Solved Error with windows reset "The media inserted is not valid"

Skinjacker

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Location
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Error while trying to reset my laptop

So my computer started blue screening on start-up. I tried using system restore while booting—both points I had were corrupted. I did chkdsk /r and I have to restart to start it. I restart, and the thing freezes on 20% for 2-3 hours, and my computer restarts. Not sure if it's a crash or something else. So I boot into safe mode, which is the only thing that doesn't blue screen, and try to reset Windows from there. It tells me I need some installation media, so I install Windows 8 into a USB, following the instructions step by step. It formats the USB automatically and installs Windows on it. I go to PC settings and click on the option to reset my computer. I insert the media it requires and it tells me "The media inserted is not valid." I retried all the steps three times now, and it still does not work. Any help would be appreciated, sooner rather than later as I really want to use this laptop right now.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-4690k
    Motherboard
    ASRock z97
    Memory
    8GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Sapphire R9 280x VAPOR-X TRI-X
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1800
    Hard Drives
    1 TB HDD
    PSU
    Corsair CX600
    Browser
    Chrome
Is the Windows 8 on the thumb drive 8.0 or 8.1? If its 8.0 that would explain your message? What's on the thumb drive is bootable install media right? You used the term "install Windows too it". It's not installed its copied. Also, is the Windows on the PC a factory OEM install? If yes, was it originally Windows 8.0 or 8.1?
 

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
Is the Windows 8 on the thumb drive 8.0 or 8.1? If its 8.0 that would explain your message? What's on the thumb drive is bootable install media right? You used the term "install Windows too it". It's not installed its copied. Also, is the Windows on the PC a factory OEM install? If yes, was it originally Windows 8.0 or 8.1?
It's 8.0, but I have the key for 8.0 not 8.1, so if I try to use the key on 8.1 download it doesn't work. I don't know what I did specifically, but it involved clicking "Download to USB" on the installer. The Windows on my laptop used to be Windows 7, then Windows XP for two days and now Windows 8.1 I've had Windows 8.1 ever since it came out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-4690k
    Motherboard
    ASRock z97
    Memory
    8GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Sapphire R9 280x VAPOR-X TRI-X
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1800
    Hard Drives
    1 TB HDD
    PSU
    Corsair CX600
    Browser
    Chrome
It's 8.0, but I have the key for 8.0 not 8.1, so if I try to use the key on 8.1 download it doesn't work.

How do you download Windows 8.1 and clean install Windows 8.1, if you have a Windows 8 product key? -> link
 

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.
It's 8.0, but I have the key for 8.0 not 8.1, so if I try to use the key on 8.1 download it doesn't work.

How do you download Windows 8.1 and clean install Windows 8.1, if you have a Windows 8 product key? -> link

Wow, thank you. It worked and windows is resetting. Finally! Thank you so much!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5-4690k
    Motherboard
    ASRock z97
    Memory
    8GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Sapphire R9 280x VAPOR-X TRI-X
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1800
    Hard Drives
    1 TB HDD
    PSU
    Corsair CX600
    Browser
    Chrome
Thanks Genet, :thumb:. My bad back is acting up a bit so I'm not on the forums as much as I'd like. If I had I might have beaten you to it. ;)
 

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

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.
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