Solved How to reformat hard drive in windows 8 (factory image)

rocasan

New Member
Messages
8
I want to reformat the hard drive in Windows 8 - Factory Image - in an HP Notebook computer.

HP sent me 3 disks.

Please advise.

Thank you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
Hi there
If you want to re-format the entire disk then the easiest way is to download something like Partition wizard (Free) make a boot disk / usb stick and load boot the program . You can move / re-size partitions too.

Although before doing this backup what you need from the system to external HDD -- I'd also backup the hidden manufacturers recovery partition too.

Use Free Macrium or other imaging program for that.

Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition.

Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - Information and download

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03502680.pdf

HP said:
Using HP Recovery media to recover
You can use HP Recovery media to recover the original system. This method can be used if your
system does not have an HP Recovery partition or if the hard drive is not working properly.
1. If possible, back up all personal files.
2. Insert the first HP Recovery disc you created into the optical drive on your computer or into an
optional external optical drive, and then restart the computer.
– or –
Insert the HP Recovery USB flash drive you created into a USB port on your computer, and then
restart the computer.
NOTE: If the computer does not automatically restart in HP Recovery Manager, change the
computer boot order. See Changing the computer boot order on page 75.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
 

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
I appreciate very much your help.

My Notebook is working great !

Thank you and have a good one . . . . . . . .
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
HDs

I built a new rig, installed Win 8.1 pre-release & it was running OK!
Then I received the news that the Final Release was available & that I had to reinstall Win 8 to Update. Since I had not installed any programs yet, I decided to go back to Win8.

THEN the trouble started. Every time I tried to install Win8 I received an error that it was trying to resolve the error. It never went any further.

I took the drive out, formatted it, & tried again. Received the same error message again!
Looked at the Hard Drive & there is a hidden partition that I can't delete!


Does anyone know how to delete this partition so I can make a clean install!

I think MS has made a big deal out of installing the Win 8.1 final release!

As I understand it, ALL PROGRAMS, including MS programs, will have to be re9installed?

Does this mean ALL data will be lost?

Tully
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Beta
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Assembled
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z&&-V LX
    Memory
    8 GB DDR2 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel on board
    Sound Card
    INTEL ON MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung TD390 HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 512GB SSD
    2TB Storage
    External Seagate "Dashboard" File Backup Drive USB3
    WD "My Cloud" 4TB
    Samsung Super Write Master 24 DVD Writer
    PSU
    Cosair
    Case
    Corsair
    Cooling
    AIR
    Keyboard
    Advent USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Advent USB
    Internet Speed
    200 MB dwn 30MB up
    Browser
    IE 11 Win 10
    Antivirus
    MS Essentials
    Other Info
    USB2 & USB3
I built a new rig, installed Win 8.1 pre-release & it was running OK!
Then I received the news that the Final Release was available & that I had to reinstall Win 8 to Update. Since I had not installed any programs yet, I decided to go back to Win8.

THEN the trouble started. Every time I tried to install Win8 I received an error that it was trying to resolve the error. It never went any further.

I took the drive out, formatted it, & tried again. Received the same error message again!
Looked at the Hard Drive & there is a hidden partition that I can't delete!


Does anyone know how to delete this partition so I can make a clean install!

I think MS has made a big deal out of installing the Win 8.1 final release!

As I understand it, ALL PROGRAMS, including MS programs, will have to be re9installed?

Does this mean ALL data will be lost?

Tully

To update, you can use Option Two.
http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html

To clean install:
1) Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Help Forums
than
2a) Clean install with the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk.

2b) http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

2c) http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-8-a.html


http://www.eightforums.com/installa...retail-windows-8-1-windows-8-product-key.html
 

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
Why are adds appearing on this Forum?

It was always a pleasure to be on this forum WITHOUT ADDS!!

For instance;

My query was about complete format of a HD. The add claimed it would do this! IT DID NOT! It was another stupid REG CLEAN
PROGRAM that probably gives you a million errors in your REG & wants money to fix the errors! Then it cannot be removed.

If this forum continues this practice, I AM OUT OF HERE!!!

Tully
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Beta
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Assembled
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z&&-V LX
    Memory
    8 GB DDR2 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel on board
    Sound Card
    INTEL ON MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung TD390 HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 512GB SSD
    2TB Storage
    External Seagate "Dashboard" File Backup Drive USB3
    WD "My Cloud" 4TB
    Samsung Super Write Master 24 DVD Writer
    PSU
    Cosair
    Case
    Corsair
    Cooling
    AIR
    Keyboard
    Advent USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Advent USB
    Internet Speed
    200 MB dwn 30MB up
    Browser
    IE 11 Win 10
    Antivirus
    MS Essentials
    Other Info
    USB2 & USB3
Hi! All:

I solved my problem temporarily. I just took the HD out of one of my other PCs & installed it in my new rig.
Worked great. The new RIG is great & fast!!

I will update my profile to shoe the new rig!

Still need to know how to reformat a drive to factory specs!

I WILL NOT ANSWER ANY ADD ON THIS FORUM. ALL THEY WANT IS MONEY & DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!

Tully
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10 Beta
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Assembled
    CPU
    Intel I5
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z&&-V LX
    Memory
    8 GB DDR2 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel on board
    Sound Card
    INTEL ON MB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung TD390 HDMI
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 512GB SSD
    2TB Storage
    External Seagate "Dashboard" File Backup Drive USB3
    WD "My Cloud" 4TB
    Samsung Super Write Master 24 DVD Writer
    PSU
    Cosair
    Case
    Corsair
    Cooling
    AIR
    Keyboard
    Advent USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Advent USB
    Internet Speed
    200 MB dwn 30MB up
    Browser
    IE 11 Win 10
    Antivirus
    MS Essentials
    Other Info
    USB2 & USB3
Back
Top