win7 Updating to Windows 8 from Windows 7 - Question 2 of 3

[Az.mak]

Hello again.

The Hewlett-Packard computer I bought in February of this year came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium. I read about Windows 8 and how Microsoft is allowing us to upgrade to Windows 8 for only $39.99 for the online upgrade install and $69.99 if we buy the Windows 8 upgrade from a retail store.

My question about this is if I upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 via the online install or the retail box set install do we get a chance to create a Windows 8 Restore cd incase we ever need to go back to a fresh install again whether to fix a serious issue or just to start fresh? Does using an "upgrade" let us make Restore cds or only if we buy the full version of Windows 8?

Is the online upgrade "run only" that you know of or do we get to do a digital download saving it to our harddrive and install it from there?

Would it be best to buy the retail box set instead even though it's $30 more? What is the advantage of the retail set for $30 more versus the online upgrade besides the obvious physical copy?

Thanks in advance for your answers and opinions.

[f0rk_b0mb]

You mean restore back to Windows 7? Make an image of your system or buy a separate drive. When you want W7, just swap the drives. If you mean Windows 8, just back up your data, pop in the disk and reinstall. Don't get the downloadable version---get the disk. What if you lose it or your drive crashes? You just paid a 100 dollars for nothing then. You also save bandwidth, and it is faster to pop in a disk than download 5 gigs.

[Az.mak]

You mean restore back to Windows 7?

No what I meant was after upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8 I would like to make a set of Windows 8 Restore cds for future use if necessary.

I was asking if using the "upgrade" version of Windows 8 also allows me to create a Windows 8 Restore CD just as my computer that came pre-installed with Windows 7 Home Premium allows me to create *one* set of Windows 7 Restore cd.

[Dashel]

You would need to perform a restore either from image based backup or restore the OEM installation from removable media. (Since upgrades require a prior OS to be installed). There will be no 'recovery' set creation for Win8, you will need to image/backup via other means.

(All three topics could have easily been answered in a single thread)

[Az.mak]

(All three topics could have easily been answered in a single thread)

Sorry rofl. I have done that before in other forums and they chide me saying it's best to put each question in a separate thread so it's easier to follow the conversation. /shrug.

Thanks for telling me about the "no recovery" part.

[Shane Nokes]

Ok yeah by splitting this up since it's all related you've made it much harder.

I've only read 2 of the questions so far so I'll answer both here.

1. The backup utility will let you try until it can verify all discs have been made correctly.

2. Buy the disc based version of the Windows 8 upgrade. If you do that, then you have the 'backup' discs included. Note I don't mean backup as in for your system data, but for the actual OS itself

Since you're worried about backups it would be worth the extra price to pay to have the physical discs. Also do still make the backup discs for 7 since you will need that OS in order to upgrade to 8 again later in the future in case something happens.

[Detection]

Yes, from what I remember, MS says you are able to create a Windows 8 DVD from the online upgrade method, you will download an ISO and be able to burn that

[Noir Angel]

The download and retail DVD package will have the same limitations with regards to install, the only difference is physical media VS a downloaded ISO