using Copy-Item . 3. System Requirements for 64-bit Installation windows 8.1 download 64 bit media creation tool
Clear-Disk -Number X -RemoveData New-Partition -DiskNumber X -UseMaximumSize -IsActive -AssignDriveLetter Format-Volume -FileSystem FAT32 -DriveLetter E Use code with caution.
1 GHz or faster with support for PAE, NX, and SSE2. RAM: 2 GB (64-bit version). Storage: 20 GB available space. To download and install the 64-bit version today,
Rufus is a free, open-source utility that can often script the download of older Windows ISOs directly. Connect a USB drive with at least 8GB of space.
Once the ISO is downloaded, Rufus will automatically configure the settings for a bootable drive. Click to burn the media. Method B: Manual Command Line (PowerShell) Method A: Using Rufus (Recommended) Mount your ISO
If you have a paid developer account, you can still download verified 64-bit ISOs through My Visual Studio.