Downgrade to 8.0?

Mickeylittle

Member
Member
Messages
74
I have a Surface Pro tablet with the system recovery files on a USB stick. Can I use it to restore my operating system back to Windows 8 as I don't feel like 8.1 works as smoothly for me as regular 8 did?

Thanks,
Mickey
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad 2
This isn't the answer but may I ask what size memory stick you used? I can't seem to get a back up on any of my sticks. Maybe I need a 32gb stick?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
It is just an 8gb. One thing you may consider is getting a BT 3.0 stick as it will do the job in about 5-6 minutes rather than the 25-30 minutes that the regular BT 2.0 sticks take since the Surface Pro has a 3.0 speed port.

The way I've been doing mine is 1) shut down and restart the tablet 2) insert the usb stick 3) search for recovery from the tiles screen 4) click on create recovery drive 5) follow the rest of the steps
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad 2
Weird. I've used a 16gb stick but it is too small. Maybe yours is smaller because you're on a surface and mine is a desktop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I haven't tried it on a desktop, but I can sure see where it would be larger. When you start the process it should tell you what size usb you'll need. Now on my desktop I actually created a restore/recovery set on 4 DVDs and it is a Windows 8 machine that I purchased about 5-6 weeks ago. Since I did that I haven't even considered doing it via the usb method.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad 2
The install for 8 should not be any larger than 3 and a half Gig, for x64. Do you have an AIO installer?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
The install for 8 should not be any larger than 3 and a half Gig, for x64. Do you have an AIO installer?

Here are my steps

1. I go into setting and type "recovery"
2. Click "create a recovery drive"
3. I hit OK and it says "your driver must be able to hold atleast 32GB ,and everything on the drive will be deleted"

Can you (or anyone else) help?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I have a Surface Pro tablet with the system recovery files on a USB stick. Can I use it to restore my operating system back to Windows 8 as I don't feel like 8.1 works as smoothly for me as regular 8 did?

Thanks,
Mickey

YES, you can use RESET.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

You can use the OEM version of
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html
warning   Warning
Deleting the Recovery Partition is NOT RECOMMENDED

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
The install for 8 should not be any larger than 3 and a half Gig, for x64. Do you have an AIO installer?

Here are my steps

1. I go into setting and type "recovery"
2. Click "create a recovery drive"
3. I hit OK and it says "your driver must be able to hold atleast 32GB ,and everything on the drive will be deleted"

Can you (or anyone else) help?

Try unplugging/re-plugging the USB drive, it may take two to three time before Recovery will see the USB drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I've decided to stick with 8.1 and yes thanks as I can go back to 8.0 if I desire.

I would mark the thread as solved but it seems there are a couple other issues in this thread now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Tablet
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad 2
The install for 8 should not be any larger than 3 and a half Gig, for x64. Do you have an AIO installer?

Here are my steps

1. I go into setting and type "recovery"
2. Click "create a recovery drive"
3. I hit OK and it says "your driver must be able to hold atleast 32GB ,and everything on the drive will be deleted"

Can you (or anyone else) help?

Try unplugging/re-plugging the USB drive, it may take two to three time before Recovery will see the USB drive.

Thanks for the reply. It only goes down to 512MB when I unclick "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive". But don't I want the recovery to the drive? Im a little confused.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Here are my steps

1. I go into setting and type "recovery"
2. Click "create a recovery drive"
3. I hit OK and it says "your driver must be able to hold atleast 32GB ,and everything on the drive will be deleted"

Can you (or anyone else) help?

Try unplugging/re-plugging the USB drive, it may take two to three time before Recovery will see the USB drive.

Thanks for the reply. It only goes down to 512MB when I unclick "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive". But don't I want the recovery to the drive? Im a little confused.

The 512MB USB version is the same as the CD/DVD for Repair only.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html


The 32GB USB version is the Repair + copy of the Recovery Partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Try unplugging/re-plugging the USB drive, it may take two to three time before Recovery will see the USB drive.

Thanks for the reply. It only goes down to 512MB when I unclick "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive". But don't I want the recovery to the drive? Im a little confused.

The 512MB USB version is the same as the CD/DVD for Repair only.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2855-system-repair-disc-create-windows-8-a.html


The 32GB USB version is the Repair + copy of the Recovery Partition.

If the Repair is to put W8 back on my damaged computer, What is the 32GB recovery partition?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
If the Repair is to put Windows 8 back on my damaged computer,

NO, not to reinstall Windows, (for repairs only)

What is the 32GB recovery partition?

To reinstall the OEM manufacturer's version of Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
If the Repair is to put Windows 8 back on my damaged computer,

NO, not to reinstall Windows, (for repairs only)

What is the 32GB recovery partition?

To reinstall the OEM manufacturer's version of Windows 8.


Theog: will I ever need to update the system disc repair on a memory stick? or just one and done and put it in a safe place kind of thing and hope to never use it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
The OEM Recovery Partition is not updateable.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I've decided to stick with 8.1 and yes thanks as I can go back to 8.0 if I desire.

I would mark the thread as solved but it seems there are a couple other issues in this thread now.
I believe you will be able to do a "Restore to factory specs" using the recovery drive created with the utility.

My understanding is, if you check the box on the utility to backup the "Recovery" partition, it copies everything from the large (OEM) recovery partition that contains the install image and all the bloatware. I have not had the opportunity to try the process since I do not have an OEM system, but please correct me if I am wrong.

Since the utility tells you the minimum size (USB) drive you need, there should no problem having the correct one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
Back
Top