Help Going back to Windows 8 OEM from Windows 8.1 Clean

Hi All, i have a Samsung ATIV 500t (windows 8 Tablet - atom processor) and recently I venture a clean install of the new Windows 8.1 Preview. Everything is running fine but i want to go back to Windows 8. When I was in Windows 8 everytime I enter the Reset option it did a Factory Reset and everything went fine. Now, when I try to do a Reset, it asks for the Media Installation. It seems that I cant get access to the Factory image. Looking my hidden partitions, i found the install.wim file that I believe to be the OEM file. How can I perform a factory reset using the install.wim file that is located in one of the hidden partitions? I already managed to get a copy of the install.wim file, but now I looking for a simple way to restore it.

Thanks in advance for any help given!

Regads

I do not know if this method is even a possibility. But on my system, when I did the 8.1 update, the new recovery sequence was placed in the BCD store but the old entries were left intact. It might be possible to change the recovery sequence entry and get your system to boot into the Windows 8 Reset options instead of the 8.1 options.

Could you use the following command and then attach the resulting Text file using the paperclip on advanced replies.

Open an administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste.

bcdedit /enum all > %userprofile%\Desktop\bcdtext.txt

Someone else may know how to apply the image, but not sure that would restore the recovery options.

You can use the Samsung version of
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5132-recovery-drive-create-usb-flash-drive-windows-8-a.html

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

You can order the Microsoft official OEM Recovery disks from your OEM manufacturer's website.

How to Order Recovery disc.
Page Not Found - SAMSUNG

Samsung

Hi Saltgrass, I did as you instructed and you may find the file as per attachment.

Hi theog, I did the recovery drive (USB) but everytime I try to reset it ask me if I would like to keep partitions or to partion my hd, and after I select any of the options, it asks the Installation DVD or Media.... I believe its because of the Clean install of Windows 8.1 that I did and because I' m trying to do a Reset to Windows 8... not sure if its because of that....

If you guys cant help me, I will try to flash the install.wim file via DSIM and see what goes from there!

I looks like you do not have the original options in your BCD store that might have been usable. Both Ramdisk options point to the same file and I see no other options to boot another way.

If the Up Volume and Power button option (Or some other button combination) on your system does not allow you to reset the system back to factory specs., Theog's comments are the most relevant.

You might look over the link to get an idea of what it takes to apply an image, but it can be a little confusing and the factory media option would be better.

Basic Windows Deployment Step-by-Step Guide

Be aware this link is divided into Bios and UEFI conditions, so don't be confused. I have only applied an image one time so I can't be a lot of help.

I have been doing some checking, and because we do not have some information about your configuration, it is hard to tell what might need to be done.

For instance, do you still have the OEM Recovery (~15 GB) where the Factory .wim file is located?

I am thinking about using the reagentc /setosimage command to add that as a reset option for Windows 8.1, but it is very likely trying it that way would result in a OS version type error.

For now, could you open an administrative command prompt and type the command below? Copy the results and enter so we can compare it against mine, which is listed below. Note: I do not have an OEM install, so what I show is my running the commands. What I am doing may not be able help your situation since the OEMs may use some process of which I am not aware.

reagentc /info

C:\Windows\system32>reagentc /info
Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) and system reset configuration
information:

Windows RE status: Enabled
Windows RE location: \\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\partition1\Recovery\ba9d7908-e2cd-11e2-8073-94be720ea6b4
Boot Configuration Data (BCD) identifier: ba9d7908-e2cd-11e2-8073-94be720ea6b4
Recovery image location: \\?\GLOBALROOT\device\harddisk0\partition6\RecoveryImage
Recovery image index: 1
Custom image location:
Custom image index: 0

REAGENTC.EXE: Operation Successful.

Click to expand...

If you are still around, I tried the /setosimage method trying to get Windows 8.1 to reset back to Windows 8 but kept getting a "Problem with Your Install" type message.

Next I went the DISM apply-image route, which did work. But you have to use the super version of DISM which I had on a WinPE flash drive I had set up.

If you are still trying to work the problem, I might be able to help now if you have a problem with some step.