Need help reinstalling Windows 8 after replacing hard driv

Sporty06

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My HP Pavilion with Windows 8 recently experienced a hard drive failure and I replaced it with a Samsung SSD. I have a usb drive with the recovery saved on it but I can't get the computer to boot from it. I have changed the BIOS boot order around trying to make it read but still nothing. The screen just flashes. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
Well first off you need to be installing 8.1 Make you install media here or ISO. Create installation media for Windows 8.1 - Windows Help You system is probably UEFI so make sure your install media is set to boot UEFI. Download the same version you had Core, Pro or Single language 64 bit most likely. I think HP uses the Esc key on boot to bring up a menu that let you go to the boot menu there select your install media UEFI. It should look like UEFI USB Your new SSD should be Clean blank? if not once you get to select Language put that in and hit the Shift +F10 that will bring up a command prompt use disk part to clean it.
Diskpart
list disk
select disk "your SSD"
Clean
exit
let the installation resume
 

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
My HP Pavilion with Windows 8 recently experienced a hard drive failure and I replaced it with a Samsung SSD. I have a usb drive with the recovery saved on it but I can't get the computer to boot from it.

How to install Windows 8 to a blank hard drive from the Windows 8 recovery USB flash drive.

If you have created a Windows 8 recovery USB flash drive by selecting the option "Copy the recovery partition from the PC to the recovery drive" (see screenshot below).



Normally, you do not need to change the UEFI firmware (BIOS) settings. For example, you do not need to change the boot order of drives, or disable Secure Boot, or enable Legacy BIOS (aka CSM) boot mode. But on some computers, you may need to enable the boot menu before you can access it.

- Connect your Windows 8 recovery USB flash drive.
- Restart the computer.
- Press the correct key to enter the boot menu (see this link for help). Or, if you have a Lenovo laptop, you can also press the NOVO button when the computer is turned off and then select "Boot Menu".
- Select your USB flash drive from the boot menu.
- Select your language and keyboard layout (if displayed).
- Select the "Troubleshoot" option.
- Select the Reset your PC option.

When you see the question "Do you want to repartition the drives on your PC? All your files will be removed." (see screenshot below), click on "Yes, repartition the drives".



But if you receive the following error message: "Unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing." or "Unable to reset your PC. The system drive cannot be found.", then the Windows 8 recovery USB flash drive is not able to automatically install Windows 8 to a blank hard drive.





Other instructions.

- How to download and clean install Windows 8.1 if you have an OEM computer with UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8/8.1 product key. -> link
- Here is info about UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style). -> link
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
I can't get to the screens you have above. With the flash drive out I can go into bios or system diagnostics. With the flash drive installed it just flashes the screen between off completely and lit but blank. It won't even go to the bios screen.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8
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