Downgrade from 8.1 to 8 no recovery disk

D

domdragon7

New Member
Messages
5
Basically, I upgraded from windows 8 to 8.1 a few weeks ago and since I could barely run any games, they have compatibility issues and all sorts.

I tried updating my drivers, it says they're all up to date
I spent countless hours looking for solutions on how to downgrade
All the solutions require me to have a disk, but I lost it
I also looked up on how to set it back to it's factory setting, but it doesn't work

I was told to press F8 or F9 (can't remember at them moment) as soon as the computer turns on until the recovery screen pops up, but it never does.

I'm using an Alienware x51.

the first thing i wanna know is, is it even possible to reset my computer without the disk?
if not, then where can i get another disk that came with the computer?

Please help, this is so depressing.:cry:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
Is this a OEM manufacturer's PC with Pre-installed 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
Make and full model number of computer please?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
How do i find out my model number? (sorry i'm quite new)

and about the OEM, it's an alienware x51 that i ordered from Dell.co.uk i'm not sure if they manufactured it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
Make & Model = Dell & alienware x51.

Pre-installed Windows = unknown.
 

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
To start with filling out the" My System Specs" bottom left corner in your post, you would edit your Profile settings to accomplish this. Hwifo64 can be very helpful showing you all your specs.This would be very helpful to anyone that might want to help you out.
So it appears that you have a Dell Alienware NB? Have you tried their support website?
Win 8.1 is not win8 SP1, 8.1 is a new OS and your recovery partition was most likely over written. If you succeed in restoring it will be to 8.1.
There fore in order to go back to win 8 Pro, Core, single language ? you will need a Disk or an ISO of the original version of Win8 that the factory installed on your computer. The best way to get one of these would be through "Dell" or from a friend that has one similar to yours The ISO or physical Disk doesn't matter as long as it has the same version of win 8 that was originally on your computer

Also this tutorial may be helpful:cool:
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
Found this: Alienware X51 Restore - Alienware Forum - Alienware Club - Dell Community
DO NOT DELTE DellUtility Partition !

Do not DELTE EFI System Partion !

The EFI System partition is a partition on a data storage device that is used by machines that adhere to the Extensible Firmware Interface. It contains the boot loader programs for all operating systems installed (in other partitions) on the device, device driver files (used by the firmware at boot time) for other devices, and system utility programs that are intended to be run before an operating system is booted

To restore your machine back to factory default

Instructions

1 Back up any important files from your computer. Since the utility partition will restore the computer to its state when you first purchased the computer, any files you added since then will be lost. Either move your files to a portable hard drive or burn them to a CD or DVD.

To connect the hard drive, insert one end of a USB cable into your hard drive and the other end into a USB port on your computer. Then drag or copy any files from your computer to the hard drive. To burn a CD or DVD, insert the blank disc. A window will pop up asking what you wish to do with the disc. Select "Burn files to a CD/DVD" and follow to prompts to burn the disc.

2 Unplug any unnecessary accessories. This includes any printers, external hard drives or other USB devices.

3 Restart your computer. Select "Start," "Shut Down," then "Restart" for Dell computers running Windows XP or earlier. Windows Vista and Windows 7 users can click the Microsoft logo on the taskbar, click the arrow next to the "Shut Down" button and then click "Restart."

4 Press and release the "Ctrl" and "F11" buttons when the Dell BIOS screen appears. The BIOS screen is the screen with the Dell logo that first appears when your computer starts. This will open the utility partition menu.

5 Select "Restore" when the Dell PC Restore menu appears. This will start the restoration process. Follow the prompts that appear until the process is complete. This will restore the system to include the settings and software included when you first purchased the computer.
Click to expand...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Clintlgm said:
To start with filling out the" My System Specs" bottom left corner in your post, you would edit your Profile settings to accomplish this. Hwifo64 can be very helpful showing you all your specs.This would be very helpful to anyone that might want to help you out.
So it appears that you have a Dell Alienware NB? Have you tried their support website?
Win 8.1 is not win8 SP1, 8.1 is a new OS and your recovery partition was most likely over written. If you succeed in restoring it will be to 8.1.
There fore in order to go back to win 8 Pro, Core, single language ? you will need a Disk or an ISO of the original version of Win8 that the factory installed on your computer. The best way to get one of these would be through "Dell" or from a friend that has one similar to yours The ISO or physical Disk doesn't matter as long as it has the same version of win 8 that was originally on your computer

Also this tutorial may be helpful:cool:
Click to expand...

so the recovery partition was overwritten to 8.1
damn.....
i have more questions now..

i heard that the reason why 8.1 was free was because it is in beta, will the people who have the beta be given the full version when it's released?
will there be any updates in the near future?

i might reconsider and stick with windows 8.1 but i don't know if it'll always remain so buggy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
Did you try ctrl+f11? I don't see why the Recovery partition would be over written.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
so the recovery partition was overwritten to 8.1
damn.....
i have more questions now..
Click to expand...

What Recovery Partition? Win XP, Vista, Windows 7, 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
Go to the DELL Recovery Media Creator app & make your disks.

Most OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app will work after the update to Windows 8.1.

The disks will only reinstall 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

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
Again, did you try ctrl+f11?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Ztruker said:
Did you try ctrl+f11? I don't see why the Recovery partition would be over written.
Click to expand...

The partition doesn't get overwritten but the factory link to it gets broken. The key press that used to get you there on boot up doesn't work any more. All depends on how the OEM links to the recovery partition, if its written in the boot sector/partition of the drive it gets wiped when you update to 8.1. That's my best guess anyway.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
A new Recovery Partition 350mb is made on Partition 5, for the Windows 8.1 repair tools.

OEMup8-1-0001-3.PNG
 

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
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