Solved Reinstalling Windows 8.1?

Xian

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Firstly, apologies if this thread is not in the correct sector(not entirely sure where to put this).

Hallo, I'm planning on re-installing Windows on my Asus K46CA running Windows 8.1
Now, the problem is that I'm not entirely sure which to use.

"Remove everything and reinstall Windows" says that it'll remove EVERYTHING which means it'll take away all the programs and media after the process.

"Refresh your PC without affecting your files" says that it'll keep the files. However it says that *if your PC isn't running well*.

Now obviously, I wouldn't want to lose media content and the likes in the process, so Refreshing will be the option.
Question is, will it be effective? Say for example if it would do the same job as option 1 minus the file removal? Also what would happen after since this came pre-installed with W8 and I just upgraded to 8.1; and I also have themes installed(3rd party).

Thanks in advanced,
Xian
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i3-3217U
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Mouse
    Razer Orochi
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    I like stuff.
I have done a refresh.
I lost programs & stuff.

Better to backup programs & files on USB to reinstall after refreshing or returning to factory specs.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
I have done a refresh.
I lost programs & stuff.

Better to backup programs & files on USB to reinstall after refreshing or returning to factory specs.
But would files be lost in the process of a refresh?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i3-3217U
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Mouse
    Razer Orochi
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    I like stuff.
I lost some files.
That is why I suggested backup on USB.

Or maybe---

With Macrium---

screenshot_207.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i3-3217U
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Mouse
    Razer Orochi
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    I like stuff.
If the files were on a different partition, would that make a difference?

Don't know.
I never fooled around with partitions.
I just installed & needed partitions were created automatically.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
If the files were on a different partition, would that make a difference?

Don't know.
I never fooled around with partitions.
I just installed & needed partitions were created automatically.
I see. Will report back if there are any complications.
Thank you for your time.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Single Language
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    Intel i3-3217U
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4000
    Mouse
    Razer Orochi
    Browser
    Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Avast
    Other Info
    I like stuff.
You are welcome. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
If you do a reset using the windows recovery options - you lose everything..
if you do a refresh using the windows recovery options - you get a windows.old folder with your data..
If your computer came with win8 and it was upgraded to win8.1 - reset and refresh will not work as the refferance image link is broken..

If you reinstall windows on your "c" drive and your data is on the "D" drive that data will remain untouched.. UNLESS you remove or overwrite that data "D" partition..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
If you reinstall windows on your "c" drive and your data is on the "D" drive that data will remain untouched.. UNLESS you remove or overwrite that data "D" partition..

Only thing there is you will still lose any shortcuts and other registry links to programs. The data will be there but programs, like some games, that require registry entries may not function correctly unless re-installed.

Many games put save games in the Documents folder so you want to back that up.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
I highly recommend having a USB-flash drive at home.
You will be always confident your data isn't lost. Well, in 99.9% of cases. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Always store data you don`t want to loose on another partition if possible ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro x64 Windows 10 Pro x64 Build 9926
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway GT5404
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 @ 2.66 GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel D945GCL
    Memory
    4GB PC2 6400 @ 800 MHz CL 6-6-6-18
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX660 TF3 2GB
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway FPD1975W
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 EVO 120GB SSD / WD 500GB
    PSU
    Corsair HX750
    Case
    OEM
    Cooling
    OEM
    Keyboard
    Gateway KB-0401
    Mouse
    Gateway MOAKUO
    Internet Speed
    Verizon Quantum Gateway 60 / 60
    Browser
    Chrome / IE11
    Antivirus
    MSE / Defender / MBAM
yeah backup your data alright..

until you are dumb like me and stay up late one night and accidentally click "yes" to format my 4 terabyte backup drive with ALL my pictures and data on it a week ago..

I'm still trying all data recovery programs to see what i can get back.. i haven't touched the drive so the data should still be there.. any "best of" data recovery programs you guy recommend? (currently trying stellar and recuva..) but the best one i've seen show my actual original data folder structure has been Easus and On Track Easy Recovery professional so far are the best..

anyway, moral of the story : Now you have to BACKUP your stupid Backups incase something happens to that!

that way you'll have a 2 way fail safe system.. even if one backup fails you will have the 2nd copy.. is it a lot of time? yes.. is it worth it? yes for me.. i ordered another 4 terabyte drive (seagate for $139) so now i will have a western digital 4 terabyte and a seagate 4 terabyte for only backups and they will be the same ..

go figure..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 (HOME not Pro) 64bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    (So not very nice) Lenovo Y410P
    CPU
    i7 quad 2.4Gig
    Memory
    16G ram
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia 2gig 755m
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 Evo

    supercache2 m2. mini card.
    Antivirus
    Win Defender
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