Windows 8 reset or fresh install.


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So I have been wondering this for awhile. My PC came with Windows 8. No install media came with it, only a recovery partition. If I want to do a wipe and full clean install (no bloat), how am I to do this?

 

If I do a reinstall with the partition it will reinstall everything that came with it. Then I have to install every update, then 8.1 and updates that came out until now. Is my only option to buy ANOTHER license for Windows?

 

 

I'd like to have a very fresh install with only the basic stuff then backup the image and go from there.

I really do not want to put out $100 for a windows 8.1 dvd from amazon.

 

I've gone here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

 

I've tried downloading the 8 and 8.1 installer but it says my key is not good for retail...

 

If I use the windows 8.1 reset where it says "remove and everything and reinstall windows"

 

Will that make it pretty much a fresh install? Or will all the extra stuff that came with my PC still be there?

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the remove everything and reinstall windows option just uses an image somewhere on the system, so if the vendor has included their bloat in this image then it will be restored with a reset.

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the remove everything and reinstall windows option just uses an image somewhere on the system, so if the vendor has included their bloat in this image then it will be restored with a reset.

Thanks,

 

So is my only really option buying another license for $100?

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I'm in exactly the same situation.

 

Despite all the googling, I still haven't found a solution to this.

 

My pc came with 8.0 core, and an iso for this seems to be impossible to find.

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I'm in exactly the same situation.

 

Despite all the googling, I still haven't found a solution to this.

 

My pc came with 8.0 core, and an iso for this seems to be impossible to find.

 

It sucks man, like I said I went to Microsoft and tried the "download with a product key".  and got "not for use with retail".  

 

I don't know if I find a System Builder DVD if it would work.  I think I may contact Microsoft.  Because it seems crappy, I don't want bloat.  I already paid for a Windows 8 License.   

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Can't you get a DVD if you contact your manufacturer, or did they stop doing that completely?

 

Sony does not offer DVDs. The support rep said I must use the restore partition.

I have already created restore disks, so I have a way of returning to factory defaults.

It sucks man, like I said I went to Microsoft and tried the "download with a product key".  and got "not for use with retail".  

 

I don't know if I find a System Builder DVD if it would work.  I think I may contact Microsoft.  Because it seems crappy, I don't want bloat.  I already paid for a Windows 8 License.   

 

Your key, like mine, is an OEM key.

 

I think we're screwed if we try this route. Only option I can see is buying a key.

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Sony does not offer DVDs. The support rep said I must use the restore partition.

I have already created restore disks, so I have a way of returning to factory defaults.

 

Your key, like mine, is an OEM key.

 

I think we're screwed if we try this route. Only option I can see is buying a key.

 

I'm currently in a chat with Microsoft Answer Desk.  I am going to see what they say.  Amazon has them for $107 but still i shouldn't have to buy a whole new license.  

 

 

EDIT: 

 

Yes, we need to buy a whole new license.  

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I'm currently in a chat with Microsoft Answer Desk.  I am going to see what they say.  Amazon has them for $107 but still i shouldn't have to buy a whole new license.  

 

 

EDIT: 

 

Yes, we need to buy a whole new license.  

 

Gawd. I knew it.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

I guess it's de-crapify time, and a system image.

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can't you use a utility to find the OEM key and use it? the Magical Jelly bean keyfinder should work it's freeware

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can't you use a utility to find the OEM key and use it? the Magical Jelly bean keyfinder should work it's freeware

 

 

I have my product key found with one of those programs. However every way I try it says "This key cannot be used with retail media". 

 

 

I'd somehow would probably have to find a 64 BIT OEM ISO and MAYBE that would work? I'm not sure where to start with that.   

 

I have my restore partition and restore media I made. 

 

 

My other guess would be would be uninstall EVERYTHING and then use 

 

http://recimg.com/

 

Do an image then whenever I'd want a "clean" install would be restore that image and be done.  

 

I may just save up the $100 an buy the license.   

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I have my product key found with one of those programs. However every way I try it says "This key cannot be used with retail media". 

 

 

I'd somehow would probably have to find a 64 BIT OEM ISO and MAYBE that would work? I'm not sure where to start with that.   

 

I have my restore partition and restore media I made. 

 

 

My other guess would be would be uninstall EVERYTHING and then use 

 

http://recimg.com/

 

Do an image then whenever I'd want a "clean" install would be restore that image and be done.  

 

I may just save up the $100 an buy the license.   

 

See if this is of any help:

 

http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/39909-clean-installs-new-ssd-s-getting-8-0-8-1-a.html

 

Will go through it after work.

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If the system came with Windows 8 on it, the product key will be embedded in the bios. All you have to do is get a Windows 8 iso , install windows and BOOM! It will see the product key in the bios and "Just work".

 

I just noticed you said you are having problems finding the iso... if you were to happen to find it. Then all should be good.

 

Are you sure it needs to be a core iso? Are you sure a Regular windows 8 iso won't work?

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If the system came with Windows 8 on it, the product key will be embedded in the bios. All you have to do is get a Windows 8 iso , install windows and BOOM! It will see the product key in the bios and "Just work"

 

This is the problem: Getting a Windows 8 or 8.1 core (not pro) version iso.

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This is the problem: Getting a Windows 8 or 8.1 core (not pro) version iso.

 

Hmm... I could have sworn the ISO I have I used on a customers machine and it just activated. They didn't have pro either. But I also know i used it to install Pro. Are you sure all versions are in the same iso?

