Upgraded, but changed my mind (want clean install, help!)

Quaresma

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Member
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Hi.

I upgraded from Windows 7 to 8 with the Windows 8 upgrade assistant, and chose the option to "install now".

I'm running windows 8 now, but I've changed my mind and want to do a clean install. How can I do that? I did't burn the iso to a USB the first time. And if I run the upgrade assistant again now it says I can't install windows 8 on this computer (because it's already installed)

Any help?

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7 x64
You should have an upgrade file on your desktop, click on that, it asks some questions and one of them is do you want to install later say yes, then another question do you want to create an ISO file just say yes, when it has created the ISO file, right click on it to burn it to a DVD.
Then boot from that to completely wipe your disk and reformat, make sure you have your key for when you start the installation. If you have a Windows Live account use that. Make sure you feel comfortable doing this and have anything you need backed up, this worked for me, I hope it works for you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro/Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 64 Bit64Bit/Windows XP
I'm running Windows 8, so the upgrade file is NOT on my desktop, that's the problem. There's an hidden "ESD" folder in explorer, where you can double click on setup.exe but it doesn't ask for DVD or USB, it just proceeds to installation.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W7 x64
I did the same thing as you. There should be a shortcut named "Install Windows" on your desktop. Just doubleclick that and it will give you the option to create an iso.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    AcerAspire ME600
    CPU
    Core i5 Quad-Core CPU Speed 3330 (3GHz)
    Motherboard
    North Bridge Chipset Intel B75 Express
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 2500
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio with 5.1-channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hewlett-Packard SmartBuy LV1911 18.5" LED Backlit LCD Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x768
    Hard Drives
    1 TB (Terabyte) SATA hard drive.
    PSU
    300W
    Other Info
    This is my living room PC with Media Center. Not a gamer.
Bring up the chimes menu ( winkey+c ) go to settings, very bottom of the tab go to change pc settings. go to general tab on the left, then on the right scroll down. there should be an choice to recycle your pc ( remove every thing and start fresh ) and reinstall windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus/k52Jc
    CPU
    i3
    Memory
    8gig ddr3
I did the same thing as you. There should be a shortcut named "Install Windows" on your desktop. Just doubleclick that and it will give you the option to create an iso.

Well, when I did that the only options I got were 1) install now or 2) install later from desktop.

I never got an option to create an ISO. Any adivce?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    XP
That's strange. It took me awhile to find it but there is a folder on my C:\ drive named <ESD> and it appears to be all of the installation files that were downloaded. You'll have to unhide system files to find it. I hope this helps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    AcerAspire ME600
    CPU
    Core i5 Quad-Core CPU Speed 3330 (3GHz)
    Motherboard
    North Bridge Chipset Intel B75 Express
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 2500
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio with 5.1-channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hewlett-Packard SmartBuy LV1911 18.5" LED Backlit LCD Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x768
    Hard Drives
    1 TB (Terabyte) SATA hard drive.
    PSU
    300W
    Other Info
    This is my living room PC with Media Center. Not a gamer.
Check this post by BillWindows.

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...-changed-my-mind-want-clean-install-help.html

BillWindows said:
You should have an upgrade file on your desktop, click on that, it asks some questions and one of them is do you want to install later say yes, then another question do you want to create an ISO file just say yes, when it has created the ISO file, right click on it to burn it to a DVD.
Then boot from that to completely wipe your disk and reformat, make sure you have your key for when you start the installation. If you have a Windows Live account use that. Make sure you feel comfortable doing this and have anything you need backed up, this worked for me, I hope it works for you.
 

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
That's strange. It took me awhile to find it but there is a folder on my C:\ drive named <ESD> and it appears to be all of the installation files that were downloaded. You'll have to unhide system files to find it. I hope this helps.

Yes, that does appear to be where the files are. Thank you so very much. If I burn these files to a CD-ROM, would this be same as if I had burned an image from the iso? Sorry for my ignorance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    XP
I'm no expert either but you'll likely need a software application to create an .iso.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    AcerAspire ME600
    CPU
    Core i5 Quad-Core CPU Speed 3330 (3GHz)
    Motherboard
    North Bridge Chipset Intel B75 Express
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 2500
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio with 5.1-channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hewlett-Packard SmartBuy LV1911 18.5" LED Backlit LCD Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x768
    Hard Drives
    1 TB (Terabyte) SATA hard drive.
    PSU
    300W
    Other Info
    This is my living room PC with Media Center. Not a gamer.
If I burn these files to a CD-ROM, would this be same as if I had burned an image from the iso?

NO.

Post a screenshot of what is the folder - it should look roughly like this:

2012-10-26_195505.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
If I burn these files to a CD-ROM, would this be same as if I had burned an image from the iso?

NO.

Post a screenshot of what is the folder - it should look roughly like this:

View attachment 9956

My new install error'ed on the ntoskrnl.exe being missing or contains errors. (I did a D/L so no disk) What I was going to do is copy these files to a cd/dvd and try again. You said NO, please explain. Would not an .iso be written to a dvd with this same file(s)?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Px64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2 Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-MA790x-DUP
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
    Sound Card
    On Board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS VW2464 & Syncmaster 2243SW
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 X2
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 830, Maxtor 150GB
    PSU
    Corsair TX750W-v2
    Case
    Antec
    Cooling
    2 Side mounted 120MM
    Keyboard
    Logitec MK EX110 Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitec EX110 Wireless
    Internet Speed
    17/1.5 MB
    Browser
    IE, FF, and Pale Moon
    Antivirus
    MSE and Avast
    Other Info
    Cisco E4200, 8 Port Trendnet switch, Webcam Pro 9000
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