Linux to Windows on an ASUS that has no working optical drive
 

Hey!r
So I have a Linux mint OS I downloaded to save money/learn about linux and I need to change it back. I am currently in college as a pre dental bio major and I need to download software for classes and tests that is complicated and difficult using WINE. I am fine gettting a pirated version online if I have to but would prefer a legal and legit way of doing things if possible. If I have to get a torrented version of Windows 7/8 I can do that, but I am not sure how to download it and I would really prefer a working laptop for college :P

Any help or tips on this would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!

To remove Linux just delete any partitions you have used.
To install Windows is much harder...

please dont steal software. you can probably work thru your university to get a discount on windows (then you would need a usb cd-rom drive -- unless there is a way to install windows via live-usb ?). it seems like in an age of cloud all you would need is a web browser and a tablet/smart-fone ?

If you join the "Windows Insider Programme" you can download the Windows Technical Preview (Windows 10) .iso, burn it to a DVD and let it loose on your hard drive:
https://insider.windows.com/
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/w...w-faq#faq=tab0

It's free until Windows 10 is released (October-ish) but it is somewhat of a Faustian pact -- you need to give it your email address to even set up a user account...

EDIT: I didn't notice the "no working optical drive" bit -- sorry!
You can burn the .iso to a USB stick & boot from that; there are full instructions on the Microsoft website I have linked ;)

EDIT AGAIN: From your GNU/Linux system use:
Presuming the stick is at /dev/sdb (check by plugging the stick & running `dmesg|tail`)

Since you have Mint installed with the Grub bootloader, you can create a bootable windows flash drive with the instructions at the link below. I would suggest you read through it a few times so you have an understanding of it. I used it last week and it booted the windows technical preview. I started the install to see if it would work and the install started but I didn't want to install it so I don't know if it will work. One thing that won't work is using the "Disk Image Mounter" as suggested because the windows tech preview iso is too large. You can loop mount the iso file and then copy its contents to your flash drive. If you don't know how to do that you can post back and someone will explain it.

http://onetransistor.blogspot.com/20...om-ubuntu.html

Hi brad7. You want us to help in illegally getting a pirated version of Windows 7/8. Please don't try to put us in jail for your benefit. Most countries have strict Copyright Laws and Anti-piracy laws.

I don't need your help getting a pirated version, I need your help getting windows 8.1. If you don't know how, then you are in the same boat as I am. I only have Linux mint on my computer, no versions of windows has ever existed on the ssd I am using. I already purchased Windows 8.1 from Microsoft but it will not install because I am using Linux, so kind of a waste of money. Thank you to everyone who gave some really intelligent answers and advice, I am sure one of those ideas will work out

YUCK why would anyone in their right mind ever want that nasty windows 8. but buy it and get virtual box and run it. 8 i hear is cheap because it's pure crap .. find another distro of linux .. look into zorin it's alot like windows .. spend the time to learn wine

download distro iso.. and get boot usb.. make a bootable stick

Just buy Windows 8 from Microsoft and follow their instructions:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downl...-download-tool

What happens when you try to install it?

I successfully installed the Windows 10 beta on a laptop with Arch & Debian already installed (I had to chroot into Arch afterwards & re-install GRUB but that was no big deal).

the obvious is windows doesnt install inside of gnu/linux. it is a separate operating system that has no dependancy or affect on linux.

what error do you get when you put the disk in your laptop and reboot (after setting up the bios as cd-rom as the first boot device) ?

also I forgot to point out that since you already paid microsoft for support, you should call them to help you install it.

[curious]also: what are the specific programs and the applications they are used for that require you to purchase a windows license ? when i was in college 10 years ago my engineering lab was dual-boot (win-xp/rh-9) so that engineers could take advantage of vc++ and gcc as well as system-view/lab-view/matlab/... (a few of which were windows/linux compatible).

but maybe developers of comp-sci/engineering programs tend to be cross platform since many engineers use linux ? what is your area of study ? seems like your university is not heavy into the cloud as everyone else seems to be ?[/curious]

Quote below from the OP, post #7 below:

Do we only read the first post or just assume the OP is lying?

also from op post #7: then go to the store and buy it... something's not adding up ?

Hi brad,

Just copy out the files you need from your mint system into an external disk connected via USB. If you have used standard packages like open office etc, they should eventually read fine in windoze once you insall it (win 8.1). If you dont even have usb ports then it's slightly more complicated. Create partition (in mint) having disk formatted as ntfs (win compatible). Copy in the data to this partition. If needed, borrow a spare disk from some other student to hold the ntfs partition.

Now with your version of windows 8.1 just format the disk and install windows. Next copy the data back from the usb/external disk.

OK