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Hmm... I could have sworn the ISO I have I used on a customers machine and it just activated. They didn't have pro either. But I also know i used it to install Pro. Are you sure all versions are in the same iso?

 

I don't know if the iso contains more than 1 version.

I will create a partition on my tablet C: drive and try to install from the 8.1 pro iso, which I have from my desktop upgrade.

 

This is the iso gotten from Microsoft using the "download with product key" procedure.

 

I guess this is the only way to know for sure.

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I just did this yesterday for a friend of mine. Downloaded the generic x64 8.1 iso from MSDN. Formatted the HDD of his laptop, and reinstalled from the iso. It should work with the iso you can download from Microsoft yourself. But there is a trick to it (for both retail and MSDN media)

 

At the beginning of the setup you'll be asked for a cdkey. You cannot use the windows 8.0 OEM key here. It won't work. You need to use a generic 8.1 key (there are two floating around ... one for 8.1 Core, and one for 8.1 Professional). This allows you to install the OS, however it won't activate. You should use the key which matches your OS. If you have 8.0 Pro, use the pro key. Else use core.

 

Once installed, you can then go into control panel, activate, and put in your OEM key. It'll work then, and activates no problem.

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Hmm... I could have sworn the ISO I have I used on a customers machine and it just activated. They didn't have pro either. But I also know i used it to install Pro. Are you sure all versions are in the same iso?

Both Core and Pro come in the same ISO

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I just did this yesterday for a friend of mine. Downloaded the generic x64 8.1 iso from MSDN. Formatted the HDD of his laptop, and reinstalled from the iso. It should work with the iso you can download from Microsoft yourself. But there is a trick to it (for both retail and MSDN media)

 

At the beginning of the setup you'll be asked for a cdkey. You cannot use the windows 8.0 OEM key here. It won't work. You need to use a generic 8.1 key (there are two floating around ... one for 8.1 Core, and one for 8.1 Professional). This allows you to install the OS, however it won't activate. You should use the key which matches your OS. If you have 8.0 Pro, use the pro key. Else use core.

 

Once installed, you can then go into control panel, activate, and put in your OEM key. It'll work then, and activates no problem.

 

 

I don't have access to MSDN.    I'll try it that way though. 

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I don't have access to MSDN.    I'll try it that way though. 

 

It worked for me.

 

As Pratnala said above, apparently the 8.1 ISO does have both versions.

 

The generic install keys are easily available via web search:

 

    Core: 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

    Professional: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

 

I used the core key above, and it installed fine.

 

I did not have to activate. My key is embedded in the UEFI BIOS, so apparently Windows just read this and activated by itself.

 

One caveat, though:

 

If you use the upgrade ISO from Microsoft, do not format your drive before installing.

 

Do it from the install procedure.

 

If you have an MSDN or full install ISO, then you can format before installing.

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It worked for me.

 

As Pratnala said above, apparently the 8.1 ISO does have both versions.

 

The generic install keys are easily available via web search:

 

    Core: 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

    Professional: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

 

I used the core key above, and it installed fine.

 

I did not have to activate. My key is embedded in the UEFI BIOS, so apparently Windows just read this and activated by itself.

 

One caveat, though:

 

If you use the upgrade ISO from Microsoft, do not format your drive before installing.

 

Do it from the install procedure.

 

If you have an MSDN or full install ISO, then you can format before installing.

 

So you did NOT have to go into the control panel then click activate and enter your key, correct?

 

Is there a way to get the full install iso directly from microsoft?

 

Once I would truly format then reinstall is that key still in the bios or is it gone?

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So you did NOT have to go into the control panel then click activate and enter your key, correct?

 

Is there a way to get the full install iso directly from microsoft?

 

Once I would truly format then reinstall is that key still in the bios or is it gone?

 

When I went to control panel to activate it it said "Windows is activated".

 

This will not happen until you have Internet access in the new install.

 

If your key is not on a sticker on the case of your computer, it is in the BIOS.

This remains there, no matter what you do. It cannot be removed.

 

The only way I know of to get a full install ISO from Microsoft is via Technet/MSDN, which, like you, I do not have access to.

 

The ISO I used was the one I had from my desktop computer upgrade, which i downloaded using the same procedure you first tried.

It worked for me because I had purchased the Windows 8.1 Pro $40 upgrade offered a while ago.

 

If you know someone with a retail 8.1 pro installed, you can try using their system to download the ISO

 

Otherwise PM me, and I will provide some info.

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if you're having trouble getting the iso to download directly from MS you can also get the technet/msdn copies from any torrent site such as thepiratebay. and yes it is completely legal to get the install media that way

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When I went to control panel to activate it it said "Windows is activated".

 

This will not happen until you have Internet access in the new install.

 

If your key is not on a sticker on the case of your computer, it is in the BIOS.

This remains there, no matter what you do. It cannot be removed.

 

The only way I know of to get a full install ISO from Microsoft is via Technet/MSDN, which, like you, I do not have access to.

 

The ISO I used was the one I had from my desktop computer upgrade, which i downloaded using the same procedure you first tried.

It worked for me because I had purchased the Windows 8.1 Pro $40 upgrade offered a while ago.

 

If you know someone with a retail 8.1 pro installed, you can try using their system to download the ISO

 

Otherwise PM me, and I will provide some info.

I'll PM you, everyone I know uses 7.  

if you're having trouble getting the iso to download directly from MS you can also get the technet/msdn copies from any torrent site such as thepiratebay. and yes it is completely legal to get the install media that way

 

 

I thought about that, but how safe is it?

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